Griquas coach Scott Mathie has made nine changes to his starting lineup for Friday’s Super Rugby Unlocked clash with the Lions at Ellis Park.
Only six players from their last match – a home defeat for the Pumas almost a fortnight ago – have retained their positions in the starting lineup, while there are two positional changes.
Meanwhile, Griquas will be without Anthony Volmink, Victor Sekekete and Ian Groenewald as they have all moved to other unions. Volmink has joined the Sharks, while Sekekete and Groenewald have both joined the Cheetahs.
The six players who will start in the same positions as two weekends ago, are the midfield pairing of Harlon Klaasen and Andre Swartz, the halfbacks George Whitehead and Zak Burger, Stefan Willemse (flank) and HJ Luus (hooker).
James Verity-Amm moves from wing to fullback and Carl Els from flank to No 8. The other players in the match-day 23 are basically new, with Andrew Beerwinkel (prop), Adre Smith (lock), Mzwanele Zito (lock) and Gideon van der Merwe (flank) promoted from the bench.
The two starting props from the match against the Lowvelders, John-Roy Jenkinson and Mox Mxoli, will start on the bench on Friday.
The new subs faces are Monde Hadebe, Johan Momsen, Ewan Coetzee, Theo Maree, Tinus de Beer, Masixole Banda, Bandisa Ndlovu, CJ Velleman and Jonathan Francke, although Mathie must still decide which eight will be the official replacements for the match.
Ndlovu, Velleman and Banda are new additions to the Peacock Blues’ squad.
Griquas – 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (c), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Adré Smith, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Subs: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Johan Momsen, 20 Ewan Coetzee, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Masixole Banda, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 CJ Velleman, 26 Jonathan Francke.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
