The Emirates Lions have left three of the four players who are leaving them at the end of the season behind in South Africa, with only Vincent Tshituka being part of a young team that will head to Wales to face the Dragons in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match on Saturday.
But the Lions claim the reason why several of the players were left out is because of illness and fitness, and only Burger Odendaal, their inspirational captain, was left behind because they decided to opt for younger players for the last game of the season.The treatment of Odendaal does seem poor given the fact he was the catalyst in the team for much of their attack all season, but it seems now the Lions will be looking to the future with him heading to Wasps next month.
“He is our captain (Burger) and as I said in all the media briefings he was unbelievable for us this season. We are looking ahead to the future a bit being the last URC game and away game. I think it is a perfect situation for our young three centres to go and experience an away game in Europe,” coach Ivan van Rooyen said.
“Unfortunately for Burger I know it is not ideal, but it is important for the team and let Notties (Reinhardt Nothnagel) lead the team in an away game, let the senior players play a vital role there. It is unfortunate but we are also excited for Mannie and Matt to get the opportunity and express themselves against an international team away from home.”
Nothnagel will lead a young team that doesn’t include Carlu Sadie, who signed for the Sharks and Wandisile Simelane, who is expected to join the Bulls next week. Emmanuel Tshituka is, according to the team, still suffering from an ankle injury despite reports his paperwork for the visa hasn’t been sorted out.
“Carlu is recovering from Covid so he is not selectable, Wandi has a very bad flu and isn’t selectable. The rest are pretty healthy. Manu (Emmanuel) underwent a fitness test this morning for his ankle and didn’t pass it, so we didn’t consider him.”
Junior Bok Henco van Wyk will join Mannie Rass and Matt More as the three midfielders for the game.
"We're quite pleased with the squad we've selected ahead of our final URC match in Newport against the Dragons."
"As mentioned last week, it gives us an opportunity as a franchise to cast our eye towards the future, and we believe that the bulk of this group will form part of that core."
"Once again, this approach is in line with our strategy of developing within our structures and some of these names are proof of that."
"In saying that, Dragons will be a tough outfit to play in their own backyard. However, it offers a few our players an opportunity to impress."
Emirates Lions 28-man group
Forwards
Sti Sithole, JP Smith, Jannie du Plessis, Jaco Visagie, PJ Botha, Ruan Dreyer, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), Ruan Venter, Ruben Schoeman, Sibusiso Sangweni, Vincent Tshituka, Francke Horn, Jarod Cairns, Morne Brandon, PJ Steenkamp.
Backs
Morne van den Berg (vc), Andre Warner, Jordan Hendrikse, Tiaan Swanepoel, Matt More, Manuel Rass, Henco van Wyk, Edwill van der Merwe, Stean Pienaar, Quan Horn, Sanele Nohamba, Rabz Maxwane.