Lions named for opener

Editor

The Lions have named their side that will take on the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby season opener at Ellis Park this Friday.

Warren Whiteley will captain the team from number eight in an impressive back-row trio that is completed by Derick Minnie and Jaco Kriel. Ross Cronje receives the nod ahead of Faf de Klerk at scrum-half while Howard Mnisi is preferred over Stokkies Hanekom in their midfield.

The XV is mixed with experienced and youthful players, with 20-year-old hooker Malcolm Marx starting in the number two jersey on Friday.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Stokkies Hanekom.

Date: Friday, February 13
Kick-off: 19:10 local (17:10 GMT)
Venue: Emirates Airline Park
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann
AR1: Andrew Lees
AR2: Pro Legoete
TMO: Johan Greeff