Springbok on 'standby' for Lions' URC tour
NEWS: The Lions will travel to Cardiff on their three-week tour of their United Rugby Championship campaign without some key players, but one Springbok will join them after the Test against the Pumas in London.
The team from Johannesburg announced their touring squad on Monday, with the team set to depart for Cardiff on Tuesday.
They face Cardiff, Zebre, and Benetton in the opening rounds of the URC before returning home.
Notable absentees from the squad are flyhalf Chris Smith, who was concussed in the Currie Cup Final against Griquas last weekend, as well as Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg.
Both Smith and Van den Berg are on standby for the Lions together with Siba Qoma and JC Pretorius.
Smith will have to pass a medical before he can join the squad on tour, and the minimum recovery time for a concussion is normally two weeks, which means he will most likely only be available for the Benetton game in Italy on October 11.
Van den Berg, who walked away with the Lions’ Player of the Year award last week, has been struggling with a small niggle in the last few weeks.
It is understood that he will travel to London with the Springboks for their last hoorah in the Rugby Championship against Argentina at Twickenham on October 5.
He will then link up with the Lions on tour.
The Lions have two very capable scrumhalves in their squad in Nico Steyn and Junior Springbok Haashim Pead.
Looking at the squad that was announced, Lubabalo Dobela and Sam Francis will be cover at flyhalf.
The other area of concern for the Lions is at hooker, where regular captain PJ Botha and Jaco Visagie are both absent.
Botha underwent knee surgery last Wednesday and will be out for four months, while it is understood that the 33-year-old Visagie is struggling with neck problems.
Franco Marais started in the No. 2 jersey in the Currie Cup Final, while Morne Brandon is the other hooker in the squad.
Lions touring squad:
Forwards: Asenathi Ntlbakanye, Darrien Landsberg, Dylan Sjoblom, Etienne Oosthuizen, Franco Marais, Francke Horn, Jarod Cairns, Juan Schoeman, Morne Brandon, Ruan Delport, Renzo du Plessis, RF Schoeman Ruan Venter, Sebastian Lombard, SJ Kotze, WJ Steenkmap
Backs: Angelo Davids, Eduan Keyter, Haashim Pead, Henco van Wyk, Lubabalo Dobela, Manuel Rass, Nico Steyn, Quan Horn, Richard Kriel, Rynhardt Jonker, Sam Francis, Tapiwa Mafura
Standby: Chris Smith, Siba Qoma, Morne van den Berg, JC Pretorius
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