Hollenbach leads young Lions
Centre Alwyn Hollenbach will captain a youthful Lions side to take on the Sharks in a pre-season match at Ellis Park this weekend.
Head coach Johan Ackermann has made wholesale changes to his team that beat the Southern Kings 12-19 in Port Elizabeth at the weekend.
He believes that the match will be the ideal opportunity to mix youth and experience, and will act as a learning curve for those that have not yet come into contact with a side as experienced as the Sharks.
"Of course it is important for us to avoid further injuries so we have decided to rest some of our players," Ackermann said.
"However, I also believe Friday's game will give some of our young players an opportunity to express themselves and gain some valuable experience. It will be a chance for them to put their hands up for the future," he added.
In the forwards, Jacques van Rooyen (loosehead prop), Warwick Tecklenburg (flank) and Willie Britz (No.8) move up from the bench into the starting XV.
Bees Roux, Lourens Erasmus, Martin Muller and Ruaan Lerm have also been drafted in after solid performances during their Vodacom Cup warm-up game against the Blue Bulls in Polokwane, last Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the backline, Willie du Plessis moves into the starting line-up at flyhalf as Faf de Klerk comes in at scrumhalf. Hollenbach and Stokkies Hanekom have been brought in in the midfield, while Deon van Rensburg will start at right wing.
Coenie van Wyk comes in at fullback after Andries Coetzee suffered a knee injury during the game against the Southern Kings.
Lions: 15 Coenraad van Wyk, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Nicolaas Johannes Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach (captain), 11 Chrysander Botha, 10 Willem du Plessis, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Willem Britz, 7 Ruaan Lerm, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Jacobus Stephanus Roux, 2 Willem Wepener, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Corne Fourie, 19 Stephan Vermeulen, 20 Pieter Hugo Kloppers, 21 MB Lusaseni, 22 Stephan de Witt, 23 Ross Cronje, 24 Jacobus Willem Jonker, 25 Ruan Combrinck, 26 Deon Helberg.
Date: Friday, February 7
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
