Lions won't sulk over Whiteley
Lions coach Johan Ackermann told rugby365 in an interview – after the announcement that a shoulder injury suffered while on Springbok duty this month will rule Whiteley out for about six weeks – that they won't allow the negativity of an injury to cloud the bigger picture.
Whiteley first injured his shoulder in the second Test against Ireland in Johannesburg on June 18, when he came on as a half-time replacement, but stayed on the field and played through the pain barrier. He recovered enough to be named in the starting XV for the decisive third Test in Port Elizabeth this past weekend, and aggravated the injury.
Ackermann admitted his loss is a massive blow.
"The reality is that Warren is a huge part of where the Lions have come from in the last two to three years," the coach said.
"His leadership played a massive role in that.
"Even if you put aside his leadership, the amount of work he gets through in a game is phenomenal. Last year in Super Rugby he had the highest tackle count and tackle [completion] rate. This year he is right up there again.
"He is almost like having an additional player on the field with his workrate.
"This past Saturday for the Springbok [against Ireland] he made 22 tackles. Those are his qualities as a player and then you add his leadership."
Ackermann said it is a "painful blow" for the Lions.
However, the coaching staff have full confidence in players like Jaco Kriel, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe and Francois de Klerk – who have all gained some experience in leading the team.
"They have massive boots to fill, but they have been with us in the system for some time," Ackermann told rugby365.
He said there would be no "like-for-like" replacement and that the Lions would continue to play as normal.
"Every player has his strengths.
"It is the same if you lose a player in another position," the coach said, adding: "Ruan Janse van Rensburg and Howard Mnisi have different strengths.
"We don't expect the one to play like the other.
"The same applies to Ross Cronje and Faf [de Klerk] – whoever starts or comes off the bench plays a certain way.
"We have confidence in every player and are comfortable with them. We are not going to expect the next player to play like Warren.
"The player has to fit in with the pattern, but we [also] play to his strengths."
The Lions mentor said they are in the fortunate positon that in the weeks leading up to the June break a number of players had put their hands up to be selected – players like Cyle Brink, Ruan Ackermann and Fabian Booysen.
"Those are the guys I have used and players that have to play towards their strengths.
"Then we have established Super Rugby players like [new Springbok] Jaco [Kriel] and Warwick [Tecklenburg]."
Ackermann also revealed that another established loose forward, Derick Minnie, is lost to the team.
"Derick Minnie has asked to be released to play abroad," the coach said, adding: "We did not anticipate the situation with Warren, so Derick will be leaving the end of this week already.
"However, we have other guys like Ruaan Lerm and Stephan de Wit. These are guys who have played some Currie Cup, perhaps not a lot of Super Rugby, but featured in the Currie Cup competition.
"Robert Kruger is also around and has played a number of Super Rugby games.
"We do have depth among our loose forwards, but Warren's game was on a massive upwards curve.
"It is never pleasant to lose a player of that calibre.
"Yes, all teams suffer injury setbacks and we can't sulk over one player's absence."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
