Desperate Eloff's semifinal gamble
By Jacques van der Westhuyzen
Eugene Eloff is not one to make radical selection decisions, but he did just that this week when he named retired Springbok lock Jannes Labuschagne in his side for Saturday's crucial Absa Currie Cup match against the Sharks at Coca-Cola Park.
Labuschagne, a 16-Test Bok, retired from the game after the Super 12 competition in 2006. It was a campaign in which he featured just twice because of injuries, forcing him to hang up his boots rather prematurely at the age of 30.
While doing yeoman work over the years for the Lions, Labuschagne was never able to translate domestic form onto the international stage, with the red card he received for shoulder charging Jonny Wilkinson in the 53-3 defeat at Twickenham in 2002 the most recognisable moment of his Test career.
But the big lock is back in the Lions team, starting off the bench today. "I've been very twitchy over the last two years and the hunger to play again never quite left me," he explained.
"Two month ago I was with a friend in Ghana on a church leadership course and he asked me why I'd stopped playing. We chatted a bit and that's when I started considering a return to the game. I've stayed fit over the years and my body feels good... the break has done me well."
Labuschagne only joined the Lions on Monday and was not going to be considered for selection until the Super 14 next year. But a shortage of quality, experienced locks in the ranks forced Eloff's hand and the beneficiary is Labuschagne. "It's awesome to be back. But when you see the No 18 running onto the field on Saturday, please say a prayer," he said jokingly on Thursday, moments before Eloff named his team for the outing.
Victory over the Sharks will ensure a place in the semifinals for the Lions, while defeat and the failure to get a bonus point could open the door for the Cheetahs and Western Province to pip them next week.
Eloff, though, is fully aware his side have a monumental task ahead of them.
The Sharks are top of the log, having lost just twice this season, while there are no less than 16 internationals in the visitors' squad.
"They're a difficult team to prepare against ... they can play any style of rugby and the fact they have so many Boks in the ranks indicates just how powerful they are," said Eloff.
Besides having the insurance of Labuschagne on the bench, the Lions go into the game with Jaque Fourie back in midfield and his experience and knowledge of the Sharks' Frans Steyn and Adrian Jacobs could be telling.
For the visitors, John Smit will play his first Currie Cup match in three years, having recovered from the groin strain sustained in the Boks' first Tri-Nations Test of the competition in Wellington in July.
In the other match on Saturday, Western Province travel to Wellington, in the Boland, to tackle the Cavaliers. In what could be a tricky outing in wet and heavy underfoot conditions, the Capetonians need all five points on offer to stay in the hunt to claim the final semifinal place in this year's Currie Cup competition.
Teams
Lions (Starting XV):
Louis Ludik; Michael Killian, Jaque Fourie, Doppies la Grange, Trompie Nontshinga; Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak; Ernst Joubert, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt); Franco van der Merwe, Anton van Zyl, Ross Geldenhuys, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe Replacements: Ethienne Reynecke, Lawrence Sephaka, Jannes Labuschagne, Justin Wheeler, Chris Jonck, Louis Strydom, Rayno Benjamin
Sharks (Starting XV):
Stefan Terblanche; Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Frans Steyn, JP Pietersen; Frederic Michalak, Ruan Pienaar; Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel, Jacques Botes; Johann Muller (capt), Albert van den Berg, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Beast Mtawarira Replacements: John Smit, Deon Carstens, Steven Sykes, Keegan Daniel, Rory Kockott, Brad Barritt, Waylon Murray