Struggling Lions make five changes for Chiefs

The Lions have made five changes to the team that lost to the Brumbies last weekend for this weekend’s match against Super Rugby leaders the Chiefs.

A sixth change to the team could be made as Caylib Oosthuizen faces a late fitness test and if he fails JC Janse van Rensburg will return to the team at Loosehead Prop.

Franco van der Merwe comes into the starting second row in place of Hendrik Roodt. Van der Merwe’s move to lock on the left means that Ruan Botha comes in on the right side of the scrum.

Grant Hattingh will get his first start for the Lions at Right Flanker and Ross Cronje starts at Scrumhalf ahead of Tian Meyer who has been moved to the bench

Derick Minnie comes in for Cobus Grobbelaar who drops down to the bench.

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee , 14 Deon Van Rensburg , 13 Jaco Taute , 12 Alwyn Hollenbach , 11 Lionel Mapoe , 10 Elton Jantjies , 9 Ross Cronje , 8 Joshua Strauss (c) , 7 Grant Hattingh , 6 Derick Minnie , 5 Ruan Botha , 4 Franco Van der Merwe , 3 Patric Cilliers , 2 Callie Visagie , 1 Caylib / JC Oosthuizen / Janse van Rensburg

Reserves:16 Martin Bezuidenhout , 17 CJ Van der Linde , 18 Cobus Grobbelaar , 19 Jaco Kriel , 20 Tian Meyer , 21 James Kamana , 22 Michael Killian