Lions 'rotate' their Boks
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has made a number of changes to his team for the opening match of their Australasian tour.
The Lions face the Waratahs in Parramatta in a Round Five Super Rugby outing.
The most significant change is the absence of veteran Springbok Jannie du Plessis, who did not make the matchday squad – in what the coach described as “rotation”.
Talented young prop Carlu Sadie starts at tighthead prop in a revamped front row, with Frans Van Wyk on the bench.
Jan-Henning Campher starts at hooker and Pieter Jansen, who started in the first three weeks, on the bench.
The rest of the pack remains unchanged from that which lost 30-33 to the unbeaten Stormers in Round Three.
The Lions had a bye last week.
Andre Warner returns from his ankle injury – suffered in the Round One loss to the Jaguares – and starts at scrumhalf. Morné van den Berg is on the bench as cover for No.9.
Forgotten one-time Springbok Jamba Ulengo will start on the left wing, with fellow Bok Courtnall Skosan ‘rotated’ out of the matchday squad.,
The Lions have also named a forwards-heavy bench – with a six-two split.
Van den Berg and utility Wandisile Simelane cover the backline positions on the bench./
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Daniel Kriel, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Frans Van Wyk, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Date: Friday, February 28
Venue: Western Sydney Stadium, Parramatta
Kick-off: 19.15 (10.15 SA time; 08.15 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia), James Quinn (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)
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