Lions v Reds: Teams
Former Saracens skipper Wikus van Heerden has been named in the Lions starting XV for the clash against the Reds in Johannesburg.
Last Updated: 08/04/10 2:38pm
Former Saracens skipper Wikus van Heerden has been named in the Lions starting XV for the clash against the Reds in Johannesburg.
Van Heerden, who also played for the Bulls, replaces Todd Clever in the back-row where he will join Derick Minnie and Cobus Grobbelaar.
Earl Rose, Tonderai Chavanga, JP Joubert, Kevin Buys and Charles Emslie have all been axed from the match-day 22, with Herkie Kruger returning.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie has opted to retain his rotational policy, with several changes for the trip to Ellis Park.
In the pack, hooker Saia Faingaa, lock Rob Simmons and No.8 Leroy Houston are all set to start, while Rod Davies returns on the wing for the first time since round three.
Ezra Taylor returns to the bench, while 21-year old back Ben Tapuai is included in the squad for only the second time this season.
"We're trying to manage the playing resources we've got across this five weeks, with the travel incorporated," explained McKenzie.
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Wikus van Heerden, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hans van Dyk, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Jacque Coetzee, 21 Herkie Kruger, 22 Marius Delport.
Reds: 15 Peter Hynes, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Faingaa, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia (c), 8 Leroy Houston, 7 Daniel Braid (vc), 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Sean Hardman, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Ezra Taylor, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Ben Lucas, 21 Ben Tapuai, 22 Luke Morahan.
