Several direct and indirect Covid-19 cases in the Lions camp led to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases calling the game off.

The NICD has since declared that there is not an outbreak at the franchise and the game between the Lions and Griquas has been given the green-light.

Lions coach, Ivan van Rooyen, is happy that his team is the right metal space following what was a tough week, which also included the players being put in isolation until Tuesday afternoon.

“We feel that transparency and honesty is the way to go with the players. So, we’ve been honest with them from the beginning.

“We’ve had Zoom meetings with them regarding what’s happened, regarding our plan and how we want to play in fine detail. I really need to commend the players, mentally they are in a good space, they understand what is happening and what we want to achieve and they also understand what they can and can’t do.

When asked about possibly sharing the points from the previous weeks planned game against the Cheetahs, Van Rooyen, added that they would prefer to take to the field against the team from Bloemfontein.

“That's a discussion that is happening at board-level between the CEO's and SA Rugby.

“If we are privileged to play that game, it will be great. If not, then that's what it is.

“We would love to catch that game up somewhere.”

Friday nights’ game between the Lions and Peacock Blues kicks off at 19:00. On Saturday at 16:30 the Pumas tackle the Sharks in Nelspruit, while the Bulls are home to Stormers, with the North-South derby kicking off at 19:00.

Lions -  15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements – 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.

Griquas - 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 André Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Adré Smith, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements - 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Johan Momsen, 20 Ewan Coetzee, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Masixole Banda, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 CJ Velleman, 26 Johnathan Francke.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport