Lions drop Elton Jantjies for Stormers clash
Elton Jantjies of the Lions during the 2019 Super Rugby match between the Lions and the Jaguares at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg on 09 March 2019 ©Gavin Barker/BackpagePix
Springbok fly-half Elton Jantjies has been dropped from the Lions’ matchday squad for Saturday’s Super Rugby derby with the Stormers in Johannesburg.
According to an official press statement from the Johannesburg-based outfit, Jantjies was not considered for selection for the match due to a breach of team protocol.
His place in the run-on side has been taken by Shaun Reynolds while Ross Cronje replaces Nic Groom at scrum-half.
Meanwhile, Malcolm Marx returns to captain the side. He takes over as the starting hooker from Jan-Henning Campher, who wore the number two jersey in last weekend’s defeat to the Sharks in Durban.
In other changes, Carlu Sadie makes a return as does Vincent Tshituka. Sadie takes over from Johannes Jonker at tighthead prop while, in a positional switch, Cyle Brink moves from seven to six to accommodate Tshituka’s return with Marnus Schoeman dropping down to the bench.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (c), 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Tyrone Green
Date: Saturday, June 1
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:15 (15:15 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Stefan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)