Lourens Erasmus will start at flank for the Lions in the semi-final against the Waratahs on Saturday after Cyle Brink was ruled out with an injury.

Brink sustained a ‘stinger’ during the quarter-final against the Jaguares last week. While he was expected to be fit in time to face the Waratahs, the Lions confirmed on Thursday that he has not recovered sufficiently.

Erasmus, who primarily plays as a lock, has been elevated to the starting lineup, with Hacjivah Dayimani joining the bench.

Coach Swys de Bruin has otherwise selected an unchanged side.

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Lourens Erasmus, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Hacjivah Dayimani, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smith, 22 Courtnall Skosan, 23 Howard Mnisi.

Super Rugby teams (Semi-finals)

Photo: Nic Bothma/BackpagePix