In a severe jolt to their season's ambitions, the Lions will be without Morné van den Berg for the Vodacom URC playoffs and a significant portion of the Test season following his bicep surgery. As the team gears up in Dublin for an unprecedented URC quarter-final clash with Leinster next Saturday, they've been hit hard by this latest injury. "Unfortunately it looks like he will be out four to six months," lamented Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen, underscoring the gravity of the loss.
The absence of Van den Berg is not the only crisis the Lions are wrestling with; they are also reeling from the loss of utility forward Ruan Venter, who also went under the knife for a knee issue on the same day as Van den Berg. "Both Krappie and Ruan were operated on on Wednesday," Van Rooyen revealed.
"The operations went well, but unfortunately both of them are out for quite a bit. Obviously, it’s a couple of the senior guys, our momentum guys, in our system."
This double whammy has dealt a harsh blow not just to the Lions but also to the Springboks, who are bracing for a high-octane season with the introduction of the Nations Championship and the much-anticipated Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks. The Springboks' scrumhalf woes are compounded by concerns over Jaden Hendrikse, who has suffered multiple concussions this season and is under strict medical supervision.
However, it's not all doom and gloom in the Lions' camp. There's a silver lining as captain Francke Horn and center Henco van Wyk, who sustained hamstring and ankle injuries respectively in a game against Munster, are back in training. Utility back Richard Kriel is also on the mend from a head knock. "Francke and Henco did a slight running session yesterday to see where they are and they passed that session, so they’ll gradually keep on improving," Van Rooyen updated optimistically. "At this stage, it looks like they might be ready for next weekend."
As the Lions look to their upcoming battle with Leinster, they are undoubtedly feeling the pinch of their depleted ranks. However, the return of key players to training offers a glimmer of hope as they tackle the formidable challenges ahead.