Why Swys is backing his 'babies'
Dreyer, who welcomed his son Anru Dreyer into the world this week, is the only member of the current Rugby Championship squad that will not fly out with the team to Australasia this weekend.
The forwards head to Perth on Friday and the backs a day later – as South Africa prepare to meet the Wallabies in Round Three of the Rugby Championship on September 9.
However, Dreyer will play for the Lions against the Pumas in a Currie Cup Round Eight match in Johannesburg on Saturday, before flying out to Perth.
In contrast the Lions lost talented young flank James Venter – who underwent surgery on Tuesday to mend his broken ankle, sustained in the Currie Cup loss to the Free State Cheetahs last Saturday.
Despite suffering their sixth loss in seven games, a 24-30 defeat against the Cheetahs, coach Zacharia de Bruin is adamant that the young players in his team will come good sooner, rather than later.
He said he has been waiting for the right opportunities to play some of the young guns.
De Bruin spoke of how valuable the experience is for 21-year-old scrumhalf Marco Jansen van Vuren and 19-year-old No.9 Bradley Thain.
Along with them there is 24-year-old flyhalf Ashlon Davids.
"For a young halfback pairing they showed a lot of character," he said of their performances in the loss to the last Saturday.
He dismissed the notion that sitting last on the Currie Cup standings, with just one win from six outings is adding pressure on him and his team.
"I am a realist," De Bruin said, adding: "I am not looking for excuses, we have to do some ploughing.
"There is no wheat in the fields yet, but it [the rewards] will come. We are realistic, we have a lot of new players.
"We have a number of Springboks, who are doing well [in the Rugby Championship] and we have a number of players in Japan.
"This is a great opportunity for young players."
He reiterated that young players like flyhalf Ashlon Davids and replacement loose forward Hacjivah Dayimani showed great character in last week's loss.
"It is really a bunch of babies that played [against the defending Currie Cup champion Cheetahs].
"With a bit of perseverance – and we will continue believing in them – then they will become men very quickly."
@rugby365com
The Lions Rugby Company would like to welcome Anru Dreyer, son of Lions stalwart, @dreyer_ruan & Zonica Dreyer into the world!#LionsFamily pic.twitter.com/nLs1SRjVNb
— Xerox Golden Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) August 29, 2017
