Wounded Lion Kriel major blow for Oz tour

THE Lions have been dealt another big blow ahead of their three-match trip to Australia, with the news that star flanker Jaco Kriel will stay at home in Johannesburg.

The specialist openside hurt his knee in Friday night’s narrow win against the Jaguares at Ellis Park and coach Johan Ackermann has decided he must rather stay in South Africa and get better for bigger challenges that lie ahead.

The Lions leave for Australia today for matches against the Western Force, Melbourne Rebels and Brumbies.

Kriel’s injury follows the week’s news that centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg will also be out for three months after he hurt knee ligaments against the Stormers. The side are also without Julian Redelinghuys, Howard Mnisi and wing Ruan Combrinck, who underwent a shoulder operation last year.

It was expected that Combrinck would return to action this weekend but he is still not ready to play and won’t tour with the squad to Australia. Madosh Tambwe, the young wing who stood in for Combrinck in recent weeks and performed excellently in his first season of Super Rugby, also won’t tour as he will team up with the SA U-20 squad as they prepare for the World Junior Championships.

The Lions go on tour in a good position in the standings and in their conference, having won seven of eight games, but they were made to work extremely hard for their 10th home win in a row at Ellis Park on Friday. The Jaguares tested them in all departments and only a late penalty by Elton Jantjies ensured their winning run at home in the last year stayed intact.

Captain Warren Whiteley said the 24-21 win was exactly what his side needed.

“We were lucky tonight,” he admitted after the game.

“It was probably a bit of a wake-up call for us.” Tour fixtures Saturday: Western Force 1.55pm May 6: Rebels 7am May 12: Brumbies 11.45am Tour squad Backs: Faf de Klerk, Ross Cronjé, Dillon Smit, Elton Jantjies, Courtnall Skosan, Harold Vorster, Jacques Nel, Lionel Mapoe, Sylvian Mahuza, Andries Coetzee, Anthony Volmink Forwards: Jacques van Rooyen, Corné Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Johannes Jonker, Hencus van Wyk, Akker van der Merwe, Robbie Coetzee, Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Andries Ferreira, Lourens Erasmus, Ruan Ackermann, Warren Whiteley, Kwagga Smith, Cyle Brink, Robert Kruger