Blitzbok star ready to roar for Lions

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The Lions won’t risk star centre Henco van Wyk, but are poised to unleash Blitzbok sensation JC Pretorius against the Sharks in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby at Kings Park on Friday.

Van Wyk injured his elbow in a Challenge Cup win for the Lions over French Top 14 side Stade Francais at Ellis Park last week, and is only likely to return in a URC clash with the DHL Stormers in Cape Town on New Year’s Eve.

Also still sidelined are Lions prop Ruan Dreyer (hamstring) and loose forward Francke Horn (ankle), who are expected to be ruled out for up to eight and 12 weeks, respectively.

The Joburgers received a boost by the arrival of SA-born English hooker Michael van Vuuren from Wasps, while Pretorius joined The Pride following the Blitzboks’ fourth-placed finish at their home leg of the World Sevens Series.

Speaking at a Lions media conference on Tuesday, the 24-year-old openside flanker told reporters: “It’s a massive honour and privilege to be associated with the Lions, and especially with my running style of rugby, and with guys like Jaco [Kriel] and Manny [Emmanuel Tshituka] playing six as well,” he said.

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“I said to myself I won’t rush anything coming into the system, and I’m learning quite a lot from the guys, especially a guy like Jaco who was and still is a role model.”

Pretorius has sought the advice of Springbok fetcher Kwagga Smith and Sharks speedster Werner Kok on how to make a success of his switch to 15s.

“I definitely chat with Werner often, and Kwagga especially, who is also a role model for me,” he said. “What a better place to be, he was also at Lions and knows the ins and outs of the system so he can help me a lot, especially my role as a six flank.”

Assistant coach Albert van den Berg added: “JC is a great addition for us, being in that six position; he played brilliantly in the sevens.

“A lot of people talk about a fetcher and JC brings that, and is a lineout option as well, and brings a massive work rate as a young player.

“Michael brings a lot of experience from overseas, playing in [northern hemisphere] conditions and is a senior in the team now.

“He can also give us insight on playing in Europe for both [URC and Challenge Cup] competitions.”

On Van Wyk’s recovery and match readiness, Van den Berg said: “We did some scans on him and it’s not as long [an absence] as we thought it would be.

“Potentially he could’ve played this weekend [in Durban] strapping it up but it’s not worth the risk … so looking at the possibility of playing him next weekend.”

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Photo: @Blitzboks/Twitter

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Devin Hermanus