We’ll be back, says De Bruin

The return of Warren Whiteley is just one of the reasons which gives Lions coach Swys de Bruin (right) great optimism for next year’s Super Rugby campaign.

The Lions’ Currie Cup season ended with a defeat to Western Province last weekend in Cape Town, but De Bruin said the future of the union looks bright.

“We will all rest now and be back on November 15 when pre-season starts and we will only have the Boks and Japan guys back more or less mid-January.

“So this will give us a great chance to work and hone the skills of the youngsters we have identified,” he said.

Whiteley will return in the new year after his groin injury but there will be belated starts for flank Jaco Kriel and wing Ruan Combrinck

“Warren’s progress is good and he is positive,” said De Bruin.

“The reason why his recovery is taking longer is that they found out there’s some problem with a nerve but it looks like a full recovery is on its way.”

De Bruin said they were always going to play catch-up in the Currie Cup.

“I saw the previous week against the Sharks that Province’s curve was on the up, but for us it was a knock here and a lost ball there close to the line.

“It’s very tough not to have a pre-season, but some of the guys have been five years in the system if you add the Under-19 and Under-21s and we try to train and do similar stuff,” he said.

De Bruin said though he is incredibly excited about Super Rugby coming up, as they have a lot of guys in Japan and great youngsters, like Ashlon Davids, Hacjivah Dayimani and Len Massyn, who have come through.

“We had 11 Under-21 youngsters coming through the system, so with Franco Mostert and those guys coming back I’m very excited and I remain an optimist,” he said.

“I think we had a great season, it started with Griquas, we were stone-last, so it was a system where we had to fall in.

“Four games in we had no points virtually and we had to catch up, so well done to them and to make the semifinals in the end.”