JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – APRIL 01: Hacjivah Dayimani of the Lions wins possession during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Crusaders at Emirates Airline Park on April 01, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images)

Super Rugby: Highlanders vs Lions – Team news, kick off and live stream

The Lions are shaking things up for their match against the Highlanders.

by Erene Roux

10-05-2018 20:55

in Rugby

The Lions are set to face the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.

Following their blow against the Hurricanes last week, the Lions are hoping to win in order to secure a strong lead on the South African Conference log, even though they will have to go into the match without hooker Malcolm Marx who injured his hamstring last weekend and is expected to be unavailable for six weeks.

All the while, the Highlanders (third on the New Zealand Conference) are hoping to narrow the gap between them and the Crusaders and the Hurricanes who are in first and second place on the New Zealand Conference Log respectively.

Super Rugby highlights: Hurricanes 28-19 Lions

Highlanders team and injury news

The starting fifteen has a settled look to it, however, halfback Aaron Smith has been rested and his place will be taken by Kayne Hammington.

James Lentjes will play in the No.7 jersey with Dillon Hunt earning a break and Tevita Nabura will make his second appearance of the season on the left wing. Josh Dickson and Marino Mikaele Tu’u will provide fresh legs off the bench.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Tei Walden, 11 Tevita Nabura, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown

Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Sio Tomkinson

Lions team and injury news

The Lions saw six changes to their team against the Highlanders.

Robbie Coetzee starts at hooker with Johannes Jonker next to him in the front row. Two new locks, Andries Ferreira and Marvin Orie will lock the scrum while the loose trio will consist of Cyle Brink, captain Franco Mostert and Kwagga Smith.

The backline will stay the same as against the Hurricanes last weekend. The bench will be made up of three front rankers, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Dreyer and Jacobie Adriaanse, also Lourens Erasmus, Marnus Schoeman, Dillon Smit, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Sylvian Mahuza.

Injury Update: Emirates Lions hooker @M_marxi2 has a high grade hamstring tendon tear. He does not require surgery and is not expected to recover for at least six weeks. Marx was injured in the Vodacom Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes in Wellington over the past weekend. pic.twitter.com/xPseixUJX9

— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) May 9, 2018

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Franco Mostert (c), 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 23 Sylvian Mahuza