Lions suffer double prop blow
6 Mar 2012
The Lions have lost props JC Janse van Rensburg and CJ van der Linde to long-term injuries.
Janse van Rensburg has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a toe injury while Van der Linde will be out for three to four weeks with a back injury. Both props hurt themselves during the first half of the Lions’ 30-28 defeat to the Hurricanes in Johannesburg last Friday night.
Coach John Mitchell confirmed the news to this site on Monday.
‘It’s a massive blow for us as those guys are talented props and key players in our team,’ Mitchell told keo.co.za. ‘We have depth in the front row and will have to make some changes there for our upcoming matches. We have decent front rowers in Pat Cilliers and Jacobie Adriaanse, while some other players will get promoted into the senior squad.’
The Lions travel to Durban this weekend to take on the Sharks. Mitchell plans to shift Cilliers from tighthead to loosehead prop to accommodate Adriaanse in the No 3 jersey.
By Gareth Duncan
41 Comments
5 Mar 2012, 17:50 pm
This will affect the morale of the team, significantly so.
I am still of the old school who says you pick your tighthead first, and your reserve tighthead second.
Pat Cilliers looks promising though, and Adriaanse has always been an exiting prospect.
5 Mar 2012, 18:14 pm
The lions can pick anyone, they will lose this weekend. If I was Mitchell, I would pick all the 2nd stringers.
5 Mar 2012, 18:17 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-2:
Interesting that the Sharks have lost both games to date but have not yet conceded a try.
Both away from home.
They will be tough to beat in Durban.
5 Mar 2012, 18:21 pm
Ja remember derbies aren’t really try fest. Sharks were unlucky to lose both games, they will have alberts back this week which would give more balance to the forward pack. Monday’s headline will read “lame lions have no bite”
5 Mar 2012, 18:27 pm
This is my dream headline:
“Liquidated lions lose super 15 place”
5 Mar 2012, 18:29 pm
Sorry for jc, cj & the lions…
but have to add that when WP were derided for letting cj go i reminded everyone that he o ly played something like 3/4 of one game for us… and would inevitably do the same this year…
so how many games has he played for the lions?
anyone gonna be big enough to apologise to ac & rassie…?
5 Mar 2012, 18:34 pm
“Peter de villiers to coach bulls”
5 Mar 2012, 18:35 pm
“Wynand olivier opens up about sexuality”
5 Mar 2012, 18:37 pm
“All blacks scandal, refs being paid for all black wins”
5 Mar 2012, 18:40 pm
“All Blacks: cape crusaders are *****”
5 Mar 2012, 18:42 pm
“All Blacks: cape crusaders are cun’ts”
5 Mar 2012, 18:47 pm
“Luke watson: My father is racist”
5 Mar 2012, 18:48 pm
“John Smit admits being sh’it”
5 Mar 2012, 18:53 pm
“John O’Neill and toby titus booked into mental institution”
5 Mar 2012, 18:56 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-2: You can’t guarantee a win in a rugby game, if anything I think this weekend will be close between the Sharks and the Lions..
5 Mar 2012, 18:58 pm
Close, the only thing making the game close is the fact that they will be playing on the same field
5 Mar 2012, 19:03 pm
Well done..The Lions back line is very close to the form of the currie cup final..if Bandesio can supply Jantjies with fast ball for a change we could run the Sharks ragged, that is if (and a big if) the pack can match the Sharks up front. Ultimately I reckon the Sharkies got the names to win, but they had the names against both the previous games and that got them close to winning..
5 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
Joh not as bad as first thought.
From the sound of the headline you’d swear they had been caught in a jacuzzi together.
5 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
I like your enthusiasm and optimism, its the 1st time I read the word “form” and “bondesio” in the same sentence
5 Mar 2012, 19:19 pm
Bandesio is average at best, over the last decade or so I have come all to familiar with the feeling of despair. But at the beginning of every season I start it with new hope and yes I sometimes do believe in my team a bit more than I should, but I guess that is why I support them..
5 Mar 2012, 19:28 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-19:
Familiar Sharks arrogance …now where did I hear this all before …
Right CC Final …
Both teams are struggling with the front row ..its gonna come down to which teams loosie pitch-up on Sat.
Alberts back is huge and he’ll be hungry for some contact…we don’t stop him in his tracks and it could be a long afternoon for the Lions.
Say what you want about Bandisio but his defence is excellent …get to the rucks quicker and I may give the lad a chance …
5 Mar 2012, 19:33 pm
I support the Stormers
If they lions win then I will shave off the hair on my balls, glue it to my head and call myself donald trump
5 Mar 2012, 20:16 pm
Big blow. Lions scrum looked good.
5 Mar 2012, 21:23 pm
@Almost…(Bonobo)-21: I think Josh and Minnie will be more than up for the contact with Alberts..
5 Mar 2012, 21:42 pm
@weakoma(weakoma)-24: If it is not going to rain it will be very humid or both. Not the type of weather to play new props and definitely not the game to play your running game. Especially NZ teams have found it difficult to play their game this time of year in Durban and the Lions will struggle as well.
Must say I was impressed with Jantjes on Friday, but I was disappointed with Strauss. He ran his angles in channels too wide and the times he ran of Bodesio things looked much better.
Saru should appoint whoever (probably Spencer) showed Jantjes how to run and distribute the ball. He keeps the opposite defenses on hold for a split second and creates space for his outside backs.
5 Mar 2012, 22:00 pm
@Horings(Horings)-25: Agree that the weather will be a factor and that a wet slow game will benefit the Shark heavies. Its not exactly new props in Pat Cilliers (which is very underrated in my opinion) and Jacobie Adriaanse, not so sure about the props that will be on the wood though. But my argument still stand, if the Lions can match the Sharks upfront which is possible I think the back line could edge it, given the weather plays nice..
5 Mar 2012, 22:22 pm
@Horings(Horings)-25: Jantjies does hold the defensive line in the manner you described, but his passing is inaccurate too often. The try of the Hurricanes hooker, for example, was a direct result of a hospital pass to Josh Strauss (who certainly was aligned in a poor position himself).
The Lions’ midfield will be much more potent if they work on their alignment and communicate better. Jantjies has a pivotal role to play in organising his offensive line.
Jantjies also hasn’t played against a well drilled rush defense – he holds the defensive line of a drifting defense well. It would be interesting to see how he copes with the former.
But he certainly is one of the form 10s in the competition so far, together with Barrett from the Canes.
6 Mar 2012, 06:54 am
Its amazing that the sharks front row have been struggling with 2 experienced boks there. Funny thing is that Chadwick has been scrumming better than the 2 boks. WOW
6 Mar 2012, 07:47 am
27 Willie I thought I was the only who saw that was Jantjies fault…
6 Mar 2012, 07:54 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-22:
Well then just chage that to the CC semi …same difference.
oh and you FIRED !
6 Mar 2012, 07:56 am
@Horings(Horings)-25:
I think Strauus had his worst game in a Lions jersey against the Canes …hopefully he gets back to form come Sat.
6 Mar 2012, 09:31 am
@Almost…(Bonobo)-31: He is a very good player and will regain form, he leads from the front and the Lions will need him to step up for the clash with the Sharks..
6 Mar 2012, 09:57 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-29:
Nope
I am following the play of all of our flyhalves with great interest this year…
6 Mar 2012, 10:35 am
Willie I yhink Jantjies has a great side step and is a solid tackler… Decision making needs to step up…
6 Mar 2012, 11:31 am
Lions need to stop spreading bad ball wide – a lot of the time Jantjies has thrown poor passes it’s because he’s received bad or slow ball himself and is rushing. Pass back inside to a forward, run it or kick it in those situations.
It’s basic stuff, but the Lions are just trying to force things a little too often when they’d be better served just making sure of possession.
6 Mar 2012, 11:33 am
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-22:
No rugby guru you certainly are.
May I suggest, too, that your protect your day job with every fibre in your body as you’re definitely no guru when it comes to stand-up comic!
That said, if mindless arrogance was an in-demand skill, the job market would be your oyster.
6 Mar 2012, 11:45 am
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-34: Agreed. In addition, he has great anticipation, awareness and vision.
6 Mar 2012, 13:23 pm
Wow, CJ van der Linde sure has pulled his weight since coming back from overseas. What are they paying this guy to watch from the sides?! What a passanger!
6 Mar 2012, 18:21 pm
@ JoeMoer
Enough said…
6 Mar 2012, 23:39 pm
@NoRugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-39:
As I said, with repartee like that, hold onto the day job with all your might.
7 Mar 2012, 01:37 am
CJ is a walking sick note, when last did this dude play the full 80?
Useless doos!
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