Lions lean on loan players
Lions coach Johan Ackermann wasted no time in drafting back his loan players for the first of his two-match promotion-relegation series against the Southern Kings.
The Kings host the first match in Port Elizabeth on Friday, July 26, while the Lions are at home in the return fixture a week later, in Johannesburg on August 3.
Ackermann opted to include all three of the players that recently returned from their loan stints at other Super Rugby franchises.
Franco van der Merwe (back from the Sharks), Elton Jantjies and Martin Bezuidenhout (both from the Stormers) will all start.
There was more good news for the Lions, with lock Hendrik Roodt having recovered from German measles.
Scrumhalf Michael Bondesio has also recovered from his calf and knee injuries, while loose forwards Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel and Derrick Minnie also return from injury.
Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Chrysander Botha.
Date: Friday, July 26
Venue: Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Sindile Mayende
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
