Lions send seasoned pride into Sunwolves territory
The Lions side take on the Japanese franchise at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo on Saturday, February 27, and there are no surprises.
Ackermann went with experience and consistency.
There are no new Super Rugby caps in the starting XV that will be captained by Warren Whiteley.
The only newcomers are on the bench.
Young front row forward Dylan Smith, loose forward Ruan Ackermann and back Rohan Janse van Rensburg all featured for the Golden Lions in their victorious Currie Cup campaign last year.
The most experienced Super Rugby players are Springbok Elton Jantjies at 54 and Whiteley with 52 caps – followed by Lionel Mapoe (46) and Jaco Kriel (38).
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Jaco van der Walt, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Date: Saturday, February 27
Venue: Prince Chichibu Stadium Tokyo
Kick-off: 13.15 (06.15 CAT; 04.15 GMT)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Shuhei Kubo (Japan), Aki Aso (Japan)
TMO: Takeshi Hareda (Japan)
