Five new Lions to face Bears

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has named five debutants in the starting line-up to face the Russian Bears at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Lock Franco Mostert, flank Warwick Tecklenburg, flyhalf Lionel Cronje and centres Harold Vorster and Stokkies Hanekom will all make their first appearance for the Johannesburg side in the first match of the Lions Challenge series.

The team will be led by experienced prop JC Janse van Rensburg who will have senior players Michael Bondesio, Hendrik Roodt and Derrick Minnie to support him.

The Russian team suffered a 14-0 defeat to the University of Johannesburg in a mid-week warm-up game, but have World Cup experience behind them so should provide a test for Ackermann's charges.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).

Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Jacques Kotze, 19 Hugo Kloppers, 20 Claude Tshibidi, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Ruhan Nel.

Date: Saturday, January 20

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

Assistant referees: Local

TMO: Johan Greeff