Johannesburg - Springbok No 8 Warren Whiteley has cleared and will play in Saturday’s Super Rugby quarter-final with the Crusaders at Ellis Park.
The inspirational captain who was sidelined for three weeks after injuring his shoulder playing in the three-Test series against Ireland in June. He was initially ruled out of the rest of Super Rugby, that is for six weeks, but is back in the mix after just three weeks on the side of the field.
The other position that needs to be finalised before Saturday is on the bench where coach Johan Ackermann has to decide between Jaco van der Walt and Sylvia Mhuza, who fulfil the utility back position.
The rest of the side to tackle the seven-times champions is more-or-less the same side that has started throughout the season. The Lions go into the game on the back of a defeat by the Jaguares in Buenos Aires - albeit with a weakened side - while the Crusaders lost to the Hurricanes in Christchurch last Saturday. Both teams won 11 matches during the regular season.
The winner on Saturday will advance to the semi-finals for a date with either the Stormers or Chiefs, who do battle in Cape Town, also on Saturday.
Lions team
Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley, Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Andries Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys, Malcolm Marx, Dylan Smith. Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Corne Fourie, Jacques van Rooyen, Ruan Ackermann, Cyle Brink, Ross Cronje, Howard Mnisi, Jaco van der Walt/Sylvian Mahuza
Independent Media