"Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his team for their pre-season clash against the Jaguares at Wits University on Friday night (19:00 kick-off).
Ackermann picked a good mix of youth and experience for this encounter, with lock MB Lusaseni named as captain for the match.
Harold Vorster makes a welcome return after a long lay-off due to injury and he will partner with Stokkies Hanekom in midfield.
A bench of 13 players have been picked who will all have a go at the Argentinians.
Lions team:
15 JW Bell, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Stephan de Wit, 5 MB Lusaseni (captain), 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Corne Fourie
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Bobby de Wee, 21 Martin Muller, 22 Ramone Smuels, 23 Fabian Booysen, 24 Ruaan Lerm, 25 Jaco van der Walt, 26 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 27 Jacques Nel, 28 Ashlon Davids, 29 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 30 Ricky Schroeder, 31 Selom Gavor."
There is a substantial number of front line players of the Lions not included in the team to play in a match a week before the start of Super Rugby and one can only assume it is done to prevent potential injuries to key players and to give the coach a chance to have a look at the youngsters in the squad.
Unfortunately the game is not televised as far as I could make out from the DSTV schedule. Would have liked to watch the match.
