Bok door ‘isn’t closed for Faf’
ACKERMANN: COETZEE TRYING TO GAUGE NO 9 DEPTH
Lions set to field an unchanged starting XV against the Sharks at Ellis Park at the weekend.
The exclusion of the Lions pocket rocket scrumhalf Faf de Klerk from the next national training camp doesn’t necessarily mean the end of his Springbok Test career.
This is the opinion of Lions head coach Johan Ackermann after De Klerk was left out of the group of 41 for the next Bok camp from April 2 to 4 in Stellenbosch.
“I wasn’t given reasons, but I think they only want a certain amount of players at the camp,” said Ackermann.
“And they also want to look at other No 9s as well in order to establish what qualities they have.”
Jano Vermaak, Shaun Venter and Cobus Reinach are the three scrumhalves who were included.
But with Vermaak at the end of his career at 32 and Reinach heading to Northampton in a few months, Bok coach Alister Coetzee knows what he has in De Klerk.
“I don’t think Faf is out of the picture at all,” said Ackermann.
“And I also don’t believe it will necessarily have an influence on his game or on him personally.”
The Lions yesterday named a provisional squad ahead of the Sharks Super Rugby clash at Ellis Park this weekend.
The same starting line-up has been retained that beat the Kings 42-19 in Port Elizabeth last weekend, but three players have been bracketed on the bench.
Ackermann said these borderline cases will only be confirmed with the official team announcement tomorrow.
The players who have been bracketed are props Johannes Jonker and Hencus van Wyk with a question mark still hanging over Jonker, who picked up concussion against the Reds 10 days ago.
There is also doubt over centre Lionel Mapoe who is struggling with an ankle niggle and he would be replaced by scrumhalf Dillon Smit if he is not ready in time.
Props Sti Sithole and Corne Fourie have also been bracketed, while fullback Sylvian Mahuza is ruled out as he is attending his father’s funeral this week.