Lions ring the changes

The Lions tried to lend a bit of perspective to the 50-point drubbing they received last weekend when they made 11 changes yesterday to their starting line-up for Saturday's Currie Cup semifinal against Western Province, at Ellis Park.

Inside-centre Alwyn Hollenbach (if declared fit from a groin injury), left wing Anthony Volmink, hooker Callie Visagie and lock Michael Rhodes retain their starting positions but there will be a raft of positional switches and changes on the bench.

Lionel Mapoe and Deon van Rensburg, the preferred starting wings, weren't considered because of injury.

Though Province will draw a lot from last weekend's performance - especially in the way they reintegrated their Springboks - the Lions, with their changed line-up, will hope to distance themselves from theirs.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann said: "It was more important to me to have fresh players than take momentum [into the semifinals]. I saw enough in that game. It is nothing to panic about. It is not that we were overwhelmed and demolished by a side with a lot of Springboks."

He said his players weren't daunted by the task of playing a team laden with Boks.

"The Boks bring confidence to your side. They also bring experience and we have to be prepared for that. But you can't focus on those individuals because this will require a 22-man effort.

"I sense a lot of excitement in our team. The guys know they've only got one shot. The motivation is there. I don't have to think what I'm going to tell the guys. They know how important it is," said Ackermann.

Reminded of the Lions' performance in the face of a similar obstacle ahead of last year's semifinal, captain JC Janse van Rensburg preferred to leave that in the past.

"That happened last year. We have to focus on this. We have a few new faces in the team," he said.

Though Province have hit the deck running after restoring their Boks to their starting team, the Lions will look to flyhalf Elton Jantjies to recapture the magic that helped to catapult them up the points table earlier in the season.

His play lacked its usual assertiveness when he came off the bench against the Blue Bulls, but the Lions will hope that was just a momentary lapse.

Ackermann was confident that the errors that beset them last weekend would be ironed out by a measured and tactical approach.

Lions: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Jaco Taute, Alwyn Hollenbach-Dylan des Fountain, Anthony Volmink, Elton Jantjies, Michael Bondesio, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Cobus Grobbelaar, Franco van der Merwe, Michael Rhodes, Jacobie Adriaanse, Callie Visagie, JC Janse van Rensburg. Substitutes: Bandise Maku, CJ van der Linde-Pat Cilliers, Hendrik Roodt, Derick Minnie, Ross Cronje, Butch James, Deon Helberg.