AUDIO: Rassie explains Whiteley's Bok role
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Lions duo Warren Whiteley and Malcolm Marx have been declared fit and are available for selection.
According the Lions’ fitness report, the Springboks pair Warren Whiteley and hooker Malcolm Marx, who were both expected to take part in June Test Series, have been attending full training session and both have been given the thumbs up to feature in the Springboks’ final Test match against England.
Whitely injured his knee against the Blues in Round four. He was set to return to the team during the 29-0 win over the Waratahs in Round 10, but tweaked his knee in training and withdrew ahead of the win.
Marx picked up a groin injury during a defeat to Hurricanes in Round 12.
After a couple days of rest, the Emirates Lions are back in Johannesburg and hard at work for the remainder of the Vodacom Super Rugby tournament!
Photos: Lions Rugby Company/ Monique Naudé#LetsUnite pic.twitter.com/zS23dskgo9— Emirates Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) June 14, 2018
The pair’s return is good news not only for the Lions but for the Springboks as well.
Nonetheless, Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus is in no hurry to rush the pair back for the last Test match against England at Newlands on Saturday.
Instead, the coach revealed that the pair have been part of the Springboks’ June campaign and will definitely feature in the Rugby Championship commencing in August.
“I’ve been in contact with Warren Whiteley and Malcolm Marx throughout the Series,” Erasmus told reporters in Cape Town.
“The pair were at all the training camps prior to the Test.
“Warren was heavily involved behind the scenes during the Test, while Malcolm and I had a few chats while we were in Johannesburg.
“We certainly kept in contact them. So they are certainly not in the dark as to where the team are heading tactically.
“However, there is no need to rush them in for the last Test.
“Instead it will be better to let them prepare with the Province [Lions] and have them ready for the Rugby Championship,”
While Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg has been ruled out for four months after he underwent surgery to repair a fractured cartilage within the ankle joint as well as a high-grade syndesmosis injury.
The Springbok sustained the injury during the Super Rugby game against the Stormers.
