Straeuli: When Whiteley is deemed fit, he’ll join Lions on tour in Australasia
HAVING reaped the reward of staying in South African time for their match against the Waratahs last Friday the Lions will have now “crossed over” to Australian time as they prepare for their next match on tour, against the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.
The Lions spent two days in Sydney last week eight hours “behind” their local time having opted to remain in South African time for the match against the Tahs. It was a decision that worked out perfectly for the travelling Lions who romped to a 29-0 win against Australia’s leading Super Rugby team.
But they will now be in local Australian time, and eating and sleeping at normal hours, as opposed to late last week when their day and night were virtually swapped around. The Lions will also be full of confidence ahead of their outing against the Reds this weekend, having kept the Waratahs scoreless and putting four tries past them.
There are also apparently no serious injury concerns which will be a relief for coach Swys de Bruin, who on the eve of their departure last week lost captain Warren Whiteley to a recurring knee problem. But there is still a chance the inspirational No 8 will join his teammates on tour, but he will have to pass a fitness test today to do so.
“He’s still feeling the knee,” said Lions chief executive Rudolf Straeuli after Whiteley had visited an orthopaedic surgeon and had an MRI scan done.
“The scan showed there is no further damage to the knee (after sitting out the last five weeks); that it was just a tweak. The thing is Warren is uncomfortable and it comes down to him being confident running. He’ll do another test on Monday and when he’s deemed fit he’ll join the tour. It’s as frustrating for us as a union, as it is for him and all of you.”
As special a leader and player he is the Lions showed against the Tahs that they can manage just fine without Whiteley, and De Bruin & Co will look to back the same players this week against the men from Brisbane. And they should be confident of making it an eighth win in a row against Australian opposition.
The Reds have struggled in recent times and this year have managed just three wins from eight outings. Over the weekend they lost 36-12 at home to the Chiefs and are down in 12th place on the overall standings with 13 points.
The Lions are top of the pile with 30 points thanks to their six wins from nine, but they have played a game more than their nearest rivals who have only played eight or seven matches.
De Bruin & Co will certainly want another win this weekend before they head to New Zealand for dates with the Hurricanes and Highlanders – two teams in the top six and among the favourites to feature in the playoffs later this season.