Lions v Sharks: Teams
Butch James starts at fly-half against his former team as the Lions look to end a disappointing season on a winning note.
Last Updated: 10/06/11 12:16pm
Butch James starts at fly-half against his former team as the Lions look to end a disappointing season on a winning note against the Sharks.
Former Bath man James is shifted to the No.10 jersey having most recently plied his trade for the South African franchise at inside centre.
Elton Jantjies had instead been picked in the half-back role but despite impressing on the Australasian tour, he has been dropped to the bench this week.
Alwyn Hollenbach is promoted to the starting line-up to take James' place in the midfield, next to captain Doppies la Grange.
Either Cobus Grobbelaar, who returned home before the game against the Hurricanes because of a family bereavement, or Jaco Kriel will start at blindside flanker.
Franco van der Merwe is expected to play after sustaining an eye injury last Saturday, though David de Villiers stands by to take his place.
The Sharks, meanwhile, will have to do without Willem Alberts.
The absence of the flanker has forced a back-row reshuffle with Jacques Botes, Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski picked to start.
Skipper John Smit is named at hooker, providing Bismarck du Plessis with a well-earned break, so Beast Mtawarira comes in at loosehead prop.
The backline, however, remains unchanged with Frederic Michalak, Jacques-Louis Potgieter and Adrian Jacobs providing cover off the bench. There is also a place amongst the replacements for flanker Marcell Coetzee.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan Des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (capt), 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Butch James, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar/Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe/David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers/David Bulbring, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Michael Killian.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jacques Botes, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 John Smit (c), 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Frederic Michalak, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Adrian Jacobs.
