Lions boosted by return of Bok Combrinck for Stormers clash
THE Lions will have the steely resolve of Springbok Ruan Combrinck back on the right wing when they clash with the Stormers at Ellis Park tomorrow.
Combrinck has been sidelined with a shoulder injury since last year’s Rugby Championship but he returns at a time when the Lions are desperate to restore some calm in their ranks.
“I’m very excited about Ruan‚” coach Swys de Bruin said. “He’s been out for a long time and we had a chance to pick him earlier.
“Knowing him‚ because he is a professional athlete‚ we opted to wait until he is 100% right in his head as well.
“He’s trained hard. He’s got a brilliant right foot – we’ve got a number of left-footers. He’s very experienced and he brings a calmness. His versatility is the biggest dimension he brings. “He can also slot those long ones.” The Lions have lacked composure and leadership in recent weeks‚ which saw them slip to three Super Rugby defeats in four matches.
Combrinck’s cool‚ calculated and at times explosive qualities will be manna for a team still missing the star quality of regular captain Warren Whiteley‚ Jaco Kriel‚ Ross Cronje‚ Courtnall Skosan and Aphiwe Dyantyi.
De Bruin said Whiteley would tour with the team following their clash with the Stormers.
“I was really hoping Warren would be ready this week. Hacjivah [Dayimani] did so well at No 8. He’s one for the future.”
Rohan Janse van Rensburg has an upper leg haematoma and will also miss this weekend’s action.
De Bruin said Skosan had responded well to treatment and should be ready for selection once the Lions returned from their tour of Australasia.
In a rotational switch to the team that lost to the Crusaders‚ Marvin Orie comes in for Andries Ferreira at lock tomorrow.
Scrumhalf Cronje’s expected return has been pushed back as he is yet to recover from knee and rib ailments.
De Bruin said they were yet to decide whether to include Cronje in their touring group. The Lions have however arranged cover in the form of Nic Groom who joined them this week from Northampton.
“I’m really excited about the experience he brings‚” De Bruin enthused. “He reminds me of a Craig Davidson‚ that nuggety‚ tough‚ cool head guy [who] never gives in.”
Subjecting themselves to prolonged bouts of introspection does not seem to form part of the Lions’ road to redemption after their recent defeats.
“There will always be pressure‚” prop Jacques van Rooyen said. “If we start listening to everything everyone has to say then things will start to snowball. “We try as far as we can not to listen to outside influences.” Flyhalf Elton Jantjies insisted: “I don’t see it as a tough time‚ I see it as learnings we have to go through.”
Hulking lock Ferreira said there was no additional pressure against the Stormers. “We see this game as every other game.”