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RUGBY-LIONS-TEAM

JOHANNESBURG Oct 11 Sapa

LIONS CHANGE EIGHT FOR JUKSKEI DERBY

Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann made eight changes to his starting XV to face the Blue Bulls in their final group stage match of the Currie Cup at Ellis Park on Saturday.

With usual captain JC Janse van Rensburg rested for the weekend, flyhalf Butch James will for the first time in his illustrious career captain a side at professional rugby level.

Ackermann decided to give his key players a rest ahead of next week's semi-final as they have already booked their place for the playoffs no matter this weekend's permutations.

The Lions mentor picked only two of his returning Springbok players with Pat Cilliers replacing Jacobie Adriaanse at prop while CJ van der Linde replaces JC Janse van Rensburg at loose head.

The side's star flyhalf Elton Jantjies will be given an opportunity to face his Bulls counterpart Morne Steyn off the bench.

Lions stalwart Franco van der Merwe will move to the bench with Paul Willemse taking his place at lock in the run-on side.

In the backline Anthony Vomink will receive a starting berth in the place of Ruan Combrinck who shifts to fullback in the place of Andries Coetzee.

Ackermann made wholesale changes to his loose trio with Cobus Grobbelaar, Jaco Kriel and Warren Whiteley being replaced by Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie and WIllie Britz respectively.

Lions team: Ruan Combrinck, Deon Helberg, Deon Van Rensburg, Alwyn Hollenbach, Anthony Volmink, Butch James (captain), Ross Cronje, Willie Britz, Jaco Kriel, Paul Willemse, Michael Rhodes, Michael Rhodes, Pat Cilliers, Callie Visagie, CJ van der Linde. Replacements: Bandise Maku, Jacobie Adriaanse, Franco van der Merwe, Warren Whiteley, Whestley Moolman, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe.

Sapa

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