Ackermann backs young Erasmus
Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named his team to tackle the Sharks in a Currie Cup clash on Saturday (14:30 kick-off).
Ackermann rotated half of his pack for the clash against at Ellis Park.
The coach has given 22-year-old lock Lourens Erasmus an opportunity to make his mark in senior circles, while Kwagga Smith will partner captain Jaco Kriel at flank.
Erasmus replaces Martin Muller, who is sidelined with an ankle injury.
In the front row, Julian Redelinghuys and Malcolm Marx start, while Ruan Dreyer moves from tighthead to loosehead.
Regular captain Warren Whiteley has still not recovered sufficiently from a calf injury, which sees Kriel retain the captaincy.
Teams:
Golden Lions
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Stokkies Hanekom, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Fabian Booysen, 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Jaco Kriel (captain), 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Lourens Erasmus, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Ruan Dreyer
Substitutes: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. MB Lusaseni, 19. Stephan de Witt, 20. Jaco van der Walt, 21. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 22. Antony Volmink.
Jacasport