The Emirates Lions have announced their teams for the Super Rugby game against the Blues and the Vodacom Cup game against Namibia this weekend.

Super Rugby Round 4: Blues vs Emirates Lions:

Emirates Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced his side to take on the Blues at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland, in the team’s first tour game of the season.

Ackermann has opted for consistency, making just 2 changes to the starting line-up for this match.

In the forwards, Corne Fourie will make his first start at loosehead this season. While, in the backline, Ross Cronje will start at scrumhalf.

Kick-Off is at 08:35 SA Time on Saturday 7 March. The match will be televised live via SuperSport 1 in South Africa.

Emirates Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (Captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Corne Fourie
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Derick Minnie, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Howard Mnisi.

Vodacom Cup: Welwitschias vs Xerox Golden Lions:

Xerox Golden Lions head coach Russell Winter has announced his team to face Welwitschias in the first Vodacom Cup match of the season.

The match will be played in Windhoek, Namibia on Friday 6 March at 19:00 SA Time.

Xerox Golden Lions: 15 Damian Engledoe, 14 Mark Richards, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Ricky Schroeder (Captain), 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Steph de Wit, 5 MB Lusaseni, 4 Bobby de Wee, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Clinton Theron, 18 JP du Preez, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Vainon Willis.

Lions media release: