A little too early for Combrinck
Coach says shoulder injury still requires more time to heal. NOT READY YET FOR STORMERS CLASH
Explosive Springbok wing Ruan Combrinck is not ready yet to return to Super Rugby action for the Lions. Combrinck, who underwent shoulder surgery at the end of last year, hasn’t featured in any of the Lions’ six matches to date, but his projected return was targeted for mid-April.
The 26-year-old Combrinck, who played seven Tests for the Boks last season and featured in 47 Super Rugby matches for the Lions since 2012, has seen how teenager Madosh Tambwe has made the No 14 jersey his own.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann said yesterday Combrinck hasn’t received the green light from medical staff yet and he wasn’t prepared to rush him back this weekend against the Stormers at Newlands.
That could leave the Lions in a minor fullback conundrum for this weekend’s big derby against the high-flying Stormers, who retained their unbeaten record with a convincing 34-26 win over the previously unbeaten Chiefs in Cape Town.
Regular fullback Andries Coetzee injured his hamstring during the Bok camp in Stellenbosch last week which could make him a doubtful starter, while Jaco van der Walt is still on the sidelines with an ankle injury.
The Lions could therefore fall back on Sylvian Mahuza, who missed the Lions’ last match against the Sharks before their bye due to family bereavement.
There is also still doubt over the hand injury that has kept centre Lionel Mapoe out of the Lions’ last two matches with a decision on him due later in the week.
Ackermann said however the bye arrived at the best time possible.
“The bye arrived at the right time. Just a pity the second one is not so good, but this first one was perfect,” he said in reference to the second bye they’ll have the weekend before the June international break.
“There were a lot of bumps and bruises after the Sharks game,” Ackermann added.