Mapoe returns for Lions

Editor

Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has made two changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s clash with the Stormers in Cape Town.

Both changes are in the back-line. At outside centre, Springbok Lionel Mapoe returns after recovering from a hand injury and takes over from Harold Vorster, who drops down to the bench where he replaces Jacques Nel.

The only other alteration from the run-on side which beat the Sharks two weeks ago sees Ross Cronje coming in at scrum-half where he replaces Faf de Klerk.

Full-back Andries Coetzee has been declared fit for Saturday’s clash after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained at the Springboks’ training camp in Stellenbosch last week.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnal Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Sylvian Mahuza

Date: Saturday, April 15
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17:15 (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs, Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: Shaun Veldsman