Boshoff back for Lions

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has recalled two-times capped Springbok Marnitz Boshoff for his team's Round Five Super Rugby match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

Ackermann, who named an unchanged starting XV, made just two changes to his replacement bench from the side that beat the Blues 13-10 in Auckland last weekend.

Andries Ferreira, who joined the Lions from Zebre in Italy and also played 20-odd games for the Cheetahs, comes onto the bench ahead of Robert Kruger and will provide lock cover. He will make his Super Rugby debut for the Gauteng franchise if he gets game time.

Boshoff comes on as backline cover ahead of rookie Jaco van der Walt.

"We had a good chat with Bossie [Boshoff] and told him we have to get him back up to the standards we require of him," Ackermann said in a teleconference call from the team's training base in New Zealand.

The coach said they worked on certain aspects of his game.

"His attitude was fantastic and he worked hard the last two weeks that he was on the sidelines. He is looking very sharp in training."

Ackermann added that they are also busy with a development programme for rookie flyhalf Jaco van der Walt, who sat on the bench the last two weeks - which will also see him become a quality No.10.

"However, to be fair to Bossie we have to give him some game time, before it is too long between matches. Jaco will get his run again."

He said that Ferreira is a "traditional lock", while Kruger is a loose forward.

"For this weekend's match it is food to give him a run," the coach said, adding: "He worked hard with us the past two weeks and we will look to him to bring some energy off the bench."

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9  Ross Cronje, 8  Warren Whiteley (captain), 7  Warwick Tecklenburg, 6  Jaco Kriel, 5  Martin Muller, 4  Franco Mostert, 3  Julian Redelinghuys, 2  Robbie Coetzee, 1  Corne Fourie.

Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Francois de Klerk, 22 Marnitz Boshoff, 23 Howard Mnisi.

Date: Saturday, March 14

Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch

Kick-off: 16.30 (03.30 GMT; 05.30 SA time)

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Paul Williams (New Zealand)

TMO: Chris Wratt (New Zealand)