Springbok winger Aphiwe Dyantyi is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday’s Super Rugby final at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
Dyantyi‚ who scored a magnificent individual try against the Waratahs in the Lions’ 44-26 semi-final win at Ellis Park on Saturday‚ did not reappear after the half-time break due to a hamstring injury.
It has been a breakthrough year of massive proportions for Dyantyi, who has risen through the ranks of the Lions and Springboks in the space of 12 months and become a star player for both club and country.
And the Lions are sweating on their powerful and pacey winger ahead of the all-or-nothing encounter.
“Let’s hope he’s fine‚” coach Swys de Bruin told Times Live.
“He has a hamstring that twitched. But what a guy to sub him with? Courtnall is brilliant as well.”
De Bruin went on to praise the rest of his bench as well as the pack for laying a ‘fantastic platform’.
“The subs were fantastic. How was Marnus Schoeman? Every single sub made a massive difference.”
“The pack was unreal. They laid a fantastic platform.”
While he is frustrated by the fact that his side have fallen behind in their last three matches‚ De Bruin was delighted with the character shown by the team to come from behind on each occasion.
“(There was) brilliant leadership from Warren Whiteley‚” De Bruin said.
“The calling was good. They stuck to the plan and that is massive for the belief. It speaks a lot about the character in the team.
“Elton (Jantjies) will make calls other flyhalves won’t make. Look at that cross kick. Pin point.
“That is what I like about the decision makers. Ross (Cronjé) when he kicks‚ Kwagga (Smith) when he sets off.
“He’s just relentless. He was special. He was the injection.”
De Bruin‚ however‚ knows that the Lions will have to play even better if they are to cause an upset against the defending champions and overwhelming favourites.
“We are blessed to get the chance to go to the best team in the world. I watched them (against the Hurricanes).
“They are unreal. We have to find a crack in that armour.”