VIDEO: Lions casualty ward has another high-profile patient
INJURY UPDATE: The Lions will head into Saturday’s Round 14 United Rugby Championship encounter with the Sharks without one of their key playmakers.
Coach Ivan van Rooyen revealed that star Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse is struggling with a shoulder injury he suffered in the 24-43 URC Round 13 loss to Connacht in Galway on January 28.
He will be reassessed after another two to three weeks of rehabilitation and remains sidelined for the foreseeable future.
It is a big setback not only for the Lions, but also for the 21-year-old’s goal of playing himself into the Springbok frame.
On the flip side, the Lions will get back the services of seasoned Springbok prop Ruan Dreyer, who sustained a hamstring injury during the Lions’ Challenge Cup draw against the Dragons in Round One.
“He has been training well,” the coach said, adding: “If we wanted to take a risk we could already have played him in the last match on tour.”
Scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba and wing Sibahle Maxwane have also returned from injuries that have sidelined them since last year.
The list of players still sidelined includes centre Henco van Wyk, who underwent knee surgery after a demoralising 3-33 loss to Munster last month.
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He had just recovered from an elbow injury he suffered in the Challenge Cup Round two match against Stade Francais at Ellis Park in December.
No.8 Francke Horn underwent surgery late last year after sustaining an ankle injury during the URC clash against the Dragons.
He has started training, but is still a few weeks away from returning.
Lock Reinhard Nothnagel, one of several players who was injured in the humbling 10-37 loss to the Sharks in a URC Round 10 match on December 23, is another three to four weeks away from returning.
Prop Sithembiso Sithole is also still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in December.
“It is not nice, but it is an opportunity for someone else to come through,” Van Rooyen said.
“For us, it is about finding a way around the injuries,” the coach added.
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