Bearded wonder in second row shift
Josh Strauss, often the Golden Lions' talisman, has been moved to lock – after the injury curse again struck the Johannesburg outfit.
Lions stand-in coach Johan Ackermann confirmed that lock Hendrick Roodt has been ruled out of the Round Four encounter with Griquas, in Johannesburg on Friday, with concussion he suffered in the 26-23 win over Western Province last week.
"He failed his [cognisance] test [on Monday] and won't be ready … especially with this being a Friday game," Ackermann told this website.
Ackermann also explained why the lock, who took two huge knocks in the first half, was allowed to stay on the field.
"[After] the first knock he took, he was cleared [by the medical staff] to return, but then he got knocked back in that big tackle by Duane Vermeulen [the WP No.8]," the Lions mentor said.
"They treated him [on the field] and decided he could stay on, but then he missed a line-out call just before half-time and failed to support Franco [van der Merwe].
"The team doctor told me they won't be sending him to the dressing room, they will be evaluating him in the medical rooms and they then informed us that he won't return after half-time."
The lock's loss is the only setback, apart from the usual bumps and bruises that forced Ackermann to keep a number of players out of contact in the first few days of the week.
The good news is that utility forward Michael Rhodes and centre Alwyn Hollenbach are fit again and returned to the Lions squad.
They will both feature against Griquas this coming Friday.
Ackermann made a number of changes to his team, including naming Strauss at lock – replacing Roodt at lock as he did when he stood in for the injured second row forward in the second half against WP last wee.
"The alternative was to play Michael Rhodes at lock, but I decided to play Josh [Strauss]," Ackermann told this website.
There are five changes to the starting line-up that beat Province last weekend.
Apart from Strauss' move to the second row, veteran Bok prop CJ van der Linde replaces Jacobie Adriaanse at tighthead – following an injury to Adriaanse.
Jaco Kriel replaces Cobus Grobbelaar on the left flank, with Grobbelaar dropping to the bench, while Willie Britz will make his first start for the Golden Lions at right flanker in place of Strauss.
Ross Cronje starts at scrumhalf in place of Michael Bondesio, who drops down to the replacement bench.
Ruan Dreyer is the reserve prop in place of Van der Linde.
Rhodes, who returns to the squad following an injury, comes onto the bench as a utility forward in the spot vacated by Britz's promotion to the starting XV.
Hollenbach is the utility back on the bench, with Ruan Combrinck dropping out of the matchday 22.
The mood in the Lions camp is also significantly better than a week ago, following their Round Two loss to the Sharks.
The defending Currie Cup champions did a fine job of bouncing back after the loss in Durban and showed great character.
"They did great, especially after that start [when the Lions went 0-10 down in as many minutes against Province last Saturday and still trailed 8-10 on the half-hour mark]," Ackermann said.
"The guys maintained their composure to work their way back into the game.
"We had our share of good luck, but you take that when it comes your way.
"We know what we have to work on and fix up, but a win a win certainly lifts the camp."
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Willie Britz, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Joshua Strauss, 3 CJ Van der Linde, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Callie Visagie/Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Michael Bondesio, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Deon Helberg.
Date: Friday, August 31
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
By Jan de Koning
