Warren Whiteley returns for Lions ahead of Super Rugby quarter-final with Crusaders
Last Updated: 23/07/16 8:50pm
Lions captain Warren Whiteley has been passed fit ahead of Saturday's quarter-final against the Crusaders, live on Sky Sports 3 HD (Red Button) from 3.30pm, and will start at No 8.
Whiteley was expected to be sidelined for six weeks with a shoulder injury sustained while on international duty last month, however, has recovered two weeks ahead of schedule to take his place in the side.
The Lions and their head coach Johann Ackermann have come under fire this week after he rested first-choice players against the Jaguares last week, failing to gain the one point needed to secure top-spot and a semi-final against a struggling Sharks outfit.
The side named by Ackermann features just one change from the line-up that demolished the Kings 57-21 two weeks ago, with Whiteley coming into the starting line up, Ruan Ackermann named as his replacement on the bench.
The replacements bench is also the same that featured against the Kings with the exception of Jaco Van Der Walt or Sylvian Mahuza, with a decision between the two to be taken before the match.
Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder has made five changes ahead of the trip to Johannesburg.
The Crusaders go into the knockout stages on the back of a 55-10 defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes and will be looking to return to winning ways against the Sharks.
Last week's late withdrawals Andy Ellis (calf) and Sam Whitelock (illness) have been declared fit ahead of the match while Jordan Taufua comes back into the starting line-up at No 6.
The only changes behind the scrum see Jone Macilai taking the wing in the place of the injured Nemani Nadolo, and Ben Volavola replacing Mitchell Hunt on the bench.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnal Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 1 Dylon Smith, 2 Malcolm Marx, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 4 Andries Ferreira, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Jaco Kriel, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 8 Warren Whiteley.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Jaco van der Walt/Sylvian Mahuza.
Crusaders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Ryan Crotty, 12 David Havili, 11 Jone Macilai, 10 Richie Mo'unga, 9 Andy Ellis, 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Luke Romano, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Mike Alaalatoa, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Jimmy Tupou, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Kieron Fonotia.
Watch Lions v Crusaders live on Sky Sports 3 via the red button on Saturday from 3.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.