Emirates Lions Head Coach Johan Ackermann has announced his 23-man side to take on the Hurricanes in the Southern African season opener at Emirates Park on Friday evening.
Ackermann has combined both a boost of youth and experience in his side.
The match will get under way at 19:10 SA Time on Friday 13 February at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg.
Tickets are available from just R 40.00 through any Computicket outlet or via Lionsrugby.computicket.com.
Emirates 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 (Captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Stokkies Hanekom
Lions Media Release:
And so it starts!
Surprised to see Malcolm Marx getting the nod ahead of “The Angry Warthog”.
Otherwise not too many surpries.
Lock may still be a problem, but Franco Mostert matured nicely last year.
Loose trio is second to none, and hopefully the tight 5 dominate in the scrums per last year.
IF Mapoe and Mnisi click they could deveop into a decent midfield combination. Hopefully Skosan is not a weak link on defense out wide.
Where is Julian Redelinghuys?
Disappointed to see Hanekom on the bench
@ Labuschagne:
Speculation is that he is carrying a niggle.
Not surprised at all to see Malcolm over Max- he is a Bok in the making, massive for a hooker, already earmarked as the “next Bismark”
Max is a true impact player, Ackers admitted to that
Julian is still out injured
Mnisi impressed in pre season more that Stokkies did, ket’s give him a fair opportunity
Hope Faf get’s the starting spot soon, just love his energy
This is a good side, may the injuries be kind on them this year
The current Highveld heat wave, coupled with the altitude early in the season and the travel factor may well count against the Wellngton side.
IF the Lions start the season switched on, I can’t see why they shouldn’t get off to a winning start.
Ticket prices are “dirt cheap” in a bid to attrract enough spectators to make a decent atmosphere on an evening (Friday) when JHB supporters are particularly difficult to lure to sporting events.
The warm summer evening may help though.
Go Lions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just been to Emirates Airline Park (Ellis Park to the faithful) to collect accreditation and parking for tomorrow.
The stadium, the offices and the whole Ellis Park Precinct is HUMMING with activity.
Now if they can just get the shop to get it’s act together!!!!!!!!
Lion(s) for life!
Attachment:
Scrumdown wrote:
You didn’t per chance happen to notice if they had any Brumbies jerseys hanging around did you!
@ BrumbiesBoy:
Didn’t notice, but then I wasn’t looking for them.
I wouldn’t be surprised if they had though.
They normally have a section for jerseys of “other” teams sponsored by Canterbury.
Give them a call on 011-402-0203.
@ Scrumdown:
Will do, thanks!
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