Emerging Springbok utility Earl Rose will start at fullback for the Golden Lions, the only player to return from national duty, as they start their Currie Cup campaign against the Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.

Rose, who started at flyhalf for the Emerging Boks against the British and Irish Lions last month before later moving to fullback, is one of the more experienced players in a Lions team loaded with imports.

New Lions coach Hans Coetzee has named the vastly experienced Herkie Kruger at flyhalf, with Cobus Grobbelaar captaining the side.

Alwyn Hollenbach, who joined up with the Lions from the Cheetahs, will partner Walter Venter in the midfield.

Johan Snyman, another pre-season recruit, will play off the bench providing cover for veteran locks Willem Stoltz and Nico Luus, the latter himself having signed from the Falcons.

Another import starting for the Lions is left wing Johan Jackson, who was released from the Bulls this week.

Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Pieter Engelbrecht, 22 Michael Killian.

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