Emirates Lions Head Coach Johan Ackermann has made a number of changes to the side who lost to the Highlanders in Dunedin during Round 3 of Super Rugby 2016, for the clash against the Toyota Cheetahs at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
In an enforced change due to the suspension of blindside flank Warwick Tecklenburg, the young prospect Ruan Ackermann gets his 1st run-on opportunity in the loose forwards.
Also returning to the starting lineup is Lionel Mapoe who missed the last game to be at the birth of his 1st child, as well as Andries Coetzee at fullback, together with Dylan Smith and Malcolm Marx in the front row.
Dillon Smit, Jaco van der Walt and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg all move down to the bench, whilst Cyle Brink moves onto the bench as cover for Ruan Ackermann.
Arguably the find of the 2015 Currie Cup, lock forward Lourens Erasmus may also get his 1st opportunity to taste Super Rugby as he also earns a place on the bench.
Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Dillon Smit, Jaco van der Walt, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg
The game kicks off at 17:05 SA Time and will be preceded by a schools game between the powerful Hoërskool Monument and HTS Louis Botha (Kick-off for this game will be at 14:30 SA Time).
Date: Saturday 19 March
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Kick-Off: 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
So, someone who is clearly not the second best open side flank in JHB gets the nod!
Ah well, what more can we expect in the R of SA?
@ Scrumdown:
Get confused with this blind side open side flanker naming are you referring to no 6 or 7? Don’t know your squad too well who would you have had there instead, baring in mind Tecklenburg is suspended.
2 @ Bullscot:
Sorry. My mistake. He is playing BLINDSIDE. No 7 here in SA.
In that vein, this from Sport 24 this morning:
Cape Town – Lions coach Johan Ackermann is surprised by rumours of unhappiness due to the inclusion of his son, Ruan, in the starting team for their clash against the Cheetahs in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Ruan Ackermann, 20, gets his first start in the place of Warwick Tecklenburg who will sit out a one-week suspension.
Recent reports have indicated that there is unhappiness among the young players in the Lions squad who feel Ruan Ackermann is getting preferential treatment.
Johan Ackermann was surprised when probed about the matter on Thursday.
“No player has come up to me and complained about it,” the coach told Netwerk24. “There are also only smiles at the practices and I did not notice any unhappiness. I would want any player who is unhappy about it to come and discuss it with me.
“I don’t know where it comes from. As far as I’m concerned, Ruan has taken his chance. He has worked very hard to get here.”
Saturday will be Ruan’s third appearance in Super Rugby, but first start for the team after coming on as a substitute against the Sunwolves and Highlanders on the recent tour.
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