Lions’ Super Rugby squad teems with Boks
FIT-AGAIN Warren Whiteley will in all likelihood captain the Lions when they kick off their Super Rugby challenge with a first-round match against the Sharks at Ellis Park on February 17, even though he was not unveiled as the skipper when coach Swys de Bruin named his 2018 squad yesterday.
There were no surprises in the squad of 40, which now doesn’t include scrumhalf Faf de Klerk or loose-forward Ruan Ackermann and is also minus the now retired prop Julian Redelinghuys. De Klerk and Ackermann are playing their rugby in England, but De Bruin is well covered in the scrumhalf and loose-forward departments.
Whiteley missed the run-in to the final against the Crusaders last year after injuring his groin while playing for the Springboks in June – and didn’t play again until December when he ran out for his Japanese club, the Red Hurricanes. He is, however, back in training with his Lions teammates and is expected to run out in front against the Sharks, more so when one considers that the other potential captain, Jaco Kriel, is sidelined due to injury.
No less than 13 Boks were named in the squad, among them Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert, Ross Cronje, Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Lionel Mapoe, Andries Coetzee, Kriel and Whiteley, who De Bruin will bank on this season.
Wings Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan were also named in the squad even though both are currently injured, so for the first few rounds of action expect rookies Madosh Tambwe and Aphiwe Dyantyi to get a run in the No 11 and 14 jerseys. Sylvian Mahuza will also be an option for the coach.
Sevens star Kwagga Smith is also in the squad and is set to play big role in the coming months, while promising Hacjivah Dayimani will also hope to get regular game time.
The only area of concern before the start of the season is at lock where injuries have laid low Andries Ferreira and Rhyno Herbst, while Lourens Erasmus is believed to also be making his way back after recovering from injury.
De Bruin has opted to back three flyhalves, with rookies Shaun Reynolds and Ashlon Davids set to be the back-up for Jantjies, while both can also play at fullback, and serve as cover for Coetzee.