Johannesburg - It may be a week or two early, but Warren Whiteley looks set to be rushed back into the Lions team for the Super Rugby quarter-final against the Crusaders at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The regular captain was ruled out of rugby for up to six weeks following the shoulder injury he picked up playing for the Springboks against Ireland in June, but with the Lions’ Super Rugby fate on the line, the lanky No 8 is back in the selection mix, after just three weeks on the sidelines.
He has been named in a 25-man squad from which the final matchday-23 will be picked, the Lions saying he will undergo a fitness test on Thursday to determine his readiness.
Assistant Lions coach Swys de Bruin was yesterday confident Whiteley would be fit. ”The team hasn’t been picked, but we’re positive he’ll be okay,” said De Bruin.
“Warren won’t take contact until Thursday because the injury has just healed, so we’ll see then. “It’ll be great if he plays, but then Ruan Ackermann has done brilliantly in Warren’s absence, being named Man of the Match the last time he played (against the Southern Kings).”
The call on Whiteley isn’t the only big decision coach Johan Ackermann has to make this week.
While the logical choice is to pick the same starting team, including Whiteley, that did duty against the Kings and Sharks in the Lions’ last two games before their trip to Argentina with a “B” team, there’s the option of swapping Rohan Janse van Rensburg with Howard Mnisi in the centres and then, there’s the make-up of the bench.
While Janse van Rensburg has been sensational in the No 12 jersey since bolting down a starting spot alongside Lionel Mapoe, his pace and power from off the bench may just be what the Lions will want come the latter stages of Saturday’s quarter-final - especially because the Crusaders will have travelled late to South Africa.
De Bruin says nothing’s been decided. “It doesn’t matter who starts and who comes off the bench. All the players bring something different to the team. “Rohan has pure brute strength, while Howard has an ability to beat players ... they’re both quality players.”
On the bench, the coach will have to decide between fit-again Jaco van der Walt, who travelled to Buenos Aires and Sylvian Mhuza, and the Whiteley decision will determine who between Ackermann and Cyle Brink gets a shot at the Crusaders.
Meanwhile, the Crusaders are expected in Johannesburg only today or tomorrow after being delayed in New Zealand because of a shortage of flights to South Africa.
Because of the time difference between Argentina and New Zealand and their only finding out where they’d be playing this weekend after the Lions’ match against the Jaguares on Saturday, the Crusaders were able to only book their flights late on Sunday and also had to wait in a “queue” behind the Chiefs, who are also headed to South Africa to play the Stormers.
The Chiefs flew out of Auckland, via Sydney, yesterday but the Crusaders were only able to fly to Johannesburg today.To make matters worse, they will be without key wing Nemani Nadolo, who injured his hamstring against the Hurricanes on Saturday, as well as prop Joe Moody, who’s got a neck injury.
Back in the fold though are scrumhalf Andy Ellis (calf) and lock Sam Whitelock (illness), who both missed the Hurricanes match.
Lions squad
Sylvian Mahuza, Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Courtnall Skosan, Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Howard Mnisi, Jaco van der Walt, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Ross Cronje, Cyle Brink, Ruan Ackermann, Warren Whiteley, Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Lourens Erasmus, Andries Ferreira, Franco Mostert, Malcolm Marx, Akker van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Julian Redelinghuys, Corne Fourie, Dylan Smith
The Star