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Lions' Super Rugby hopes dealt a blow with Springbok Kwagga Smith ruled out for the season
By Online Editors
The Lions have been a dealt a major blow in the lead up to the finals rounds of Super Rugby for 2019.
Loose-forward Kwagga Smith - one of the Lions' best performers this seasons - will play no further part in the competition due to an injury suffered against the Hurricanes. Early in the match, when the Lions were leading 10-7, Smith made a linebreak but failed to find his teammates and ultimately sent the ball into touch. Smith left the field immediately afterwards with what is now known to be a hamstring injury. The Hurricanes went on to win the game 37-17.
The injury issues don't end there for the Lions, however, who will also be without lock Stephan Lewies (knee injury) and prop Sti Sithole (hamstring) for their final match of the regular season against the Bulls. Sithole should be available for the quarterfinals.
If the Lions manage to win in Pretoria this weekend, they will finish in 5th place and travel to Wellington to play the Hurricanes once more. Ironically, a loss would likely see them on the road to the Jaguares or Brumbies - fixtures which many would consider easier than the Hurricanes rematch.
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Latest Comments
I’m looking forward to attending the Twickenham match, I don’t think it will have a bearing on the outcome of the grand prize itself but it will tell us more about each teams’ preparation and game plan. It’s hard to look past one of the big four (I’m including Canada) lifting the trophy in 2025 but sport is a curious thing, there will still be twists and turns in road ahead.
Go to commentsThe better side seems to be the losing side a lot these days. As far as narrative goes. Must be the big emergent culture of “participation awards” that have emerged in nanny states. ”It looked like New Zealand would take the game from there but lapses in execution let South Africa get back into the game. New Zealand’s goal kickers left five points out there, including a very make-able penalty on the stroke of half”. Sounds like a chronic problem… I wonder how the better team has lapses in concentration and execution? Or are those not important factors in the grand scheme of total performances? In 2023, the ABs at least didn’t give up a lead to lose. They just couldn’t execute to get the points and take the lead. This Baby AB result points to a choke - letting the game slip through your fingers. In the words of the great Ricky Bobby’s dad - “If you’re not 1st you’re last!” Loosely translated - if you didn’t win, you’re a loser.
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