Province playmaker answers Reds SOS
The Reds, reeling from a string of injury setbacks, have called up Cape Town schooled playmaker Sam Lane ahead of their Super Rugby encounter with the Western Force on Saturday.
Australian-born Lane has joined the Queensland outfit in Perth in the wake of a casualty list that has sidelined players like centre Jono Lance (fractured leg), Mike Harris (hamstring), Ben Lucas (hamstring), hooker Saia Faingaa (ankle syndesmosis) and prop Ben Daley (suspected broken thumb) – all joining Quade Cooper (knee) and UJ Seuteni (hamstring) on the sidelines.
The latest batch of injuries follow the Reds’ disastrous two-match tour of South Africa – which saw them lose 22-29 to the Sharks before suffering a huge 8-61 hammering at the hands of the Bulls at the weekend.
A South African Under-20 trialist just a year ago, Lane, part of the Australian National Academy, was a member of the Stormers’ pre-season training squad and the Varsity Cup-winning UCT squad in 2011 – before a ruptured ACL ruined virtually his entire season.
Not only did he fail to make his Stormers debut, but his Western Province and UCT seasons were also cut short – featuring for WP in the closing stages of the Under-21 provincial competition. Before last year he had successful stints with the WP Craven Week (Under-18) and WP Under-19 (both national champions) sides.
But Lane, a former Diocesan College (Bishops) First XV captain, turned his back on a Western Province contract last November to join the ARU’s national academy in Sydney.
His South African background was a result of his father, Tim, spending two and a half years as a Springboks assistant coach – as well as a failed coaching stint with the Johannesburg-based Cats.
He was set to play under his father, an assistant coach to Rod Macqueen when the Wallabies won the 1999 World Cup, for Manly this season and was an impressive performer at No.10 in a trial against Eastwood at the weekend.
Now, however, the 21-year-old will be joining the Reds on a short-term contract.
The Reds squad – and Lane – arrived in Perth on Monday, where they will look to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Bulls when they meet a resurgent Force line-up led by flank David Pocock.
Lane junior was born in Brisbane, but completed his senior schooling at Bishops in Cape Town and was captain of their First XV side in 2009.
His career continued to flourish after finishing school and he was selected to participate in South Africa’s Under-20 trials in 2011, before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament which limited his opportunities last year.
According to his father, Tim, young Sam would prefer to jump straight in at the deep-end and start – rather than being eased in off the bench.
“I asked him when I was taking him to the airport and he said: ‘I’d probably prefer to start, because you know you would be on off the bat and having [Wallaby scrumhalf Will] Genia inside you and those others outside will get me through it’,” Lane senior told AAP.
“I think he’s more a No.10 than a No.12, but he’s also played a bit of No.12 with Western Province.”
Father Tim explained why his son turned his back on a WP contract last year, telling AAP: “I was actually keen for him to stay in South Africa another year, because I thought he would get a taste of Super Rugby with the Stormers.
“But he missed family and friends and his home environment, and he said, ‘I’ll get my chance if I come back and play well’.
“It’s all come about quickly, but it’s very exciting.”
