Lions beef up with Alberts
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made three changes to his starting team for Saturday’s Super Rugby Round Six clash against the Melbourne Rebels.
In the pack, Willem Alberts comes into the starting team in the back row to replace the injured Vincent Tshituka.
In the front row, Pieter Jansen gets the No.2 jersey this week with Jan-Henning Campher dropping down to the bench.
There is one change to the backline with Wandisile Simelane taking over the No.13 jersey. Manuel Rass drops out of the matchday 23 this week.
On the bench, Bok prop Jannie du Plessis is part of the front-row cover, while the backline cover has been boosted with the return of flyhalf Shaun Reynolds and wing Courtnall Skosan.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Daniel Kriel, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Courtnall Skosan.
Date: Saturday, March 7
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 19.15 (10.15 SA time; 08.15 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Federico Anselmi (Argentina), James Quinn (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)
