Lions Super rugby head coach Swys de Bruin has named a team with four changes to play the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the final match of the regular season.
Both teams can still reach the playoffs so the result of this match will decide who progresses and who does not.
Elton Jantjies comes in at centre, Hacjivah Dayimani starts at eight in the place of the injured Kwagga Smith, Rhyno Herbst returns to action to resume his lock partnership with Marvin Orie while Tyrone Green gets the nod at wing.
Reinhard Nothnagel and Courtnall Skosan drop to the bench, Dillon Smit is drafted into the match 23, as is Wandisile Simelane.
Meanwhile, the Lions have announced that Lions and Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx has extended his contract with the Lions until 2021.
Lions Rugby Company, together with SA Rugby, and the newly established contracting model have been able to retain the services of the outstanding Springbok hooker by ensuring the player’s career is managed and sustained.
Marx will be able to enjoy a temporary release after the 2019 Rugby World Cup for a sabbatical in Japan and he will return to South Africa and the Lions in June 2020.
Rudolf Straeuli, CEO of the Lions Rugby Company, said they were immensely proud to retain the services of Marx. “Malcolm has always given the Lions and Springboks 100 % effort and dedication and to ensure sustainability in the young player’s career, it is important that, together, we look after his wellbeing.”
Rassie Erasmus, SA Rugby’s Director of Rugby, said he was delighted that Marx had renewed his contract.
“Malcolm has established himself as a world-class player and his contribution to the Springboks has been immense, so his decision to renew his contract with the Lions is very good news indeed,” said Erasmus.
“Malcolm’s contract renewal at the Lions is a fantastic result for the new contracting model that the players, unions and SA Rugby worked to agree and was announced on Friday.
“It proves what can be achieved if we all work together with the best interests of the player and South African rugby in mind,” added Erasmus.
“For now I am totally focused on the Lions Vodacom Super Rugby campaign and forming part of the Springboks for 2019,” Marx said.
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Tyrone Green, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Malcolm Marx (c), 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Wandisele Simelane, 23 Courtnall Skosan
