MTN Golden Lions coach, John Mitchell has made one injury enforced changed to his line up to Face DHL Western Province on Saturday.
Warren Whiteley replaces injured stalawart, Cobus “Baywatch” Grobbelaar, who injured his ribs against the Free State Cheetahs last Saturday. Whiteley will start at no 8, in place of skipper and regular no 8, Josh Strauss, who shifts to no 7 and Derek Minnie shifts to 6.
This is a must win match for the Lions, as a win will see them secure top stop on the Currie Cup log and an all important home semi final. Loss will still see them topping the table, but giving them the added pressure of having to beat the Sharks at Kings Park in Durban the following week, while two losses in a row could see the Lions slip to fourth.
Mitchell has been very consistent with his selections this season, and has largely played the same team in every match, and making changes most of his changes due to injury to his players. This selection policy has borne fruit in the results produced by the Lions in the Currie Cup. However, the long season could be taking its toll as the Lions have been looking a bit flat footed in the last couple of games, and have had to fight back from large deficits to lose by 3 points to the Bulls and salvaging a late draw against the Cheetah’s and were an unkind bounce away from snatching an unlikley victory in that match.
The MTN Golden Lions team to play Western Province (kick-off 5:05pm) is:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (capt.), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jaco Kriel , 20 Burton Francis, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.