TUESDAY, 12.30PM:
GAUTENG LIONS and Springbok lock forward Hannes Strydom could be in the Lions team to face Free State in a Bankfin Currie Cup match at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday. Strydom, who was ruled out of the game for the rest of the season because of an achilles tendon injury, trained with the squad and faced the harshness of Monday’s strenuous training session.
Strydom is hoping for good news when he receives a medical report back on Tuesday afternoon at Rand Afrikaans University. “Now we will have to see tomorrow [Wednesday] how the ankle has responded,” he said. “If it’s still stiff and sore I’ll have to accept that it’s over for this year. But if I’m feeling free of pain then I’ll be ready to play against Free State on Saturday.”
The Lions coach is also plagued by other injured players. They are Warren Brosinihan (shoulder), Balie Swart (elbow), JP du Plooy (leg), Gerrie Theron (hamstring), and Piet van Westing.
Meanwhile, at Northern Transvaal it never rains but pours. Most of their key players are out because of injuries, forcing the Bulls coach to delay the announcement of the 21-man squad to do duty against Natal on Saturday until Monday night. Out of Saturday’s game are Adriaan Richter (foot), Schutte Bekker (hamstring), Ruben Kruger (ankle), Andre Snyman (back), Danie van Schalkwyk (ankle), Krynauw Otto (ribs), Jacques Olivier (knee) and Wium Basson (ankle).
Springbok Joost van der Westhuizen, who was withdrawn from the Bulls team to face Western Province because of a niggling rib injury, is back in the team for Saturday’s game.
NORTHERN TRANSVAAL TEAM:
kossie Alberts, Archer Dames Johan Schutte, Grant Esterhuizen, Casper Steyn, Greame Bouwer, Joost van der Westhuizen, Conrad Breytenbach, Roland de Marigny, Kosie van Vuuren, Frans Ahlers, johan Otto, Nicky van der Walt, Ralf Schroeder, Gerhard Laufs, Derick Grobbelaar, Marius Hurter, Piet Boer, Pierre Ribbens, Lourens Campher, Jannie Brooks.