Lions squad . . .

The Lions have named their squad for the tour to Japan and New Zealand but I see Lourens Erasmus' name is not there. Anyone know why?

Will be a great pity if he's crocked. He was going to be one of the first names on my Fantasy Rugby teamsheets!

 Not sure ... will try to find out.

 He was in the original squad. Can't find anything on their website or anywhere else on whether he's injured ... or whether he's been dropped and why.
I have sent the Lions an enquiring email. Hope they'll revert shortly.

Just noticed Marnitz Boshoff is not there either and this article confirms that Boshoff is not injured but has been dropped.

Still can't find anything about Lourens Erasmus. He looks a fantastic prospect and I can't believe he wouldn't be in the Lions starting XV if he was fit.

 Hey Redneck ... this is the response I received from them.


Good day 

Lourens Erasmus is in the Emirates Lions Super Rugby squad, but not in the touring squad leaving for Japan later today.

He will  most probably get a chance to play when our team returns to SA.

Kind regards

Suzette
PA to the CEO


It seems we may still have an opportunity to see this talented youngster play. Hope so anyway.
I agree with you regarding his potential. He impressed last year and I hope he takes it to the next level this season.
 

 I am also intrigued by Erasmus not being included in the touring squad - must again have something to do with BEE selections.  I am actuially limiting my Lions selections on Fantasy to four players - Vorster, Kriel, Marx and Faf.

Thanks Klown. Must say I think they're nuts!

 I hope that's not the case, Mike. 
Can't really see Ackerman going that route as he tends to select for the better of the team. 
Certainly hope he's not the type to bow to external pressures ... that would be disappointing. 
He also needs to be completely objective regarding his son. He's either good enough or it's the highway for the lad.  
  

CC
Look at the forwards on tour and see why I made that statement  

 Not sure I'm with you, Mike.
There's a total of what ... 5 players of colour in the squad.
What's your point? 

 I don't know if this will help,..... but this was published in Rugby 365

Lions leave Bok flyhalf at home Mon, 22 Feb 2016 14:47

NEWS: One-time Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff has missed the cut for the Lions team's three-match Super Rugby tour to Japan and New Zealand.

The Lions kick off their campaign in a historic match against Japanese newcomers the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Saturday, February 27.

This is followed by matches against the two-time champion Chiefs (March 5, Hamilton) and defending champion Highlanders (March 12, Dunedin).

Lions coach Johan Ackermann has opted for fellow Bok Elton Jantjies and young Jaco van der Walt as his flyhalves, while Boshoff - who came off the bench against Scotland in June 2014 in his only Test appearance - will drop down to the Currie Cup squad with the nine other Super Rugby squad members who did not make the tour cut.

Another interesting selection is in the second row, where only two specialist locks were named - Franco Mostert and Andries Ferreira.

Young Lourens Erasmus, a star alongside Mostert in the Lions' Currie Cup-winning campaign last year, has been left at home.

Like Boshoff, the 22-year-old Erasmus will keep in shape with the Currie Cup team.

It appears he may well use his vast array of talented loose forwards as back-up in the second row - the likes of Ruan Ackermann, Fabian Booysen and Robert Kruger.

Other loose forwards in the tour squad are Jaco Kriel, Warwick Tecklenburg and captain Warren Whiteley.

Other than that Ackermann snr, the coach, produced no major surprises.

The team departs for Japan on Tuesday 23 February.

* Meanwhile Golden Lions Rugby Union CEO Rudolf Straeuli said that no player who missed the cut for Super Rugby will be released to another union.

They will all train and prepare with the Currie Cup side.

Lions tour squad: Ruan Ackermann, Fabian Booysen, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Francois de Klerk, Ruan Dreyer, Andries Ferreira, Corne Fourie, Rohan Janse v Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Kriel, Robert Kruger, Lionel Mapoe, Malcolm Marx, Howard Mnisi, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Courtnall Skosan, Dillon Smit, Dylan Smith, Warwick Tecklenburg, Armand van der Merwe, Jaco van der Walt, Jacques van Rooyen, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley.

 How many of those 8 are forwards that could be starting or bench or bench selection?

 I've never seen Ruan Ackermann, Fabian Booysen and Robert Kruger playing but Erasmus was strong this last CC,.... in the final he made some strong carries,..... strange to leave him at home and bring inexperienced players

Am sure I read somewhere that Erasmus was carrying an injury but I might be wrong. 
If he is fit and has been left at home that is plain stupidity.
He was awesome in the CC 

What the heck happened to Boshoff? He was fantastic with the boot for a while & gradually his game fell apart. Could be a mental issue?
Beeno, as you are well qualified on mental issues please pause from political rants & give us your considered opinion on this rugby matter.

 Boshoff is at best a handy squad player...play him off the bench. Has his moments 

 To be fair I think that Van der Walt is a better flyhalf than Boshoff.  The latter is more the Morne Steyn kind of flyhalf - a donkey-kicker good at kicking at goal but desperately average to poor in all other aspects of the game.     

 ... and to add to that he suffers from nerves. A definite talent in my opinion but it comes to nothing when he's under pressure. 
Jantjies is the same. 
Thanks Basque ... I somehow missed that article.
I have hopes for van der Walt. We'll see how he progresses this season.
There's no mention from the Lions camp about an injury to Erasmus. Doesn't make sense.

 it seems that he's not injured:

"Erasmus will keep in shape with the Currie Cup team."

if he's going to train with the CC team means that he's not injured,.... he could be recovering from one but,.... the article is not explicit in it