VIDEO: Lions sweating over Whiteley injury
INJURY UPDATE: The Lions are hoping for some positive news on the injury of inspirational leader Warren Whiteley.
The Springbok No.8 left the field in the 38th minute of their heartbreaking 17-19 loss the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
He suffered a pectoral muscle injury.
Coach Swys de Bruin admitted Whiteley’s injury was a “big blow” for the team, but was not sure about the full prognoses.
“He is an unbelievable person and leader,” De Bruin told a post-match media briefing.
“It doesn’t look too positive,” the coach added.
“I saw his reaction in the dressing room, but we have to wait and see [how serious it is].”
De Bruin admitted it was disappointing to lose a game in which they dominated the opening half, but a litany of errors cost them after the break.
Replacement scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored the match-winning try seven minutes into referee’s additional time.
The victory was a massive relief for the Stormers, after a 37-point thrashing away to the Bulls in the opening round the week before.
It seemed the Stormers would come up short as they fell behind after only six minutes, when flank Albertus Smith scored a try and trailed for the next 79 minutes.
“We left it desperately late to get in front, but a win is a win,” said Springbok and Stormers skipper Siyamthanda Kolisi.
“I believe we deserved the four points given our never-say-die spirit and the amount of pressure we exerted in the closing stages.”
Tries by Smith and Whiteley, both converted by flyhalf Elton Jantjies, helped the Lions to a 14-6 half-time lead – with Sarel Marais slotting two penalties for the hosts.
Marais kicked another two penalties to close the deficit to just two points and Jantjies one to stretch it to five in favour of the Lions before the dramatic climax.
By Jan de Koning at Newlands
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@rugby365com
