URC: Lions flanker Vincent Tshituka unavailable for extended period

Lions flanker Vincent Tshituka will be unavailable for a lengthy period of the Johannesburg side’s United Rugby Championship campaign as he continues recovery from a shoulder injury.

Tshituka has earned himself an esteemed reputation in the Lions’ camp through his strong work ethic and leadership abilities and his absence will be a blow.

Guarding against further setback

“He’s been with us daily, doing some work off the field. I don’t think he’ll be back in at least the next six weeks,” assistant coach Albert van den Berg told Sport24.

“It’s really a case of strengthening that shoulder of his. It’s going to take some time. The last thing we want is to bring him back (too soon) and have another setback. It’s now about focusing on rehab so that he can stay on the field.”

The 23-year-old is key to the balance of the Lions loose trio having combined well with Jaco Kriel and Francke Horn to form a formidable combination. 

Whilst the Lions do have versatile loose forwards to fill in, the gap left by Tshituka’s sheer work ethic is difficult to replace.

“The void he leaves is one of work ethic,” said Van den Berg.

“Vince is an unbelievably hard worker. He’s everywhere on the field. He makes tackles, he’s a fine ball-carrier and he attacks the rucks. He’s one of those players who just always gives 100% along with something extra.

“I’m not saying the others don’t do that, but Vince is special in that regard.”

Van den Berg pointed out that Tshituka fits the mould perfectly for the blindside flanker the Lions would like to field and is irreplaceable in the squad in that regard.

“He’s a great blindside flanker, a good fit for the position for us,” he added.

“We don’t quite have the depth for a like-for-like replacement for him as we have a mixture of guys who are generally switched more between No 6 and 8. So Vince is our one out-and-out No 7.”

An opportunity potentially knocks for Ruhan Straeuli in the absence of Tshituka with veteran Willem Alberts likely to cover lock on the back of Reinhard Nothnagel’s injury. However, Straeuli has not shown the most glittering transition into the senior fold.

“Ruhan has come in and was relatively secure under the ball, even if he dropped one kick-off. He’s working on that,” said Van den Berg.

“But overall, it’s an opportunity for us to see who can put up their hands and make a difference. We’re definitely missing Vince.”