New-look Elephants eager to bounce back against Lions

In an attempt to exercise damage control, EP Elephants coach Peter de Villiers has rung the changes for their Preparation Series match against the Lions in Port Elizabeth on Wednesday.

After being taken to the cleaners in their first game against a youthful Bulls team at Loftus, De Villiers has retained just six players from his starting line-up for their second fixture, which starts at 4.45pm.

It was at scrum time and the lineouts in particular where the Elephants were badly exposed, but they will have a new captain in fullback Courtney Winnaar who has replaced the injured Inny Radebe, with Karlo Aspeling named as the new flyhalf.

Winnaar, who was not available for the Bulls match, replaces Riaan Arends at fullback and his experience as a former Sharks and Kings player will hopefully give more stability and structure to their brittle defence.

ALSO READ: EP Elephants will be better prepared this time – Lions No 8 Horn

Wing Qeutyne Oerson and centre Sherwin Slater are the only backs to keep their match-day jerseys, although Athi Mayinje and Christopher Hollis swap the number 11 and 13 jerseys around.

Among the tight five that started at Loftus Versfeld, only lock Athenkosi Khetani has been retained, while former Madibaz No 8 Bevin Prinsloo has been called up to the bench.

Lions coach Cash van Rooyen and interim mentor Mziwakhe Nkosi have also rung the changes as they want to expose more of their former U-21 stars to senior rugby.

Only seven players in the starting line-up that won their previous match 32-28 against the Pumas at Ellis Park have been retained, with young lock Reinard Nothnagel retaining the captaincy.

ALSO READ: Forwards drive Bulls to victory over Pumas

Ngia Selengbe is a new face on the left wing, while at scrumhalf the Lions have rotated their 9s with Dillon Smit starting this time and Morne van den Berg tasked to provide the fire from the bench.

Van Rooyen and Nkosi wiill also be keen to see what their inexperienced front row on the bench – hooker Morné Brandon and props Banele Mthenjane and Asenathi Nthlabakanye – can achieve at senior level.

With prolific points machine Tiaan Swanepoel still in the saddle at flyhalf, the Lions’ next generation and former U-21 stars Jordan Hendrikse and Luke Rossouw could build further on their depth in this vital position from the bench.

Son of Lions chief executive officer Rudolf Straeuli, Ruhan Straeuli at No 8, will form a potential electric back-row combination with flankers and former U-21 stars Sibusiso Sangweni and Mark Snyman, and Straeuli will be keen to show he is there on merit.

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