Dyantyi, Brink in Lions squad for Final
NEWS: The Lions received a double boost ahead of their Super Rugby Final against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
Aphiwe Dyantyi, who suffered a hamstring injury 44-26 semifinal win over the Waratahs, has been passed fit to play in Saturday’s Final.
Flank Cyle Brink has also been included in the 25-man squad. Brink missed the semifinal win after he sustained a “stinger” in the quarterfinal against the Jaguares.
The powerhouse Crusaders were installed as hot favourites Monday to win the Super Rugby crown on home turf next weekend.
The New Zealand outfit have a phenomenal record in play-off matches, winning all 20 they have hosted in Christchurch.
If that was not ominous enough, the South Africans also face an arduous flight ahead of the game.
During the regular season this year, the Crusaders won 14 of 16 matches, including a 14-8 victory over the Lions in Johannesburg. The Lions won nine of their 16 games.
After the Hurricanes lost their semifinal to the Crusaders 12-30 at the weekend, coach Chris Boyd rated the defending champions as “20 points better than any side”.
Lions squad for Super Rugby Final: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Ruan Dreyer, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Howard Mnisi, Francois Mostert, Marvin Orie, Courtnall Skosan, Albertus Smith, Dylan Smith, Jacques van Rooyen, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley, Cyle Brink, Hacjivah Dayimani, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Lourens Erasmus, Corne Fourie, Johannes Jonker, Shaun Reynolds, Marnus Schoeman, Dillon Smit.