Lions ring the changes

Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has made eight changes to his side as they look to bounce back from defeat to Griquas against the Blue Bulls this weekend.

The loss at home last week knocked the Johannesburg side off top position in the Currie Cup standings, and their coach has responded by making four changes to the forward pack and the backline respectively for the clash at Loftus Versfeld.

In the pack Callie Visagie replaces Bandise Maku at hooker, and he is joined in the front row by Jacobie Adriaanse who comes in for CJ van der Linde at tighthead prop.

Fit-again Hendrik Roodt takes his place at lock, with Joshua Strauss falling out of the match-day squad, whilst in the back row the experienced Cobus Grobelaar replaces Jaco Kriel who drops to the bench.

In the backline Michael Bondesio gets the nod at scrumhalf ahead of Ross Cronje and veteran backline star Butch James has to make way at inside centre for the returning Alwyn Hollenbach.

Andries Coetzee keeps his spot at fullback, but he will be playing with two new wings this weekend as Ruan Combrinck replaces Anthony Volmink on the left and Deon Helberg replaces JR Esterhuizen on the right.

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Ruan Combrinck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain)

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Butch James, 22 Jaco Taute

Date: Saturday, September 8

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)

Referee: Jason Jaftha

Assistant referees: Marius Jonker, Stefan Breytenbach

TMO: Johann Meuwesen