Lions sweat over injured Boks

The defending champion Golden Lions are sweating over the fitness of two of their Springboks, as the Currie Cup competition moves past the halfway mark.

Bok prop CJ van der Linde and flyhalf Elton Jantjies are among the 'doubtful starters' ahead of the Lions' trip to Bloemfontein for a Round Six encounter with the Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.

The veteran prop, Van der Linde, suffered bone bruising to his left patella last week and missed the team's 32-23 win over the Blue Bulls at the weekend.

He is in a race against time to be fit for the encounter with the Cheetahs.

Jantjies injured ligaments in his right knee against the Bulls and is also in a race against time.

Lions coach Johan Ackermann told this website he will give the players "as long as possible" to recover and might even wait till Friday before making a final call.

Other injury concerns include loose forward Jaco Kriel (calf strain) and utility forward Josh Strauss (concussion), who also face fitness tests this week.

Ackermann said Kriel is "unlikely" to recover in time, but he will only make a call late in the week.

The good news is that utility back Deon van Rensburg has finally recovered from the fractured fibula he suffered during the Super Rugby season back in June and is available for selection.

However, among those still sidelined are Whestley Moolman (shoulder dislocation and fractured wrist - no time frame on his return), Guy Cronje (hamstring tear - expected back in a fortnight), Waylon Murray (fractured patella - back in about three weeks), Derick Minnie (right knee ligaments - at least another month) and Stephan Greeff (fractured tibia and fibula - out till March 2013).

By Jan de Koning