Virus-hit Lions also lose their captain
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Springboks flyhalf Elton Jantjies has been ruled out of the Super Rugby Unlocked clash with the Cheetahs on Saturday.
The World Cup winner will miss the Round Three clash due to a grade one calf injury sustained during training on Tuesday afternoon.
Jantjies will be replaced by Gianni Lombard at flyhalf.
The captaincy will be handed over to centre Dan Kriel for this encounter.
*Also read: Nine Lions out of Cheetahs clash
In the only other change to the backline this weekend Wandisile Simelane comes in to rekindle his partnership with Kriel.
Amongst the forwards, MJ Pelser gets the nod at six in the only change to the pack.
New faces on the bench are PJ Botha, Jannie du Plessis, Nathan McBeth, Marnus Schoeman, Stean Pienaar and Tiaan Swanepoel.
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel (captain), 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel
Date: Saturday, October 24
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
Kick-off: 16.30 (14.30 GMT)
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron and Colby Griffon
TMO: Willie Vos
