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Lions lose Whiteley for Highlanders clash

rugby16 May 2019 11:19| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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Warren Whiteley © Gallo Images

The Emirates Lions were dealt a massive blow when they lost their inspirational captain Warren Whiteley for Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders.

Whiteley will miss the encounter because of a bone bruise on his knee that he is nursing, the same injury that has been plaguing him all season.

He returned to action in the one-point win over the Waratahs a week ago but aggravated the injury in the game, leaving him unable to train for most of the week and the Lions medical staff have decided to keep him rested for the rest of the season.

Kwagga Smith will move to eight to cushion the loss of Whiteley with Malcolm Marx taking over the captaincy once again as he has done in Whiteley’s absence in the past.

Smith’s move means that Marnus Schoeman comes into the mix at flank, partnering with Cyle Brink in the loose trio while at prop Dylan Smith and Sti Sithole swop roles for this game.

Hacjivah Dayimani returns to the bench for the Lions, covering loose forward, although there is also an outside chance the Lions may well continue with the experiment to play him at centre, which they did last week in the SuperSport Challenge.

Emirates Lions: Andries Coetzee; Courtnall Skosan, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Aphiwe Dyantyi; Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Kwagga Smith, Cyle Brink, Marnus Schoeman, Marvin Orie, Stephan Lewies, Carlu Sadie, Malcolm Marx ©, Dylan Smith. Reserves: Jan-Henning Campher, Sti Sithole, Johannes Jonker, Vincent Tshituka, Hacjivah Dayimani, Nic Groom, Shaun Reynolds, Tyrone Green

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