It’s bad news for the Lions ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Sharks in Durban.
First-choice loosehead prop JC van Rensburg, who went down with a toe injury against the Hurricanes on Friday night, has apparently sustained ligament damage that will require an operation to repair.
A message on the official Lions Facebook page today confirmed that the burly front-ranker will play no further part in his side’s 2012 campaign as a result of the injury.
Bad luck, JC – we hope it comes right in time for the Currie Cup.
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And CJ is also carrying a niggle. Always unfortunate when a player learns of his long term injury. Tough luck big guy.
Vd Linde out for 3 – 4 weeks. Pat Cilliers likely to be shifted to loose head. Will Adriaanse slot in at 3?
Thats 2 very good players in our frontrow out for the season …I’m not holding much hope out for CJ either as it seems his troublesome groin injury has returned.
@slammerboy (Comment 2) : vd Linde confirmed out?
According to Keo he is out. Don’t like see players getting injured but this could work in our fabvour esp with Cilliers shifting to loosehead
@slammerboy (Comment 5) : Pat has been very good
@robdylan (Comment 6) : he was impressive on the weekend. He is pretty mobile for a tighthead. Pity he couldnt stick around within the Sharks setup
@slammerboy (Comment 5) :
The clash of 2 injury ravaged front rows …
Lions firmly now underdogs 😀
@slammerboy (Comment 5) : I see that… apparently Mitchell confirmed it directly to them.
Glad to know someone will speaks to them
A real disappointment and a big loss for the Lions. Maybe they could get Heinke vd Merwe back, think his Leinster deal expires in April/May and he would be in good shape.
Only other options they have are Caylib Oosthuizen and Ruan Dreyer to provide cover.
@slammerboy (Comment 7) : there were two issues… one was around timing. If Pat had hung around one season longer, I think he would have been an indispensable part of the Sharks set up now.
The other issue was more serious… I don’t think that Plum truly believed Pat was dedicated enough to his rugby. I’m glad for him that he’s moved on and has found a coach that backs him. In short, Plum didn’t.
@Pat (Comment 10) : and Adriaanse?
@robdylan (Comment 12)
Yep he will play 3 and Cilliers 1 with either Oosthuizen and Dreyer on the bench. I think Dreyer can cover both 1 and 3 so probably him i would think. Vd Linde out for 3-4 weeks!
I was meaning more that apart from Cilliers and Adriaanse there aint much depth. They might need to get a few Pumas/Leopards props. Maybe a loan deal for Marcel vd Merwe or rope in Corne Fourie.
@robdylan (Comment 11) : The Pat Cillier situation is an interesting one. Mate of mine knows his old man and he explained what happened prior to Pat leaving to go to the Lions. What I can say is it didn’t have anything to do with his dedication to the Sharks cause.
@slammerboy (Comment 14) : the sharks perception of his dedication?
@slammerboy (Comment 14) : I’ll be irritated if it was a non-rugby reason that caused Pat to leave!
I still feel that he’ll be a Bok one of these days! Would love to see him and Heinke van de Merwe pack down together!
😯 Beast breaks an ankle, gets his heart recalibrated, is out for a few months while JC damages a toe ligament and misses the rest of the season – who would have thought it possible?
Apparently JC Van Rensburg out for 6 weeks and not whole Super rugby season.