Lions forced into late change

Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has been forced to withdraw young flyhalf Jaco van der Walt from his side to face Western Province in their Currie Cup clash in Cape Town on Saturday.


Van der Walt sustained a knee injury during last weekend's clash with the Eastern Province Kings at Ellis Park.


The 20-year-old has been unable to recover in time for Saturday's match, but it is hoped he will return to action next week.


As a result, Nicolaas Hanekom will shift to flyhalf. Lionel Mapoe moves to outside centre, while Courtnall Skosan will start at wing.


"It is unfortunate Jaco cannot play, as it would have been a great learning experience for him to come up against a solid Western Province outfit," Ackermann said in a statement.


"We are, however, confident in our new selections and are looking forward to our run out in Cape Town."


The Lions' depth at flyhalf is wearing thin after first-choice pivot Marnitz Boshoff fractured his right arm in their first-round match against the Blue Bulls.


Golden Lions - revised: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Nicolaas Hanekom, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Derick Minnie (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Guy Cronjé, 21 Albertus Smith, 22 Howard Mnisi.


Date: Saturday, August 23

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)

Referee: Craig Joubert

Assistant referees: Christie du Preez, Marc van Zyl

TMO: Deon van Blommestein