Super Rugby: Western Force v Lions preview
Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has made changes for Saturday's clash with Western Force in Perth.
Last Updated: 23/05/14 11:12am
After three losses in the first three games of the side's tour of Australia and New Zealand, the Lions coach has decided to act.
In the forwards, Ackermann has made six changes, which includes a new front five. Corne Fourie, Armand van der Merwe and Ruan Dreyer all start, with Rudi Mathee and Franco Mostert the selections in the second row.
Jaco Kriel - who scored in the loss to the Waratahs - and Warren Whiteley are the only survivors in the pack, Warwick Tecklenburg will join them for his third appearance in the Lions' back row.
Only fly-half Marnitz Boshoff manages to retain his place in a back line also featuring six changes, some of which were enforced as Lionel Mapoe, Courtnal Skosan and Derick Minnie have all flown back to South Africa due to injuries.
Full-back Coenie van Wyk and centre Alwyn Hollenbach arrived in Australia on Monday and come straight into the starting XV.
Play-off push
For Western Force, wing Dane Haylett-Petty and lock Wilhelm Steenkamp return to the starting line-up.
Haylett-Petty returns from injury to replace Marcel Brache on the right wing after Brache picked up an ankle injury against the Stormers.
Adam Coleman will drop to the bench in favour of Steenkamp, who returns to the starting XV after being on the bench for the last round.
The Force have retained the remainder of the 23 from last weekend's loss in Cape Town.
Western Force head coach Michael Foley says his side is looking forward to returning to the 'Force Field' on Saturday, with a play-off spot still in their sights.
"We love playing at home and we're looking forward to the game this weekend," said Foley.
"The Lions have proven to be a dangerous side on the back of a strong set piece and their commitment to play for each other, and I believe the boys are refocused and ready to rip in."
Lions: 15 Van Wyk, 14 Jonker, 13 Van Rensburg, 12 Hollenbach, 11 Volmink, 10 Boshoff, 9 Cronje, 1 Fourie, 2 Van der Merwe, 3 Dreyer, 4 Mathee, 5 Mostert, 6 Kriel, 7 Tecklenburg, 8 Whiteley (capt)
Replacements: 16 Coetzee, 17 van Rooyen, 18 Redelinghuys, 19 Britz, 20 De Wit, 21 De Klerk, 22 Jantjies, 23 Watermeyer
Force: 15 Hayward, 14 Haylett-Petty, 13 Tuatara-Morrison, 12 Burton, 11 Cummins, 10 Ebersohn, 9 Prior, 1 Cowan, 2 Charles, 3 Longbottom, 4 Wykes, 5 Steenkamp, 6 Cottrell, 7 Hodgson (capt), 8 McCalman
Replacements: 16 Tessmann, 17 Faulkner, 18 Hoskins, 19 Coleman, 20 Stander, 21 Turner, 22 Holmes, 23 Dellit