Lions change three as Minnie’s season ends

The Lions have made three changes to their side to play the Cheetahs in Johannesburg and revealed that Derick Minnie has been ruled out for the season.

The Lions beat the Sharks in their last outing and Ackermann has retained most of the team from before last week’s bye.

In the forwards, Armand van der Merwe will start at hooker while Ruan Dreyer has been drafted in at tighthead prop.

The backline sees just one change with Courtnall Skosan starting at left wing having recovered from injury.

On the bench, MB Lusaseni also moves into the match day side having recovered from his long-term injury. This is his first inclusion in the 2015 competition.

Unfortunately Derick Minnie drops out of the match day 23 as a result of an injury he sustained during Tuesday’s training session.

Minnie has undergone surgery on his knee and will unfortunately be out of action for the remainder of the season.

Lions

15. Andries Coetzee , 14. Ruan Combrinck , 13. Lionel Mapoe , 12. Harold Vorster , 11. Courtnall Skosan , 10. Elton Jantjies , 9. Faf de Klerk , 8. Warren Whiteley (c) , 7. Warwick Tecklenburg , 6. Jaco Kriel , 5. Franco Mostert , 4. Andries Ferreira , 3. Ruan Dreyer , 2. Armand van der Merwe , 1. Jacques van Rooyen

Replacements: 16. Robbie Coetzee , 17. Corne Fourie , 18. Julian Redelinghuys , 19. MB Lusaseni , 20. Robert Kruger , 21. Ross Cronje , 22. Marnitz Boshoff , 23. Howard Mnisi