Just when the Lions thought they'd licked their wounds from a heart-wrenching Currie Cup final loss, they've been dealt another blow. Reliable flyhalf Chris Smith, a key player in their arsenal, is sidelined with a concussion following a tackle gone wrong against the Griquas. Now, as the Joburg squad sets its sights on the upcoming Vodacom URC opener in Wales against Cardiff, they find themselves without their main man in the No. 10 jersey.
The impact was felt immediately when Smith was forced off early in the second half last Saturday. Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli has confirmed the flyhalf will be out for 12 days, putting his participation for the upcoming match against Zebre on October 4 in jeopardy. "We'll have to see how he progresses before making a call for the Zebre game," said Straeuli, hinting at a cautious approach to Smith’s return.
"I thought we had done enough,"
With Smith out, the spotlight turns to Lubabalo Dobela, who might just seize the opportunity to shine. Dobela isn't just any replacement; he's a player who has shown promise, particularly during the initial stages of the Lions' Currie Cup campaign. Not to mention, he was the one who slotted what nearly became the winning penalty under enormous pressure in the final.
While Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen could consider other options, Dobela’s recent performances make him a tough act to overlook. The team is gearing up for a challenging start to their URC campaign with three consecutive away games. After facing Cardiff, they'll meet Zebre and Benetton, which sets a demanding itinerary before they return for back-to-back home games at Ellis Park.
The Lions are clearly in a regrouping phase, but adversity often breeds opportunity. As they trek across Europe, it will be interesting to see how they adjust their game plan without Smith and whether Dobela can turn this interim chance into a permanent gig. Either way, the URC opener just got a lot more intriguing for the Lions' faithful.
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Just when the Lions thought they'd licked their wounds from a heart-wrenching Currie Cup final loss, they've been dealt another blow. Reliable flyhalf Chris Smith, a key player in their arsenal, is sidelined with a concussion following a tackle gone wrong against the Griquas. Now, as the Joburg squad sets its sights on the upcoming Vodacom URC opener in Wales against Cardiff, they find themselves without their main man in the No. 10 jersey.
The impact was felt immediately when Smith was forced off early in the second half last Saturday. Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli has confirmed the flyhalf will be out for 12 days, putting his participation for the upcoming match against Zebre on October 4 in jeopardy. "We'll have to see how he progresses before making a call for the Zebre game," said Straeuli, hinting at a cautious approach to Smith’s return.
"I thought we had done enough,"
With Smith out, the spotlight turns to Lubabalo Dobela, who might just seize the opportunity to shine. Dobela isn't just any replacement; he's a player who has shown promise, particularly during the initial stages of the Lions' Currie Cup campaign. Not to mention, he was the one who slotted what nearly became the winning penalty under enormous pressure in the final.
While Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen could consider other options, Dobela’s recent performances make him a tough act to overlook. The team is gearing up for a challenging start to their URC campaign with three consecutive away games. After facing Cardiff, they'll meet Zebre and Benetton, which sets a demanding itinerary before they return for back-to-back home games at Ellis Park.
The Lions are clearly in a regrouping phase, but adversity often breeds opportunity. As they trek across Europe, it will be interesting to see how they adjust their game plan without Smith and whether Dobela can turn this interim chance into a permanent gig. Either way, the URC opener just got a lot more intriguing for the Lions' faithful.