No Whiteley for Lions
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Lions will take on Highlanders without regular captain Warren Whiteley.
The 31-year-old Springbok already missed a large chunk of the 2019 Super Rugby season because of a pectoral injury and now has been sidelined due to a bruised knee.
Related: ANOTHER WHITELEY BLOW FOR LIONS
Whiteley’s continues absence means that Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx retains the captain’s armband.
In terms of the changes, Dylan Smith replaces Sti Sithole in the front row.
While the loose trio combinations see Kwagga Smith moves to No.8 and Marnus Schoeman comes in at six with Cyle Brink wearing number seven jersey.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee; 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi; 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje; 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (Captain), 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Tyrone Green
Date: Saturday, May 18
Venue: Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.05 (13.05 GMT; 01.05 Sunday, May 19 NZ time)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)
#LIOvHIG | @M_marxi2 retains the captaincy for the Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders at @emirates Airline Park on Sat. @WarrenWhiteley will sit out the encounter due to the bone bruise (knee) he is nursing. pic.twitter.com/RyDlPw1xcR
— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) May 16, 2019
