Brink: Loose-forward competition good for Lions
WILL Franco Mostert stay on the blindside flank or will Kwagga Smith return to the team of the scrum for the Lions’ Super Rugby showdown with the Blues at Ellis Park on Saturday?
One player though who won’t be considered for duty this weekend – or anytime soon – is Springbok flank Jaco Kriel, who’ll make Lions coach Swys de Bruin’s selection dilemma a little easier for the rest of the season.
Kriel – who hasn’t played rugby since September last year when he injured his shoulder while on duty for the Boks and underwent an operation shortly thereafter – is set for further surgery today. The Lions confirmed yesterday that the initial surgery was unsuccessful, resulting in the Bok flank having to be re-operated on and facing another six-month spell on the sidelines.
While Kriel’s absence will be viewed as a big blow for the Lions and the national team, his unavailability will mean fewer stressful selection meetings for De Bruin.
Already he has got used to life in Super Rugby without Kriel and in the Bok player’s absence Smith and Cyle Brink have stepped up and shown they can be relied upon without hesitation this season. Mostert, too, played excellently on the blindside flank against the Bulls last weekend – mainly because Smith was unavailable – but with captain Warren Whiteley shining again at No 8 there are more than enough loose-forward options for De Bruin to consider.
Also, throw into the mix the likes of rookies Len Massyn and Hacjivah Dayimani and utility forward Robert Kruger, and the Lions are well covered.
But what will De Bruin do this week with Smith available again?
Brink, who has started all three Lions matches so far this season, said the competition among the loose forwards was good news for the team.
“There’s definitely some healthy competition, which is good because it shows we’ve got a lot of depth,” said Brink. “It’s a long season, there are a lot of games, and we’re going to need guys in those positions throughout the season. I think what’s good for us is that we’re able to adjust to various positions.”
Indeed. Brink himself can play on either side of the scrum, so, too, can Smith, while Mostert has shown he’s also a versatile player with plenty to offer any side.
“As long as we’re all working for what’s good for the team, the competition is good. I think we’ll see more of Franco at No 7 during the season, to give extra weight to the scrum and to have more lineout options... the key thing is we’re all pretty adaptable and that’s important,” said Brink. WHATEVER the outcome of Saturday’s Super Rugby match at Kings Park between the Sharks and Sunwolves, the match will be far from a boring affair.
The Tokyo-based team are committed to running rugby come what may, and the Sharks are in a similar frame of mind and this week are desperate to score four tries or more to win the encounter and earn a full house of points.
The Sharks go on tour next week and will be unhappy with the three points they have bagged from a possible 10.
The Sunwolves are coached this year by Jamie Joseph, the former All Black loose forward who was coach of the Highlanders when they won the Super Rugby title in 2015.
The Sunwolves are in their third season of Super Rugby and while they struggled in 2016 and 2017, they have looked improved in their two outings this season.
Former Lions and Cheetahs flank Willie Britz is the captain of the team and could well lead Japan at the World Cup, while three former Bulls in Lappies Labuschagne, Grant Hattingh and Gerhard van den Heever will be on show in Durban on Saturday.
Lock Wimpie van der Walt, who did duty at Western Province, the Bulls and Kings before relocating to Japan in 2014 has already made his debut for Japan.
He started against Tonga last year in a game much celebrated in the Land of the rising Sun because of the winning scoreline of 39-6. Van der Walt also featured in Japan’s famous 23-23 draw with France last year.
Sharks No 8 Keegan Daniel said that while his side primarily focuses on their own game, they had also taken note of the style of play of the Sunwolves.
“Japan is known for its high-tempo approach and commitment to attack, so you have to take into account that you have to defend that,” Daniel said. “But that is not going to change the way we play with ball in hand. We will not be in defensive mode on Saturday.”