Sunwolves ring the changes

Sunwolves coach Filo Tiatia has made 12 changes to the side that played the Cheetahs at the end of May for the clash with the Lions on Saturday.

Yasutaka Sasakura replaces Kotaro Matsushima at full-back, Derek Carpenter moves from outside to inside centre while Harumichi Tatekawa drops out of the matchday 23 to be replaced by Ryohei Yamanaka who starts at inside centre.

Teruya Goto takes the place of Shota Emi on the wing, Jumpei Ogura replaces Yu Tamura at fly-half while Keisuke Uchida starts at scrum-half at the expense of Fumiaki Tanaka.

There are a number of changes amongst the forwards. The only remaining player is Sam Wykes at lock in the number four jersey. Otherwise, Keita Inagaki, Yusuke Niwai, Takuma Asahara, Kotaro Yatabe, Malgene Ilaua, Shuhei Matsuhashi and Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco are replaced by Masataki Mikami, Atsushi Sakate, Yasuo Yamaji, Kotaro Yatabe, Yoshitaka Tokunaga, Shokei Kin and Willie Britz who captains the side.

Sunwolves: 15 Yasutaka Sasakura, 14 Takaaki Nakazuru, 13 Ryohei Yamanaka, 12 Derek Carpenter, 11 Teruya Goto, 10 Jumpei Ogura, 9 Keisuke Uchida, 8 Willie Britz (c), 7 Shokei Kin, 6 Yoshitaka Tokunaga, 5 Kotaro Yatabe, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Yasuo Yamaji, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Masataka Mikami
Replacements: 16 Takeshi Hino, 17 Koki Yamamoto, 18 Takuma Asahara, 19 Uwe Helu, 20 Malgene Ilaua, 21 Kaito Shigeno, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Kotaro Matsushima

Date: Saturday, July 1
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17:15 local (15.15 GMT)
Referee: Egon Seconds 
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Archie Sehlako
TMO: Shaun Veldsman