Lions ring the changes for Brumbies clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has made a number of changes to his team to face the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday.
In the backline, Ruan Combrinck returns to the starting XV at wing to replace Tyrone Green, while Aphiwe Dyantyi moves from outside centre to No.11 for this weekend’s match.
Lionel Mapoe, who will be celebrating his 100th Super Rugby cap, moves to outside centre with Franco Naude taking over the No.12 jersey.
Nic Groom takes over the No.9 jersey this weekend from Ross Cronje.
In the pack, Hacjivah Dayimani is the No.8 this week with Stephan Lewies joining him in the back row at No.7. Cyle Brink will take over the No.6 jersey.
There are two changes in the tight five with Johannes Jonker and Nathan McBeth joining captain Malcolm Marx in the front row.
@13LionelMapoe14 is celebrating 💯 Vodacom Super Rugby caps this weekend when the @emirates Lions take the field against the Brumbies in Canberra on Sat. Mapoe, who has 116 SR caps in total (played for Free State & Bulls) has scored 32 Super Rugby tries in total.#LionsPride pic.twitter.com/H1HU8YHpCs
— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) April 11, 2019
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Stephan Lewies, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Gianni Lombard, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Date: Saturday, April 13
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Kick-off: 19.45 (11.45 SA time; 09.45 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia
