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The Lions' hopes of winning Super Rugby in 2017 have been dealt a blow after inspirational captain Warren Whiteley was ruled out for six to eight weeks and will miss the remainder of the competition. The South African franchise were beaten finalists in 2016, and have won 12 of their 13 matches this year to book a quarter-final spot again. But they will have to go through the knockout stages without Whiteley, who has a ligament tear that requires intensive rehabilitation, the union confirmed on Tuesday. "Warren's scan shows a torn ligament in his pelvis. He doesn't require surgery at this stage. We expect to rehabilitate him in six to eight weeks," Lions team doctor Rob Collins said in a statement. The injury is also a blow for the Springboks, who start their Rugby Championship campaign at home to Argentina on August 19. Whiteley was sustained in line-out practise with the Boks ahead of their three-match home Test series against France, for which the loose forward was named skipper. He received injections to allow him to play in the first two games, but was withdrawn on the eve of the third Test as South Africa swept the series 3-0. He might now only be available for the second half of that completion, which will upset the plans of Bok coach Allister Coetzee, who had revelled in the leadership qualities offered by Whiteley in the build-up to the France series. The Lions are back in Super Rugby action on Saturday when they host the Sunwolves from Japan, before their final pool stage game is away at the Sharks on July 14. They will hope to overhaul the Crusaders at the top of the overall Super Rugby log to ensure home ground advantage through the knockout stages. For that to happen they must win their last two games, and hope the Crusaders lose their final pool stage match away at the Hurricanes.
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