Warren Whiteley leads strong Lions side in opener

Editor

Last season’s Super Rugby finalists the Lions have named their team for their 2019 tournament opener against the Jaguares on Saturday evening.

Warren Whiteley will lead a strong side and is joined by fellow Springbok, hooker Malcolm Marx, in their starting line-up in Buenos Aires.

Meanwhile, Carlu Sadie and Stephan Lewies will make their Super Rugby bows for the Lions, with Nic Groom and Elton Jantjies at half-back.

The rest of the backline is also impressive as Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe are reunited at centre, with Aphiwe Dyantyi and Courtnall Skosan named on the wings either side of full-back Andries Coetzee.

The bench includes new faces Frans van Wyk, Ruan Vermaak, Gianni Lombard and Wandisile Simelane as the Lions look to start with a win.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Frans Van Wyk, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Robert Kruger, 21 Gianni Lombard/Dillon Smit, 22 Wandisile Simelane, 23 Ruan Combrinck

Date: Saturday, February 16
Venue: José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 18:40 local (21:40 GMT)

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