Lions shuffle their forward pack for Sharks

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named a team with several changes to the one that lost to the Hurricanes for this weekend’s Super Rugby match against the Sharks in Durban.

All of the Lions changes are in the forwards and Jacques van Rooyen comes in at loosehead prop with Schalk van der Merwe dropping to the replacements as cover.

Jaco Kriel has been withdrawn due to the recurrence of a groin injury so Derick Minnie will start at left flanker and Warwick Tecklenburg is called up to the starting line-up to fill the right flank berth.

There have been absolutely no changes to the starting Lions backline for this match.

Meanwhile, on the bench, both Robbie Coetzee and Julian Redelinghuys have recovered from their respective injuries and have been called up to cover the hooker and prop berths respectively.

Twenty-year-old lock JP du Preez will look to make his Super Rugby debut should he get a run off the wood.

Additionally, Ruaan Lerm will provide loose-forward cover and is also a potential debutant.

Centre Harold Vorster has been drafted in and will also make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut should he play on Saturday.

All three of these players have worked their way through the Golden Lions junior ranks.

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. Warwick Tecklenburg , 6. Derick Minnie , 5. Franco Mostert , 4. Martin Muller , 3. Ruan Dreyer , 2. Malcolm Marx , 1. Jacques van Rooyen

Replacements : 16. Robbie Coetzee , 17. Schalk van der Merwe , 18. Julian Redelinghuys , 19. JP du Preez , 20. Ruaan Lerm , 21. Faf de Klerk , 22. Elton Jantjies , 23. Harold Vorster