Super Rugby debutant Rohan Janse van Rensburg key to Lions success

26 July 2016 - 17:31 By Chumani Bambani

It will take the heart of a lion for Johan Ackermann’s Lions side to reach the final of this year's Super Rugby competition. It is this lion-hearted effort that has seen the Johannesburg-based side defy all odds to reach the semifinal‚ where they will face the Super Rugby holders‚ the Highlanders‚ at Ellis Park on Saturday.Centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg is one of the major reasons the Lions find themselves in a good position for Super Rugby glory this year.The 21-year-old was an instrumental figure in the Lions’ 42-25 win against the Crusaders in the quarterfinal last weekend. “Rohan has grown as a player tremendously‚” coach Ackermann said.It has not been an easy road for the Welkom-born Janse van Rensburg to become one of the most valuable Lions players in his Super Rugby debut season.After being discarded by the Bulls‚ where he played his junior rugby‚ and after joining the Lions last year‚ he also had other hurdles to overcome.“To see his growth in skills levels from the time he came here from the Bulls‚ but he picked that up‚” said Ackermann.“Then he had his setback with his heart condition‚ but overcame that. He got his opportunity to start and never looked back.” The lion-hearted performances Janse van Rensburg has produced throughout the season will again be crucial on Saturday against the Highlanders.Despite being a standout player‚ Ackermann believes the former SA Schools and SA under-20 player can still improve.“He is a tremendous player‚ but there is always room to improve. The fact of the matter is that he is a dangerous player with ball in hand‚” the Lions coach said.Janse van Rensburg is one of 27 players Ackermann named on Tuesday in his preliminary squad before announcing the match-day 23 on Thursday that will do duty against their New Zealand opposition.The only addition to the squad from last week is that of Dillon Smit‚ who is a possible replacement for Ross Cronje as scrumhalf cover. Cronje injured his ankle while scoring a try against the Crusaders late in the game on Saturday.He will undergo a late fitness test later in the week before a final call is made on who will be the scrumhalf on the bench.The Lions’ 27-man squad for the week is:Forwards: Dylan Smith‚ Corne Fourie‚ Julian Redelinghuys‚ Jacques van Rooyen‚ Armand van der Merwe‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Lourens Erasmus‚ Franco Mostert‚ Andries Ferreira‚ Ruan Ackermann‚ Warwick Tecklenberg‚ Warren Whiteley‚ Jaco Kriel‚ Cyle Brink‚ Steph de Witt. Backs: Faf de Klerk‚ Ross Cronje‚ Dillon Smit‚ Elton Jantjies‚ Jaco van der Walt‚ Courtnall Skosan‚ Ruan Combrinck‚ Sylvian Mahuza‚ Howard Mnisi‚ Rohan Janse van Rensburg‚ Lionel Mapoe‚ Andries Coetzee. - TMG Digital..

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