Springbok prop Lawrence Sephaka, who found refuge back in the Lions' den after being discarded by newly promoted French Top 14 club Toulon, has been named in the starting XV to face the Falcons in their Absa Currie Cup Round Three match on Friday.

Lions coach Eugene Eloff has made nine changes to the starting XV of his struggling squad, which currently sits at the bottom of the Currie Cup standings.

Sephaka, who has signed a new one-year deal with the Lions, starts at tighthead prop, with JC Janse van Rensburg moving to loosehead in place of Heinke van der Merwe — who is being rested.

In an all changed front row Ethienne Reynecke starts at hooker and Willie Wepener will take a break on the bench, alongside Van der Merwe.

The pack shows two other changes.

Wilhelm Koch replaces Willem Alberts, who is rested, at No.8 and Anton van Zyl comes in at lock for the injured Gerhard Mostert.

Eloff has also selected a new halfback pairing in Louis Strydom (at number ten) and Chris Jonck (at number nine), with Jaco van Schalkwyk moving from flyhalf to outside centre in the absence of injured Jaco Pretorius — who pulled hamstring late last week and pulled out shortly before the loss to the Cheetahs. Jannie Boshoff, who took to the field in the number thirteen jersey, is also not available for personal reasons.

As expected wing Dusty Noble has been dropped and, on his series of performances this season, is probably lucky to still be on the bench. He is replaced by Heini Gordon.

Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Heini Gordon, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Wilhelm Koch, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Heinke van der Merwe, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Michael Killian, 22 Dusty Noble.

Date: Friday, July 4
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Phillip Bosch
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Michael Cupido

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