Batho Hlekani starts at blindside flank in one of two changes to the Lions pack for Saturday’s Vodacom URC match against the Stormers at Ellis Park.
The former Junior Boks star replaces Ruan Venter, who suffered a concussion against the Sharks last week, while Springbok Asenathi Ntlabakanye also misses out with RF Schoeman starting at tighthead prop.
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The backline is unchanged, with scrumhalf Nico Steyn replacing Haashim Pead on the bench.
The seventh-placed Lions are coming off an impressive home win against the Sharks, while the third-placed Stormers return to action for the first time in almost a month following successive defeats to the Sharks.
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LIONS – 15 Quan Horn, 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (c), 7 Batho Hlekani, 6 Siba Mahashe, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 PJ Botha, 1 SJ Kotze.
Bench: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Nico Steyn, 23 Erich Cronjé.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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