Cape Town - Lions coach Swys de Bruin has given a number of players to have come through their junior ranks a chance in their Super Rugby clash against the Jaguares at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Kick-off is at 15:05.
Wandisile Simelane, a product of Lions rugby since his under-13 years and
SA Rugby Junior Springbok Player of the Year in 2018, Ruan Vermaak and Vincent Tshituka will all start for last year's losing finalists, while on the bench Nathan McBeth, James Venter and
Tyrone Green all get an opportunity this weekend.
Simelane will partner Franco Naude in midfield, Sylvian Mahuza comes in at wing, Ross Cronje at scrumhalf, Kwagga Smith moves to No 8, Tshituka slots in at flank while Vermaak will form the lock combination with Rhyno Herbst.
The Lions have made a slow to start to their season and currently find themselves bottom of the South African Conference and in 11th place in the Overall log.
Their only victory to date (25-16) in 2019 was, ironically, against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires in Week 1.
Since then, the Lions have lost to both the Stormers (away) and Bulls (home).
Teams:
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Franco Naude, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Rhyno Herbst, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcom Marx (captain), 1 Dylan Smith
Substitutes: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Frans van Wyk, 19 Stephan Lewies, 20 James Venter, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Gianni Lombard/Tyrone Green
Jaguares
TBA
