Jantjies takes centre stage
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Lions head coach Johan Ackermann made several changes to his team to take on the Melbourne Rebels including shifting flyhalf Elton Jantjies to inside centre.
The changes come as part of a rotational policy for the Johannesburg team's penultimate Super Rugby tour match this Friday.
In the backline, Francois de Klerk will start at scrumhalf with Marnitz Boshoff linking up with him at flyhalf.
Jantjies will start at inside centre and Jaco van der Walt will start at fullback for the match.
The return of Boshoff and the promotion of Van der Walt means that Ackermann will start the match with three flyhalves on the field, giving him plenty of options at first receiver.
Boshoff has had a poor start to the season which saw him dropped after the Round Two match against the Sharks, while Jaco van der Walt came into the Lions setup for the following game against the Stormers on the bench.
Jantjies has taken his chances in Boshoff's absence at flyhalf, but his shift to centre could well be a gamble.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley spoke with rugby365 from New Zealand about the energy Boshoff and Van der Walt bring to the team.
"They bring a new energy to the team," Whiteley said.
"Tthey [Boshoff and Van der Walt] did very well in the Currie Cup season last year and this is their opportunity.
"Jaco is a fantastic player, who can play at No.10 and No.15, he has a good boot on him and it is great to have his talents in the side.
"Ttraining this week has gone very well so far and we are looking forward to Friday."
Finally, Courtnall Skosan fills the left wing berth, shifting Sampie Mastriet to right wing.
Meanwhile, in the forwards, Schalk van der Merwe, Armand van der Merwe and Ruan Dreyer will make up the front row.
Robert Kruger will start at lock, while Derick Minnie has also been promoted to the starting line-up at flank.
Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Robert Kruger, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Andries Coetzee.
Date: Friday, March 20
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.40 (10.40 SAST; 08.40 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann, Will Houston.
TMO: James Leckie
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