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Fitting farewell for Franco

By Online Editors
Wednesday 9 Jul 2014

The Lions are determined to give their veteran Springbok lock Franco van der Merwe a fitting farewell on Saturday.

Van der Merwe still faces a fitness test on Thursday to test an injured shoulder, but Lions coach Johan Ackermann said they are hopeful that he will play in the season-finale against the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday – before heading to Ireland next month.

Van der Merwe has signed a two-year contract with Irish province Ulster for the 2014–15 Pro12 and European seasons.

If he passes his fitness test Van der Merwe would make his 99th Super Rugby appearance, which include 16 matches for the Sharks last year.

Ackermann, speaking to rugby365 ahead of his team's encounter with the Cheetahs, said there were some "bumps and bruises" in the wake of their 34-17 triumph over the Rebels last week – a record sixth win this season.

Wing Deon van Rensburg will definitely miss the game against the Cheetahs with a rib injury.

And Van der Merwe is also doubtful, with a shoulder injury.

"He will face a fitness test on Thursday to see if he can take contact," Ackermann said of the 31-year-old second row forward.

All the other players who took knocks in the win over the Rebels last week should be fit to face the Cheetahs.

Asked about Van der Merwe's imminent departure, the coach said that is why they are giving him as much time as possible to recover.

"Maybe we can pad him up, or do something, to protect the [injured] AC [joint] and give him the chance," he told rugby365.

"It would be great for him to play his final game at Ellis Park before he heads to Ireland."

Van der Merwe was earlier this year ruled out for six months with an ankle injury and only returned to the playing field ahead of last week's win over the Rebels.

Having represented the Lions in Super Rugby and the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup, as well as previously having played for the Leopards, Van der Merwe has been included in several Springbok squads since June 2012.

He finally made his debut in the 2013 Rugby Championship match against New Zealand.

Van der Merwe also played for South Africa Under-21 (2004) and the Emerging Springboks (against the British and Irish Lions in 2009).

By Jan de Koning

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