Lions flyhalf out for nine months

INJURY UPDATE: The Lions suffered a cruel blow with the news that their flyhalf has been ruled out for the rest of season.

The Lions medical staff revealed that talented young Gianni Lombard will not play again this year.

It is a result of the knee injury the 21-year-old former South African Under-20 utility suffered in the 23-17 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton earlier this month.

According to the medical report Lombard, who started at flyhalf against the Chiefs, ruptured his ACL knee ligament and also suffered a bilateral menisci teas to the knee ligaments

He will be sidelined for nine months.

Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies was at inside centre in the famous win, a rare Lions triumph in New Zealand.

Jantjies remained at No.12 in last week’s 10-36 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch, with Shaun Reynolds starting at flyhalf.

The Lions are expected to release injury updates captain Warren Whiteley, Sylvian Mahuza and Cyle Brink later on Tuesday.

Whiteley withdrew on the eve of their encounter with the Crusaders, with a troublesome knee.

Mahuza and Brink were injured in that game.

The Lions, who have a bye this week, has a record of five wins and five defeats – sitting at the bottom of South African conference, in ninth place, just outside the play-off places.

Lions stand-in coach Ivan van Rooyen pointed to the youthful nature of the team for as one of the reasons for their lack of consistency.

“The one prop that finished the game [against the Crusaders in Christchurch] was 21 years old,”Van Rooyen said in his post-match reaction.

“The other hooker was 22, [and they played] against an All Black pack.”

He said three to four years from now this could be a really powerful team.

“I say, as long as the young guys learn that’s exciting to me.

“We have a bye, so we get the young bodies to rest a little bit and then [we face] the Waratahs.”

@rugby365com