Lionel wings it back to centre

A WEEK ago Lionel Mapoe was preparing himself for a good few weeks of playing on the right wing. Now he’s got to ready himself to again don the Lions No 13 jersey.

The Springbok outside centre was set to fill in on the right wing until such time that fellow Bok Ruan Combrinck was fit and ready to play again following shoulder surgery, but an injury to Howard Mnisi has brought about another change of plans.

Mnisi being ruled out of action for nine months following his rupturing of right knee ligaments against the Cheetahs on Saturday means coach Johan Ackermann has to reshuffle his back division this week.

Mapoe, who was outstanding at No 13 last season, is the obvious choice to shift from wing to centre to play alongside Rohan Janse van Rensburg – the two-try hero on Saturday.

But the above-mentioned combination is not the only one Ackermann can consider for this Saturday’s match against the Waratahs.

Harold Vorster, who replaced Mnisi last Saturday, is a powerful player with plenty of pace and he’ll be keen for the opportunity after sitting out all of last season, also with knee ligament damage.

Then there’s Jacques Nel, the 23-year-old who was recently named Lions Currie Cup back of 2016 and who is the younger brother of SA Sevens star Ruhan. He can play in midfield and on the wing, giving Ackermann plenty to think about.

If Mapoe does move closer to the action from out wide, then Ackermann may well consider Nel for the No 14 jersey but then there are also the likes of Madosh Tambwe, Anthony Volmink and Sylvian Mahuza to consider.

The good news is that the Lions have depth at centre and wing, something Ackermann alluded to last week. “We’re blessed with quality players in the centres and on the wing and that’s always going to make selection difficult. It’s up to the players who get the chance to put up their hands and take it,” he said.

There are no other major injury concerns in the camp.

The Waratahs meanwhile edged the Western Force 19-13 in their opening game and return to the scene, where they lost their only ever match to the Lions, a 22-27 defeat at Ellis Park in 2015.

The teams didn’t face each other last year as the Lions’ conference was drawn to only play against the New Zealand teams.

Two years ago, the Tahs were twice reduced to playing with 14 men when Rob Horne and Jacques Potgieter were sin-binned. LONDON: Six months into their first seasons at Manchester United, Jose Mourinho, pictured right, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have collected their first winners’ medals.

Just how long this partnership of serial winners endures at United remains uncertain.

There’s little doubt Mourinho wants Ibrahimovic to commit to staying at United into next season, especially after the 35-year-old striker’s double clinched the League Cup with a 3-2 victory over Southampton on Sunday.

But Mourinho hopes the supporters will take direct action to convince the Swede to sign the contract extension the club has offered. “I never beg for a player to sign a contract,” said Mourinho, who previously coached Ibrahimovic at Inter Milan. “One day Zlatan decided to go to Barcelona. I was very sad but I did nothing to try stop him from going.

“So, I don’t beg for players but if needed I think maybe United fans can go to the door of his house and stay there and stay there all night if needed. I think they will go for sure. “

“We will believe that he is going to stay with us one more season,” Mourinho said. – AP; Picture: Reuters