A real selection conundrum is developing at the Lions, and although it will give head coach Ivan van Rooyen some pause to consider, it remains a pleasant position to be in.
‘Cash’ and Co will have the difficult task of considering their midfield combination in the coming weeks, as they start a five match tour of Europe, interrupted midway due to the November Outbound Test series. Currently, Rynhardt Jonker and Erich Cronje have played in both of the United Rugby Championship victories over Ulster and most recently Edinburgh, due to the pre-season injuries to Marius Louw and Henco van Wyk.
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They were lethal against the latter, exposing a fragile defence in the Joburgers’ 55-21 victory. So far in the tournament, the duo have made 243m, four clean breaks, beaten 12 defenders, four clean breaks, inspired one try assist and scored one try.
Louw and Van Wyk, meanwhile, both influenced the win at Ellis Park this past weekend from off the bench, as was the case against Ulster, too. Louw was no doubt one of the team’s most consistent performers last season, while Van Wyk has the X-factor to change the course of any match.
Van Rooyen must then consider whether he keeps Jonker and Cronje, reinstates Louw and Van Wyk, or fiddles with a combination involving all four. Regardless of what he chooses, it is an agreeable position to be in.
After the Edinburgh victory, Jonker expressed delight at his current form, and who could blame the 24-year-old.
“I've worked hard before the Currie Cup,” said Jonker. “Every rugby player wants to be on the field and wants to be out there playing.
“Having good performances is important and it is our job at the end of the day. That is what we need to do. There is some healthy competition in the group that pushes us to our ultimate performances.
“Being a utility as a back,” the former Sharks man continued, “is a good thing.
“At the end of the day, 12 is my main position that I play. If it comes to 13, 15, wherever, I just want to play at the end of the day and serve the team and jersey.”
The Lions smashed their way past the Scottish outfit to lead 48-0 by half-time. They fell off in the second half, losing their intensity after having secured the victory early.
Their immediate next three matches – all in Europe – will see them face Dragons, Zebre and Leinster, and such starts will leave them in good stead. They will, however, need to play a complete match to ensure victory, as admitted by Jonker and teammate Asenathi Ntlabakanye.
“It is probably one of the best halves we have played,” said Ntlabakanye, “but we all know a rugby game is 80 minutes, so we have to play a full game. In the second half we slacked off a bit and it is something we will have a look at while on tour.”
“We always want a fast start,” Jonker added, “and that was one of our fastest we have had in a while.
“Rugby is 80 minutes and we know that when we get to other opposition, we will have to play for 80 minutes. This competition is very competitive.
“We were grateful for the first 40 but we need to step up and have a good review. We need to up it from here.”
The Lions are scheduled to depart tomorrow for Newport, Wales, where they will face Dragons on Sunday at Rodney Parade.