By: Farai Diza
He can’t agree with the sentiment that there is currently a potential lock crisis in the Springbok camp, says former Boks second row and current Lions coach Johan Ackermann.
With both the Sharks Pieter-Steph du Toit and the Lions Franco van der Merwe injured and out for the season, and the Stomers Eben Etzebeth still on the recovery list, the concern has been growing.
“It is obviously a pity to lose both Pieter-Steph and Franco to injury who were probably the top number five locks locally. It’s about if a guy can see the space, while Etzebeth is very good on the deck, and a guy like Flip van der Merwe showed in the past that he can call the line outs from the number 5 position,” said Ackermann.
But Boks coach Heyneke Meyer also still has the options of veteran Victor Matfield or sushi Bok Andries Bekker.
With both the Sharks Pieter-Steph du Toit and the Lions Franco van der Merwe injured and out for the season, and the Stomers Eben Etzebeth still on the recovery list, the concern has been growing.
“It is obviously a pity to lose both Pieter-Steph and Franco to injury who were probably the top number five locks locally. It’s about if a guy can see the space, while Etzebeth is very good on the deck, and a guy like Flip van der Merwe showed in the past that he can call the line outs from the number 5 position,” said Ackermann.
But Boks coach Heyneke Meyer also still has the options of veteran Victor Matfield or sushi Bok Andries Bekker.
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