Lions to unleash the Kwagga
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has named his team to face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
There are three changes to the starting XV that beat the Jaguares 26-15 in Argentina in Round One of Super Rugby.
Ruan Combrinck will start in the 14 jersey with Courtnall Skosan moving over to the other wing. Last week’s starter, Aphiwe Dyantyi will play off the bench.
Kwagga Smith will make his first Super Rugby appearance the season at No.7 flank in place of Hacjivah Dayimani, who drops down to the bench.
Former Sharks lock Stephan Lewies will make his first appearance for the Lions in Super Rugby. He will partner Marvin Orie in the second row with Rhyno Herbst dropping down to the bench.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rhyno Herbst, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Gianni Lombard, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Date: Saturday, February 23
Venue: Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Divan Uys (South Africa), Aimee Barret-Theron (South Africa)
TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)