Grant Hattingh, late of Maties and the Varsity Cup, could become the latest in a long line of young locks to play Super Rugby for the Lions this season, as their second-row injury crisis continues to bite.
The 2.01m 21-year-old has been included on the bench for this weekend’s clash against the Brumbies, with Hendrik Roodt recalled to the starting lineup to replace the injured Stephan Greeff. Hattingh was born on Johannesburg, before moving on to the Eastern Cape, completing his education at Kingswood College in Grahamstown. After school, he moved to Stellenbosch, playing for both Maties and the Western Province Vodacom Cup side earlier this year.
In the only other change to the run-on team, Lionel Mapoe returns at wing for James Kamana, with Michael Killian’s spell in the Vodacom Cup wilderness seemingly over as he comes onto the bench.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaans, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Christo le Roux, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Butch James, 22 Michael Killian
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Glad to see Hendrik Roodt is back in the mix
I think this Lions team will struggle against the Brumbies, especially since White has been involved with the Lions, and he knows the setup..
Also wonder how well Kyle Cooper or Craig Burden could be doing in that front row…
Would not mind having Pat Cilliers back
The Lions union are a bunch of clowns. How they could release there two up and coming locks, in David Bulbring and Joe Snyman at the end of last season, I just don’t know.
@Bump (Comment 4) :
Bullbring never fulfilled his potential, he is at the Kings and hasnt been picked up a bigger union which indicates that he wasnt at the level required. He also got an opportunity in Superrugby last year and never took it. As for Snyman was a good player but was very injury prone – has been out for about six months recently – also played at the Sharks so not really up to the standard either.
The Lions actually have a lot of potential junior locks – Paul Willemse and Ruan Venter along with Ruan Botha, which are locks that are better investments.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) :
White’s involvement was in conditioning and set-up nothing to do with tactics …
But hey that means squat cause we have no tactics and frankly the Brumbies could beat the Lions with one arm tied behind their collective backs. 🙄
All the best to the new guy ..best he prepare for his debut trailing by plenty points.
Goodness what a cluster %&£$ !!
@Bump (Comment 4) :
Both those locks had their chance and didn’t impress enough to hang onto ..and also the Lions had to cut players for self preservation.
Thanks to the clowns that ran the Union into the ground over the last 8 years …those pricks responsible are now long gone anyway.
@csb (Comment 6) :
Thanks for clearing that up, I was really not sure to what extent he was involved..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 8) :
😳 sorry I went on a rant wasn’t directed at you ofcourse ..I’m seething over the dire situation the Lions are in thats all.
@csb (Comment 9) :
Never saw it as directed at me, no worries 😉
I would be worried if I were you as well.. oh wait, I have enough to worry about here..
Feel for the Lions. Don’t even want to imagine how kak the Sharks would have been with a similar injury crisis!
I just have a feeling that the Lions are going to pull of a victory here, don’t ask me why I just have a feeling
Mitchell had no choice but to select Roodt. Hope he impresses on the weekend and cements his place in the team