Selection poser for Ackermann as plucky Kings show upsurge in performance
LIONS boss Johan Ackermann is in two minds about resting some of his players for Saturday’s Super Rugby match against the Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Ackermann is keen to give some of his players a rest when his team take on South Africa’s weakest side, but a growing injury list and an upsurge in performance by the Eastern Capebased team has made the decision a little trickier for the man who took the Lions all the way to the final last season.
Already without Howard Mnisi (long-term knee injury) and Julian Redelinghuys (broken neck), and with wing Ruan Combrinck only expected back in the middle of next month, the Lions boss may now also have to do without utility back Jaco van der Walt (ankle), prop Johannes Jonker (head knock) and Lionel Mapoe (broken hand) for the foreseeable future.
The Lions will have greater clarity today on the seriousness of the last three men mentioned above, but they are unlikely to run out in PE.
“Some of our players can still do with more game time, but there are some who could also do with some freshening up,” said the coach ahead of the trip to the Eastern Cape.
“We’ll assess the situation once we know who’s fit and who isn’t. But we have full confidence in the guys who will come up. The key will be deciding if it is worth the risk to rest certain players.”
Ackermann is fully aware the Kings are on the up, having beaten the Sunwolves recently and pushed the Sharks, in particular, to the very end of their encounter last weekend.
“And, at home, they’ll be even more difficult to beat.
“We can’t under-estimate them, that’s for sure,” he said.
“They’ll be tough at home so we know we’re going to have to go there and try and just get a positive result. Whoever I decide on to take them on will be based on how well all our players recover from the Reds game and what we find in our analysis of the Kings.”
There is almost certainly going to be a change at hooker though, with Akker van der Merwe, who’s been injured for the last two weeks, returning to the fold, while Ackermann also hinted at resting one of his two premier scrumhalves.
“Akker hasn’t played a lot recently and he’ll be hungry for action so it’ll be a good thing to get him involved again while we’ll also look at our nines. But, there are other positions too.”
Expect one of Faf de Klerk and Ross Cronje to sit out this week, with Dillon Smith coming in, while at hooker Robbie Coetzee or Malcolm Marx will get a rest.
Ackermann no doubt has his mind on the big conference game against the Sharks coming up next weekend (April 1) and he’ll want a fit and well-rested team for that game.