Lions to rest six ‘exiles’ for Bulls
WE WILL LOOK AT THEM NEXT MONDAY Two more friendly matches scheduled before big kick-off.
None of the six-player Lions contingent who have just returned from Japan will be considered for this weekend’s first Super Rugby warm-up match against the Bulls in Harare.
They include flanker Jaco Kriel, No 8 and skipper Warren Whiteley, lock Franco Mostert, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, centre Lionel Mapoe and flanker Warwick Tecklenburg.
Five of the six players are Springboks, while Tecklenburg has been close in the past, and they will form an integral part of the Lions’ Super Rugby campaign this year.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann said the decision was taken after communicating with the players that it makes better sense for them to join up with the rest of the squad next Monday.
“The Japanese players are not with us yet, they will only join us on the 30th,” said Ackermann.
“Because all of them still played over there a week or so ago I told them they must rather take this week off.”
After this weekend’s match, the Lions will be involved in two more warm-up matches – against a Barbarians XV at Ellis Park on February 4 and against the Stormers at Newlands on February 11 – before the season opener in Bloemfontein against the Cheetahs on February 25.
Because they carried a heavy workload with no break between the Bok November tour last year and the Japanese league, the rest will be welcome.
“So they are not going to be involved this week for this game in Zimbabwe,” said Ackermann.
“We’ll look at them next Monday when we will assess all of them and then make a decision on the road ahead.”
It was also announced yesterday that 119kg Griquas prop Stephan Kotze will join the rest of the Lions squad this week.
The 26-year-old Kotze, who matriculated at Grey College, previously also played for the Cheetahs, Pumas and the SA Under-20s before moving to Kimberley.
Brendan Venter, who was linked strongly to the Boks, has signed a three-year deal as Italy’s defence coach through to 2019.