Lions drop Jantjies for breaching team protocol

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Lions head coach Swys de Bruin has made a few changes to his team for Saturday's Super Rugby Round 16 clash against the Stormers on Saturday.

The Lions will be without Elton Jantjies who "was not considered for selection this week due to a breach of team protocol".

Jantjies' absence means Shaun Reynolds will partner with Ross Cronje in a new halfback pairing.

Meanwhile, Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx returns to the starting XV and he will captain the team.

The other change to the front row sees Carlu Sadie return in the No.3 jersey.

In the back row, Cyle Brink moves to the No.6 jersey with Vincent Tshituka coming int at No.7.

*The Lions Rugby Company announce that Andries Coetzee (until end of Super Rugby 2020) and Reinhard Nothnagel (until end of 2021) have both extended their contracts.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (captain), 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Nic Groom, 23 Tyrone Green.

Date: Saturday, June 1

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 17.15 (15.15 GMT)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Stefan Geldenhuys (South Africa)

TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)