The Lions are heading into the new year with three injury concerns ahead of their Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby game against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
After giving the DHL Stormers a scare in Cape Town before Christmas, Ivan van Rooyen’s side will be hoping to go one better and get a win in Durban against a Sharks side that hasn’t hit top form just yet.
But their preparations have been hampered by the potential loss of three key players ahead of the showdown, with lock Reinhard Nothnagel and winger Eduan Keyter still not returning from concussion protocols and still in doubt for selection, while lock Darrien Landsberg picked up a knee injury in the Stormers game and may not be available.
The Lions are keeping their cards close to their chest, but with the team announcement set for Friday, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they are ruled out.
A local blockbuster to kick-off 2026.
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That would mean that a new lock pairing is needed, while they have ample options on the wing where Angelo Davids, Kelly Mpeku and Rabz Maxwane could all feature. Richard Kriel is another wing option they could consider as well.
At lock, Ruben Schoeman, Etienne Oosthuizen and Dylan Sjoblom could all fill the void, as could Ruan Delport.
The Lions are under pressure after three consecutive defeats in all competitions and will desperately want an away victory to get them back on track.
They are also wary of a resurgent Sharks side under JP Pietersen, who have back-to-back victories against Saracens and the Vodacom Bulls, giving them a dollop of confidence. Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher pointed this out in the weekly media briefing.
“We want everything to be process-driven,” he said. “That’s attack, defence and kicking game. If you look at the Sharks since JP took over, they are a team that is on the up. We can see the improved effort, the belief and we can see it in the way they play.”
“Well done to him – we all know his credentials as a player, and he is the right guy. He is taking the team forward. You can see the players are more confident and enjoying what they are doing, and that’s nice to see.
“We know it’s going to be a tough battle on Saturday, but we are excited. If you look at the names they have and the experience in that squad, it’s exciting because there are a lot of things we’ve learned within our own team.”
The Lions will name their side for the clash on Saturday.