Lions lock Reinhard Nothnagel and prop Ruan Dreyer are back to boost the team ahead of their crucial United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against Benetton in Treviso this weekend, but it has been confirmed that star flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse has been ruled out for the rest. season.
Hendrikse picked up a shoulder injury during the Lions’ overseas tour in January, with head coach Ivan van Rooyen admitting in mid-February that the injury would need to be reassessed after several weeks of rehabilitation.
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The Lions’ 25-man touring squad to Italy was named on Tuesday evening and media manager Nyaniso Sam confirmed that Hendrikse will only be available again at the end of June or early July, meaning he is out of the rest of the URC and Currie. Trophy season.
However, the team needs to shake off the blow and focus on the game against Benetton, which they must win in order to secure a place in the URC play-offs.
Having the key Nothnagel back, after recovering from an ankle injury suffered in December, and experienced prop Dreyer, who has been banned after receiving a red card in the game against the Sharks, the Pack Lions forward has been bolstered.
Exciting young Lion Travis Gordon, who captained the Currie Cup side in the opening two games, is also in the URC mix for the first time after returning to the playing field following a long-term injury.
There are no surprises
In the back line, the Lions did not mention any surprises, but the experience of full-back Andries Coetzee will be called upon when he returns to the team he played for last year.
“Our preparation this week has been good so far. It’s nice and hot here in South Africa. So everything is going well and we’re looking forward to the tour,” Coetzee said.
“It’s great to see him (his former team-mate at Benetton). We know that Benetton are a big physical team, so we expect a physical game. He’s also good with the ball in hand, so it will be a proper Test match like a game.
“They’ve got a few guys playing for Italy. So we’re looking forward to the challenge, but we know it’s going to be a fast, physical game.
The Lions left for Italy on Tuesday evening, will arrive in the country on Wednesday and the team for the match will be named on Friday morning.
Singa Touring Squad
Advanced: Willem Alberts, PJ Botha, Morne Brandon, Ruan Dreyer, Travis Gordon, Francke Horn, Jaco Kriel, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinhard Nothnagel, Ruan Delport, Ruben Schoeman, Rhynardt Rijnsburger, JP Smith, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruan Venter
Back: Andries Coetzee, Quan Horn, Rynhardt Jonker, Gianni Lombard, Marius Louw, Rabz Maxwane, Sanele Nohamba, Manuel Rass, Morne van den Berg, Edwill van der Merwe