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January 24 – MTN Lions coach John Mitchell has selected a full-strength team for the warm-up match against the DHL Stormers at Newlands on Friday night.
There are two changes to the staring backline that played in the Currie Cup final, with Alwyn Hollenbach being replaced by fit-again Lionel Mapoe and Butch James coming in for the injured Elton Jantjies. Mapoe is at outside centre with Doppies la Grange moving back to his preferred position as inside centre.
Up front Springbok CJ van der Linde, who is nursing an injury, is replaced by experienced JC Janse van Rensburg at loosehead. Former Cheetahs and Waratahs lock Hendrik Roodt comes in at lock in place of Wikus van Heerden, who picked up an injury during the training camp at Rustenburg last week.
Captain Josh Strauss moves to No 7 flank in place of Michael Rhodes who is being ‘managed’ while Warren Whitely in turn takes Strauss’ place at No8.
Roodt is the only newcomer to be selected in the starting XV.
Mitchell has selected a number of his new players on the bench, which is increased to 11 players for the warm-up match. Should they all get some game time, Callie Visagie, Caylib Oosthuizen, Stephan Greeff, Ruan Botha, Doppies le Roux, Antony Volminc and Andries Coetzee will all make their Lions Super debuts. Ross Cronje was not considered because of a finger injury
The team is:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (capt.), 6. Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Stephan Greeff, 20 Ruan Botha, 21 Cobus Grobbelaar, 22 Doppies le Roux, 23 Anthony Volmink, 24 Dylan Des Fountain, 25 James Kamana, 26 Andries Coetzee.
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