Murray back for Lions
by Brenden Nel 05 July 2012, 13:50
The MTN Lions' long-lost Bok midfielder Waylon Murray returns to the starting line-up for Saturday’s game against the Rebels in Johannesburg.
Murray, who missed most of the season with a knee injury, has been on the bench in the past few weeks, but three injuries emanating from the Lions' loss to the Stormers have given him a chance to start as one of four changes to the team that lost in Cape Town.
With fullback Andries Coetzee, winger Deon van Rensburg, and scrumhalf Tian Meyer all on the injured list and adding to the Lions' already horrendous injury problems, James Kamana comes in at fullback and Murray at outside centre with Lionel Mapoe moving across to the right wing in Van Rensburg’s place.
Michael Bondesio replaces Meyer at halfback with Ross Cronje in on the bench alongside JR Esterhuizen and Ruan Combrinck.
The move gives the Lions a lot more speed in the backline, which was sadly lacking, and with Mapoe back on the outside a bit more flair on the wings. The all-Bok duo of Murray and Butch James will have a big responsibility on Saturday where the team see their best chance of winning after the troubles that have beset them over recent weeks.
While last weekend’s game could be played a lot on emotion, the team will have to up their game this week and show that without suspended coach John Mitchell they can take some strides forward as a playing unit.
MTN Lions: James Kamana, Lionel Mapoe, Waylon Murray, Butch James, Anthonie Volmink, Elton Jantjies, Michael Bondesio, Joshua Strauss (c), Grant Hattingh, Derick Minnie, Franco Van der Merwe, Hendrik Roodt, Jacobie Adriaanse, Callie Visagie, JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Ruan Dreyer, Etienne Oosthuizen, Jaco Kriel, Ross Cronje, JR Esterhuizen, Ruan Combrinck
