Lions give rookies a shot against Jaguares
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Swys de Bruin will be giving some of his young talent an opportunity against the Jaguares at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Players like Wandisile Simelane, Ruan Vermaak and Vincent Tshituka have all been named in the starting XV to face the Jaguares.
New faces on the bench include Nathan McBeth, James Venter and Tyrone Green, who is bracketed with Gianni Lombard.
Simelane, who is a product of the Lions rugby since Under-13 level and was crowned SA Rugby Junior Springbok Player of the Year in 2018, will partner with Franco Naude in midfield while Sylvian Mahuza comes in at wing. Ross Cronje starts at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Kwagga Smith moves to No.8 with Vincent Tshituka slotting in at No.7 while Vermaak will form the lock combination with Rhyno Herbst.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 James Venter, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Gianni Lombard/Tyrone Green.
Date: Saturday, March 9
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT; 10.05 Argentina time)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
