Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar is nervous about his team’s Currie Cup rugby match against the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
And no one can blame the livewire flanker. The fitness of several key players in his team is in doubt.
Hennie Brandt writes in Beeld that the Lions have played themselves back into contention during the past two weekends, but they may be without some of the stars on Saturday.
Grobbelaar himself is doubtful. He has a hamstring injury and did not train on Monday and Tuesday
Wing Louis Ludick, versatile backline player Jaco van Schalkwyk and lock Dewald Senekal also have hamstring problems.
And to make matters worse, Springbok outside centre Jaque Fourie and flyhalf Louis Strydom suffered groin injuries in training on Tuesday.
Thursday will be D-day for the injured players and the coaching staff.
Coach Eugene Eloff wants to finalise his team on Thursday afternoon and the injured players will have to prove their fitness before then.
The team’s physiotherapist worked overtime on Tuesday and chances are that Grobbelaar, Ludick, Van Schalkwyk and Senekal will play in Durban.
Two-stroke swing in golf
However, Fourie and Strydom still have to beat the clock.
“I’m a little nervous about us having to play the Sharks without some of our key players,” Grobbelaar said on Wednesday.
He compared it to a two-stroke swing in golf. “One guy makes a birdie and his opponent drops a shot, and suddenly the difference is two shots.”
The team’s preparations were disrupted when several players were unable to train, “but that’s not a big problem. Everyone knows what his role is and what is expected of him,” Grobbelaar said.
“The players who trained in our positions know the drill. They will do their job. And it’s an opportunity for them to show what they are capable of.”
Sharks coach John Plumtree has the luxury of being able to select Springboks Ruan Pienaar, Odwa Ndungane, Tendai Mtawarira and maybe Ryan Kankowski, who have been released for provincial rugby this week.
“Their availability will boost the Sharks,” Grobbelaar said. “If they play against us, they will grab the opportunity to try to show they should play for South Africa in the Tri-Nations home games.”
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Equals the playing field a bit I’d say, oh wait we have our Boks back Sharks will eat a bit of Lion meat me thinks especially if Fourie and Baywatch are out!
Fourie out will be a HUGE Loss. again!
From 365
Crocked Fourie in Pumas Comeback?
World Cup-winning Springbok centre Jaque Fourie is a doubtful starter for the Lions’ Round Six Currie Cup encounter with Sharks in Durban on Saturday, but remains confident of making his international comeback early next month.
Fourie, who has played only about 100 minutes of Currie Cup rugby since his elbow surgery earlier this year, remains optimistic that he will be fit to reclaim his place in the Bok team when South Africa face Argentina in Johannesburg on August 9.
Despite being in a race against time to recover from a groin injury, sustained at training this week, Fourie is hopeful of starting his second Currie Cup game of the season against the Sharks on Saturday.
He played about 20 minutes in the 57-17 win over Boland almost a fortnight ago and started in the 36-32 win over Griquas last Saturday.
But Fourie’s groin forced him to miss training on Tuesday and will face a fitness test on Thursday before a call is made on his availability for Saturday’s trip to Durban.
Despite the injury cloud hovering over the seasoned Bok midfielder, he said on Wednesday he is “looking forward” to renewing his midfield partnership with Jean de Villiers on the international stage.
“I have gotten some game time in [with the Lions],” he told OFM Sport in a podcast.
“Hopefully the Argentina game [in Johannesburg on August 9] I can start and then the rest of the Tri-Nations if everything goes well,” he said of his hopes of a speedy international return.
Fourie knows that Springbok selection is not a given, but he hopes his Currie Cup form will convince the selectors that he is can add value to the national team.
“I’ll probably talk to Peter [de Villiers, the Bok coach] this weekend and see what’s going on,” Fourie said.
PDV not to choose Jaques would me madness! 😕
Gotta love this little profound gem:
“He compared it to a two-stroke swing in golf. “One guy makes a birdie and his opponent drops a shot, and suddenly the difference is two shots.”
Lions are motivated and settled – will be tough any which way.
@Big Fish (Comment 5) :
Am really happy that I will be able to watch. 😎 Was maybe not gonna be around 🙁
@KSA Shark © (Comment 6) :
I hope for your sake the Sharks actually play like a professional team. 🙄
@Big Fish (Comment 7) :
Me to, me to.
On the one hand I am looking forward to a great tussle and am dissappointed that the Lions may be a weakend side, on the other hand there is a sense of relief that they are weakend coz i don’t think we could beat them at the moment.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : you have described my feelings to the T!
Good morning all.
Please, please, please can we have a more fired up Sharks squad this Saturday?
BEEEEAAAST is making the LIONS nervous.
Hello everyone.
How many games has J.Fourie played again?
From injury straight to the Boks???
Rob…when you wake up… 🙄 How about a new poll?
Elbow surgery…groin injury…
The guy is seriously out of practice…
Welcome back…kallie! 😎
What nonsense is this!
Baywatch I expected more from you.. to come out and announce to the media that the injuries make you nervous is a sign of weakness and should not be tolerated.
Its no excuse and the Sharks need to be beaten on Sat regardless.
If it means we beat them with our 3rd team or a Monnas 1st 15 then so be it.
👿
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 14) :
Thanx, but it looks like I came too soon…
@Kal-El (Comment 13) : He must stay out of Andre Pretorius company… 🙄
@Charlie (Comment 17) :
and FDP
@Kal-El (Comment 18) :
@Kal-El (Comment 16) :
Never to soon to get your Superbru back on track 😉
When are they announcing our team? I need to decide to make my SB picks before I forget.
I need to know if we’ll win by 30 or 37 …
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
I’m already super, Bru 😆
@Kal-El (Comment 22) :
😆
@blackshark (Comment 21) :
Go with 37. 😉