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20 positive hotel staff tests result in Cape Town change for Lions
Warren Gatland has revealed the challenging level of Covid that spread among staff at the Lions squad hotel in Johannesburg, an outbreak that has resulted in them demanding changes regarding the staff at their next hotel in Cape Town where they will be arriving on Sunday.
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The Lions camp was thrown into chaos on Wednesday when it emerged that one of their own staff members had tested positive for the virus while one player also tested positive, an outcome that eventually became a false negative after he passed all of his subsequent tests.
With their opening two matches in Johannesburg and another in Pretoria now played, the Lions will fly to Cape Town on Sunday for their next three tour matches. There is also an increasing possibility that the second and third Test matches currently scheduled for Johannesburg will be switched to Cape Town to reduce the risk of Covid infection associated with going back to the Gauteng region where the spread is more contagious.
That venue switch decision has yet to confirmed but what the Lions have already insisted on is a change in the working arrangements of the staff at the hotel they will be staying at in Cape Town in order to lessen the risk of another outbreak in their camp.
“We are not doing anything different,” said Gatland about the Lions and the virus precautions they have taken amongst themselves. “We have been very stringent in the way that we have applied what the medical team and the guidelines have set out to us.
This doesn't sound good #LionsRugby #SHAvBILhttps://t.co/ahG6P9ePXe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 10, 2021
“The big challenge was we arrived at the hotel the first day and twelve of the staff members had tested positive and then a couple of days later another five and then a couple of days after that another two and then another one. That has been a bit of a challenge for us from that regard and that is what we have requested for Cape Town, that the hotel staff staying onsite come in early and are tested regularly as well.
“The risk isn’t really with us. It’s any engagement with anyone else. We are trying to keep that as tight as we possibly can but we can’t really control some of those other aspects. We are doing our best to do that and made sure that all those hotel staff are in early and tested regularly and are onsite so they are not going home to their families. They are staying in our bubble even though we are definitely keeping our distance and are not interacting with the hotel staff.”
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Gatland added that not everyone in the Lions party will be flying to Cape Town on Sunday. “Just one player is being left behind and four staff members and they will join up with us on Wednesday. We were tested yesterday [Friday] and everyone was negative and we were tested again today and everyone was negative.
“One of the things we had right from the start of the tour was we spoke about there is going to be some chaos and there has been chaos and it’s about adapting to that and then changing. That has been the mantra and we were able to handle that in the week. I see it as a positive, that anything that is thrown at us doesn’t upset us… if anything else happens on the tour that is chaotic as this week has been it would probably surprise me.”
Emotional reaction after he learned he will be going to South Africa for the Lions and not heading to Wembley as planned to watch the England footballers in the Euro 2020 final #LionsRugby #ENGvCANhttps://t.co/r1oh60I7VM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 10, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments