Eighthman Len Massyn will make his Super Rugby debut in Saturday’s match between the Lions and Sunwolves at Ellis Park.
Massyn, who played for the Junior Boks in 2017, has been fast-tracked into the Lions’ pack after Warren Whiteley was ruled out for a month due to a knee injury.
Blindside flank Franco Mostert has been given the captaincy in the absence of both Whiteley and Jaco Kriel.
There are five other changes, which coach Swys de Bruin confirmed were rotational.
Kwagga Smith comes in at openside flank ahead of Cyle Brink, Lourens Erasmus is preferred to Andries Ferreira at No 4 lock, and props Jacobie Adriaanse and Dylan Smith take over from Ruan Dreyer and Jacques van Rooyen.
In the backline, Harold Vorster returns at inside centre, with Rohan Janse van Rensburg moving to the right wing. Sylvian Mahuza falls out of the match 23.
Robbie Coetzee is the only player who retains his place on the new-look bench. Props Sti Sithole and Johannes Jonker, lock Robert Kruger, loose forward Marnus Schoeman, scrumhalf Marco Janse van Vuren, centre Howard Mnisi and utility back Shaun Reynolds are the new additions.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Franco Mostert (c), 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Marco Janse van Vuren, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Shaun Reynolds.
Photo: Gallo Images
