Bok blow for Lions

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions’ hopes of bolstering their team with a seasoned Springbok has been dealt a cruel blow.

The Lions confirmed that veteran loose forward Willem Albert has not recovered sufficiently from a bicep injury and is unavailable for selection to face the Stormers in a crucial Round Three Super Rugby match at Ellis Park this coming Saturday.

The Lions, after stumbling to a humbling 8-38 loss to the Jaguares in the opening round, posted their first win (27-20) against the Reds at the weekend.

They had hoped Alberts – who arrived in Johannesburg last month – would be available to front up to the abrasive Springbok-laden Stormers pack.

Alberts, 35, has played 43 Tests for South Africa.

He has signed with the Lions from Stade Français, where he played 80-odd games since 2015.

He played 77 games for the Lions in Currie Cup and Super Rugby, before joining the Sharks in 2010 and made 73 appearances for the Durban-based franchise.

The bicep injury delayed the confirmation of his arrival and has now delayed his return to the Ellis Park-based team.

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Young scrumhalf André Warner is another player who has been ruled out of the Round Three encounter with the Stormers, as he has not recovered from the ankle injury he suffered in Round One.

However, the flipside is that Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje is available for selection after recovering from his ankle injury.

Also available this week is one-time Springbok flyer Jumba Ulengo, who has recovered from his calf injury.

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