Lions make two changes for Blues clash

Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named a Super Rugby team with two changes for this week’s tour opening match against the Blues at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.

The Lions lost 19-22 to the Stormers last week so Ackermann has tried to keep changes to a minimum as much as possible.

In the forwards, Corne Fourie will make his first start at loosehead this season while, in the backline, Ross Cronje will start at scrumhalf.

Lions

15. Andries Coetzee , 14. Ruan Combrinck , 13. Lionel Mapoe , 12. Harold Vorster , 11. Sampie Mastriet , 10. Elton Jantjies , 9. Ross Cronje , 8. Warren Whiteley (c) , 7. Warwick Tecklenburg , 6. Jaco Kriel , 5. Martin Muller , 4. Franco Mostert , 3. Julian Redelinghuys , 2. Robbie Coetzee , 1. Corne Fourie

Replacements : 16. Armand van der Merwe , 17. Jacques van Rooyen , 18. Ruan Dreyer , 19. Robert Kruger , 20. Derick Minnie , 21. Faf de Klerk , 22. Jaco van der Walt , 23. Howard Mnisi