Fourie to sit out

Fourie to sit out

15 Apr 2009

Injuries have ruled out Jaque Fourie and Baywatch Grobbelaar from the Lions’ team to face the Reds.

Fourie left the pitch after half an hour against the Blues after receiving a finger in the eye and Ernst Joubert – who took over from Fourie – will lead the side at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday. Fourie has been in devastating form this season and has enjoyed an extended injury-free run, but now a wobbly Lions side have been robbed of two of their best players and leaders.

Grobbelaar’s ankle injury saw him ruled out of last week’s mauling and his fetching abilities were sorely missed. Coach Loffie Eloff was confident Grobbelaar would only sit out the solitary game but they will have to do without his services again.

Joubert will probably start at blindside flanker with Todd Clever and Willem Alberts completing the loose-trio. Joubert last captained the team in week six last year against the self-same Reds before an injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.

Grobbelaar will be a big loss in countering All Blacks opensider Daniel Braid, but Joubert is confident his poaching abilities will be neutralised.

‘We already missed Baywatch last week,’ Joubert told keo.co.za, ‘but in South Africa we have many loosies so we’ll fill the gap.

‘Daniel and Baywatch are in the same class and are similar players, but Todd did brilliantly against the Blues. He is also lighter and gets across the park and he can perform a similar role.’

Although Braid may be in a side that lie 13th on the log, he has been one standout and his scavenging last week thwarted numerous Highlanders’ attacks. Joubert is fully aware of his abilities.

‘Daniel’s a great player and although the Reds may have struggled at times, he’s never stopped going. You look at him in previous years with the Blues behind a big pack and you see how good he is. But all the games we’ve watched this season for the Reds he’s been one of their main threats,’ said Joubert.

The Queenslanders have looked to adopt a brand of semi-touch rugby in spreading the ball from side to side to avoid contact. Joubert expects a similar approach this week and he realises the Lions’ defence – which has leaked 16 tries in their last three matches – must improve drastically.

‘They’ll definitely try take the ball away from our pack, as we do have quite heavy forwards,’ he said. ‘I must admit sides have been successful against us going wide, but we’ve emphasised that this week. We’ve looked at our width defence and we know we must get in their faces and place pressure.

‘Defence is also an attitude thing in those one-on-one tackles. We’ve also looked at gang tackling and using two-on-one tackles. We must minimise their space and work harder in defence,’ said an honest Joubert.

The week started off wet in Brisbane and has since cleared up, but Joubert believes humidity will still be a factor even though it is later in the year.

‘The weather has got warmer and better but it doesn’t make a difference with humidity. The ball will still be slippery when handling, similar to playing the Sharks in Durban.’

Meanwhile, the only good news in terms of team personnel should see centre Doppies la Grange and lock Jannes Labuschagne returning to the team. La Grange could start at 12 with Deon van Rensburg – who made his run-on debut last week – shifting to outside centre in Fourie’s place to face Digby Ioane.

By Grant Ball


32 Comments

  • 1.dWeePer: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:01 pm

    Fight for the second last place

  • 2.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:08 pm

    Hier sit die Leeuwens innie moeilikheid, hulle gaan lelik slae kry teen die Reds, **** my lied…

  • 3.THE MAULER: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:13 pm

    Big blow…. Fourie was just starting to play extremely well… Lions will be lost without him…

  • 4.Ezee-23: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:15 pm

    Who is Baywatch? And why is he called that?

  • 5.wez: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:24 pm

    #4 Ezee-23: Are you new to rugby? Must be..

  • 6.wez: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:27 pm

    Anyway, Baywatch is Cobus Grobbelaar. He rescued someone while at the beach and that’s where the name comes from. Probably one of the most if not the most recognised nickname for a sa player. The refs even call him baywatch on the pitch

  • 7.Sharksgirl: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:30 pm

    Man is this guy unlucky! The Lions will miss both of these guys!

  • 8.Sharksgirl: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:31 pm

    #7 Sharksgirl: and by this guy I mean Jaques Fourie. :oops:

  • 9.alf: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:37 pm

    Moes nooit teen die Chiefs verloor het nie, dit was die finale spyker in die doodskis. Lions 2009 S14 … R.I.P.

  • 10.coma: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:43 pm

    Noooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!, How do I reverse a Superbru prediction?

  • 11.Slappes: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 12:48 pm

    Arme welptjies gaan dronk gespeel word – die reds gaan 7s speel en lions moet TEKKEL.

  • 12.Nils: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 14:44 pm

    With Fourie and Grobelaar out, Lions chances look bleak. Pretorius kicking is woeful this season, so all hope on scoring more tries.

    Reds by 10-12 probably.

  • 13.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 15:17 pm

    Ag nee wat. Kan my week nog k@kker gaan…….

  • 14.adi: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 15:44 pm

    Pretorius kicks out two balls directly,
    one kick is charged down for a try.
    cant get backline on the frontfoot.
    missed an easy conversion.
    drop kick with an overlap on ouside.

    When Rose came on the lions score two tries. looks like a different team. when fourie was injured why wasnt he given a chance

    Nowhere in any media coverage of the game you can read about how poor pretorius was. just show that decisions are not based in the best interest of the team

    even if he can’t start give hime at least 40 minutes

  • 15.adi: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 15:52 pm

    die reds gaan bonus points kry.

    hoe gouer van die coach onslae geraak word , hoe beter.

    (Eugene DRIE JAAR PLAN Ellof)

    versterk die groep

  • 16.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 16:50 pm

    #15 adi: ek voel die spelers moet hulle kant ook bring. Hulle weet ‘n game is 80 minute. Hoekom speel hulle net 60 minute?

  • 17.Vibes: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:01 pm

    Nog slegte nuus. Ludick ook beseer!!

  • 18.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:09 pm

    #17 Vibes: OOO F@k.

  • 19.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:15 pm

    Ag we’ve no chance now.

    Reds were one I was counting on actually.

    So wonder what Doffie’s plan is now.

    Start Rose and leave Poepstring on the bench for one

  • 20.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:17 pm

    #17 Vibes: Ek het jou artikel op Lionspride gaan lees. Is jy seker oor Ludik?
    #19 SodaJoe: Rose will be moved to fullback now. Maybe Jannie Boshoff!

  • 21.SodaJoe: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:20 pm

    #20 Ed_the_Lion: Eddie sometimes I wonder whether to care. We always had fokkol depth.

    Baywatch & Jacques are critical. When they go I don’t hold out too much hope.

  • 22.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 18:25 pm

    #21 SodaJoe: You are 100% again SJ. Injuries to these guys should not be a problem, but with the Lions and Cheetahs, one or two guys out and the teams go for a bowl of ****. I am getting tired with the Lions Management.

  • 23.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Apr 2009, 23:17 pm

    Lions losing Fourie is similiar to the Cheetahs losing Juan down under. Will be very tough without him and Baywatch

  • 24.Joe Maher: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 02:34 am

    Ouch, there goes our best hope of a victory away from home.

    And there goes Loffie as coach. Can’t see him surviving if we end 12th, 13th or 14th…and that’s very much on the cards.

    Although we may just pip the Stormers!!!!!!

  • 25.whatever: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 03:14 am

    Don’t know why old JF is so loyal to the Lions!! He would do well at the Bulls. I reckon he and Meisiekind would make a great 12/13 pairing.

  • 26.money_man: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 07:09 am

    Ouch… losing the world’s best 13 is always going to hurt… and here I was hoping the Lions were going to move above the Stormers on the log…

  • 27.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 07:11 am

    Go Lions !
    Every weekend I say never again.
    But the pain fades during the week and I’m back watching again next week.
    Hope the television survives this weekend.

    I am making a point of not going to Ellispark this year.
    Untill management sort out their issues, they are not getting any money from me.

  • 28.The_duke: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 07:50 am

    You Saffas are obsessed with best everything ,best scrum half, best lock,Best Blindside Flanker, now best outside centre.
    Best scrum half-maybe,no player is really outstanding in that position.
    Best Lock-Ali Williams,Paul O’Cornell
    Best Blindside Flank- Thierry Dusatoir
    Best outside centre-BOD without a doubt.

  • 29.whatever: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 07:58 am

    #28 The_duke:

    Best generalisation post!

    Ali Williams, good but not the best
    Bod, was the best two years ago. On the otherside of the hill at the moment, although still playing good footie

    Best not carry on with this……. :)

  • 30.The_duke: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 08:25 am

    #29 WHATEVER
    Jus give your opinion dont, hide behind best not to carry on with this. I have evidence and stats to back my picks.

  • 31.Boelie: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 08:40 am

    #30 The_duke:
    Now how do you “prove” that. Stats tell a story, but when playing in different conditions, hemispheres and leagues they can’t be compared.
    As for evidence, are you Inspector Clouseau ?

  • 32.The_duke: Reply to this comment
    16 Apr 2009, 09:10 am

    Boelie, Boelie ,Boelie now dont you get your knickers in a twist.I assume you are not visually impaired( metaphoirically speaking) Blue Goggles included and watched the tri nations autumn tests six nations, thats where i get my evidence.But if you are I will leave you with this saying,”He who has never left his village always thinks his mothers cooking is the best.”
    Later gentlemen.
    P.S.I aint Closeau more of Sherlock Holmes our tent has been stolen type.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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