Lubabalo Dobela starts at flyhalf for the Lions against the Pumas at Nelspruit Rugby Club on Saturday.
Dobela returns to the starting XV in place of Kade Wolhuter, one of three changes made by head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi following last week’s loss to Boland in Wellington.
Springbok training squad member Renzo du Plessis is back at openside flank, replacing WJ Steenkamp, while Ruben Schoeman earns his first Currie Cup start of the season at lock.
On the bench, Sam Francis and Tapiwa Mafura are joined by new signing Sebastian Lombard.
Nkosi expects a fierce battle up front against the Pumas, who beat the Vodacom Bulls 41-7 at Loftus last weekend to move to the top of the Currie Cup log.
“We are under no illusions as to the type of set piece we are going to face, especially after what the Pumas did against the Bulls last week,” he said. “It was an effective tool for them and no doubt, they’ll look to use it again on Saturday.”
LIONS – 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Kelly Mpeku, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), 1 SJ Kotze.
Bench: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Johnre Stopforth, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.
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PUMAS – 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vc), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (c), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Bench: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Tiaan Pretorius, 23 Dalvon Blood.
Photo: Gallo Images
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