Springboks Elton Jantjies and Lionel Mapoe will start for the Golden Lions in the must-win Currie Cup match against the Pumas in Nelspruit on Friday.

Jantjies, who came off the bench in the Test against the All Blacks last week, will start at No 10 for the Lions. Mapoe, who hasn’t had much game time of late, will slot in at No 13.

Hooker Malcolm Marx, wing Aphiwe Dyantyi and No 8 Warren Whiteley were also released to the Lions. None of these players will feature in the next round of the Currie Cup, though.

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Scrumhalf Nic Groom will lead the Lions for the first time since joining the Johannesburg side. Ross Cronjé has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.

Golden Lions – 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 James Venter, 6 Hanko de Villiers, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole
Subs: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Chergine Fillies, 19 Driaan Bester, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Shaun Reynolds

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images