New Bok captain Whiteley focused solely on Lions v Kings

26 May 2017 - 16:29 By Liam Del Carme
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Allister Coetzee, Springbok coach, with captain Warren Whiteley during the Springbok team announcement at SuperSport Studios on May 23, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Allister Coetzee, Springbok coach, with captain Warren Whiteley during the Springbok team announcement at SuperSport Studios on May 23, 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Image: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images

His focus is wholly on the challenge the Southern Kings will present the Lions on Sunday‚ and not the Test series against France‚ newly installed Springbok captain Warren Whiteley assured on Friday.

His Lions team face the Kings at Ellis Park in a Super Rugby clash and Whiteley is in no doubt he‚ and they other Springboks in the squad‚ are up for the challenge.

“I'm not going to let anyone down‚” Whiteley assured. “I refuse to do that. Here at the Lions we have the right set of values and culture.”

Besides‚ Whiteley said‚ he has a duty towards his teammates. “You have to remember that it is your teammates who got you into that position in the first place. You need to honour that.”

  • Allister puts trust in Whiteley & CoSpringbok head coach Allister Coetzee hit the reset button yesterday when he named 31 players for the three-Test series against France next month. 

The Lions captain conceded that it is a challenge to stay focused on the job at the hand.

“Once you are here however then it becomes easier. It's about your attitude. Your attitude at the training field and you attitude on match day‚” he said.

It isn't just Whiteley who is expecting a huge challenge from the Kings. Coach Johan Ackermann assembled what is close to his strongest line-up for Sunday's clash.

  • 'I had to put on Peppa Pig (kiddies cartoon) on for the little one so I could get my wife's attention,' says WhiteleyAllister Coetzee loosely admitted wisdom comes with age but he stopped short of conceding that as Springbok coach he has wasted a year in delaying Warren Whiteley's appointment as team captain. 

He has made just two changes from the team that downed the Bulls last weekend. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is back in the starting line-up at the expense of Ross Cronjé who is attending his brother's wedding.

Robbie Coetzee cracks the nod at hooker with Malcolm Marx dropping to the bench.

The most significant movement on the bench is the reintroduction of Springbok flank Jaco Kriel‚ who has recovered from a knee injury.

  • ANALYSIS: Allister Coetzee hits the reset button on the SpringboksSpringbok coach Allister Coetzee hit the reset button on Tuesday when he named 31 players for next month's three-Test series against France. 

Ackermann could not say how long Kriel would play on Sunday.

“There was no time limit set on the amount of time he'll play‚” said the coach.

Kriel has been out since the Lions beat the Jaguares and he is in desperate need of game time ahead of next month's three-Test series against France.

Ruan Combrinck‚ another player in need of game time after a long injury lay-off‚ retains his place on the right wing.

  • Warren Whiteley becomes 58th Springbok captainLions captain Warren Whiteley has been appointed Springbok captain for next month's three Test series against France. 

Ackermann is not taking the Kings lightly. He knows winning‚ and possibly earning a bonus point‚ will help keep the pressure on the table topping Crusaders.

To add to the challenge the Kings have developed into a combative‚ competitive side‚ although some of their momentum would have been broken by last weekend's home defeat to the Brumbies.

  • Whiteley named Springbok captain as Steyn and Vermeulen recalledWarren Whiteley has been named Springbok captain for 2017‚ with Frans Steyn and Duane Vermeulen receiving recalls. 

Lions team: Andries Coetzee; Ruan Combrinck‚ Lionel Mapoe‚ Harold Vorster‚ Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies‚ Faf de Klerk; Warren Whiteley (captain)‚ Ruan Ackermann‚ Kwagga Smith; Franco Mostert‚ Andries Ferreira; Ruan Dreyer‚ Robbie Coetzee‚ Jacques van Rooyen.

Substitutes: Malcolm Marx‚ Corne Fourie‚ Johannes Jonker‚ Lourens Erasmus‚ Jaco Kriel; Dillon Smit‚ Jacques Nel‚ Anthony Volmink/Sylvian Mahuza.

- TMG Digital/TMG Sport

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