The Lions have confirmed that fullback-cum-centre Jaco Taute will be out of action for at least a month, after picking up a shoulder injury in the side’s final tour match against the Force last weekend.
The versatile 21-year-old back has been one of the few stand-outs for the Lions in another dismal Super Rugby campaign and while losing him for the remainder of their season is unfortunate, realistically it’s unlikely to do much to worsen their log standing, since they don’t really have any further to fall. The really unfortunate thing about the injury is that it also takes Taute out of contention for the Boks’ upcoming series against England.
The former Monument schoolboy has been invited to all of Heyneke Meyer’s training camps and was one of the few Lions players still in the picture when the cut-down group of 42 was named last week. With a number of players still very much in the running for the fullback berth, it’s not completely inconceivable that the big Taute could have been used in some way – that chance now appears to have slipped away for the unfortunate youngster.
The Lions face the Sharks in Johannesburg on Saturday and will have Butch James available to them for the first time since he was suspended for a dangerous tackle 4 weeks ago.
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Let’s take a bet on how long butch takes to give a shoulder charge or gets a yellow card!!!sharks should run over these guys..
Big Loss to the Lions, he is a great player. They needed him this weekend against a Very Strong Sharks team on a Roll. Going to be a long Day at the office for the Lions come Saturday.
Any news on CJ van der Lindes citing.
Pity – Taute is a quality player
Taute is a good player but he is found wanting technically at fullback.
Nice center but then again not better than JDV, JDJ, Steyn ,Olivier, Sadie or even these two new sharkie centers. I see him at fullback once he’s learned a feel for the technical aspect.
@Talent (Comment 5) :
He is still young . Give the man a chance .
@Zibbie (Comment 6) : why i said once hes learned…
Lions just can’t catch a break on the injury front! Really feel for Taute and Goosen – both missing out on a possible cap due to injury.