WHITELEY IN DOUBLE BLOW FOR LIONS -; Rugby 365

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: JACO KRIEL WILL LEAD THE LIONS IN THEIR FIRST EVER SUPER RUGBY SEMIFINAL AT HOME.

The Lions will be without the services of regular captain Warren Whiteley (calf) and replacement scrumhalf Ross Cronje (ankle) when they host the defending champion Highlanders at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Whiteley, who played in his first game back after recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the Test series against Ireland in June, damaged his calf muscle in the 42-25 quarterfinal win over seven-time champion 

Crusaders last week. Ruan Ackermann will wear the No.8 jersey in Whiteley's absence, with Kriel taking over the captaincy.

Even though he is unable to play, Whiteley will remain an integral part of the team leading up to the match against the Highlanders, just as he has done during his recent spell on the sidelines.

Steph de Witt has been named on the replacement bench as loose forward cover.

Dillon Smit has also come onto the bench for Cronjé, who also failed a late fitness test after picking up an ankle injury against the Crusaders.

Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements:  16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Steph de Witt, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Jaco van der Walt.

Date: Saturday, July 30
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT; 01.00 Sunday July 31 NZ Time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ben O´Keeffe (New Zealand), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

This is probably a game changer! I think Whiteley is a massive part of the Lions success this season. The Highlanders and the Lions teams are still very close on paper, but I think this injury is enough to make the Highlanders favourites...even with all the travel and playing away from home. 

Bluebok, I still think the Lions are the favorites. All the travel the Landers have had to put up with has to have a toll sooner or later & the Lions are a strong & well balanced side. If the Landers can keep the score close they could pull off a win as they are a tenacious team.

 Lions definite favourites with the travel schedule of the Landers. Landers will run out of puff in last 30 mins.

Lions still played well without Whitele y.Go Lions a sound whupping of another kiwi side will be great!

 Good to see Beeno is in his pregame crowing phase. Usually followed by despair & anguish & a retreat to tennis & Trum@peting down below. Will he ever learn? One must remain optimistic 

 Odds are stacked against the Highlanders ... 
Travel is a killer ... as has been shown over so many years of super rugby.
It favours us this time round ... for a change.
I'm sure the Landers won't use it as an excuse. They're a class outfit and should not be written off. Just too many dangerous game breakers in their side.  
We are as ready as we'll ever be ... and I will be there.
Goooooooooooo Lionsssssssssssssssss!!!

 ...too many All Blacks in the Highlanders team for the Lions to handle...awesome on attack with the likes of Naholo, Osborne Ben Smith and Faddes plus they have an awesome D...Sopoaga doesn't miss many kicks either...odds heavily favour the Landers in my book but the TAB as them on equal footing....

How is Cronje's injury a loss?

It's one helluva gain!

He is the most useless scrumhalf in country at the moment.
I do not know what ANY coach sees in him.
I actually "ghrill" when i see him running on to the park.
He is SOOOOOOOOO slow!
He sidesteps in slow motion!
His passes are even slow (though i must admit they are accurate).

 Good news for the Highlanders, this is still going to be a tough ask.... But, if the Highlanders can establish themselves early and get a few tries and a solid lead at half time then the Lions could be blown away in the second half, the Lions either beat the NZ teams or they can be thrashed by a NZ team... Crus being an unusual case
I'm hoping for a good old thrashing!! But, they cant allow the Lions to get into any rhythm or flow, it has to be brutal for the Landers forward pack and their defence has to be very sharp. Shut the Lions down everywhere, the Lions like their kicks in play so the Highlanders have to use that against them as a counter to score or at least pin them down in their end. The Highlanders should use a territory based kicking game as well as their usual kick n chase but either way the Highlanders kicking game has to very good just kicking it to the Lions to counter is pointless and could cost them.

 We are aware of your solid kicking game and have prepared for it. 
We are also aware of what you can do in broken play with those dangerous outside backs. We have prepared for them as best we can. 
My concern is at the breakdown. We at times forget to protect our own ball. The Highlanders have a good counter ruck and could surprise us by targeting this area. This is where we lost the plot against the Canes. 
We were strong at the breakdown against the Saders and I'm hoping for the same approach this afternoon.
There's a buzz in the air and a great deal of excitement in Johannesburg. We are looking very forward to this contest and hope you bring your A game cause that's what we're bringing.     
Goooooooooooooo Lionssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!


 

 CC, hope its a magic night for you & the Lions . Alles van die beste.

Captain Cole out for 'Canes........ like Whitely, a huge blow .