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The Lions were dealt a further blow ahead of their tour of Australasia when veteran Springbok flyhalf Butch James was banned for four weeks by a Sanzar tribunal.
James was banned from all forms of the game after charging into a ruck in Friday's 34-20 loss to the Brumbies in Johannesburg - and will miss the team’s trip Down Under as a result.
On Saturday, The Cheetahs blew a 30-9 lead in losing 36-33 to the Highlanders in Bloemfontein - compounded to which, inspirational flyhalf Johan Goosen did his shoulder and announced he'd be out for four months.
It is a massive blow not only for the Cheetahs but also for the SA under-20 team, which had selected him for the IRB Junior World Championship next month.
One ray of sunshine was the Stormers making it 8 wins out of nine with a 17-3 win over the Western Force in Perth.
They're two points adrift of the overall log-leaders Waikato Chiefs who beat the Hurricans 33-14 in Hamilton.
