Lions change three for Rebels


Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has made three changes to his starting line-up for Saturday's clash with the Rebels in Melbourne.

In the only change to the back-line, Ross Cronjé returns to start at scrum-half where he takes over from Springbok number nine Faf de Klerk who drops down to the replacements bench.

The other changes are up front, with Lourens Ersamus preferred to Andries Ferreira in the second row while Cyle Brink comes into the run-on side on the flank where he replaces Ruan Ackermann.

There are also some changes amongst the replacements. Akker van der Merwe and Hencus van Wyk come in as the back-up hooker and tighthead prop respectively while Ackermann and Robert Kruger will be the second row and loose forward cover.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen 
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Anthony Volmink

Date: Saturday, May 6
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 15:00 local (05:00 GMT)
Referee: Shuhei Kubo (Japan)
Assistant Referees: Ed Martin (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
TMO: Ian Smith (Australia)

The post Lions change three for Rebels appeared first on Planet Rugby.