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Auckland - Lions prop Schalk 'Hond' van der Merwe was as "sick as a dog" after contracting a stomach virus on arrival in Auckland on Tuesday and has been ruled out of Saturday’s Super Rugby game against the Blues.
The supersport.com website reports that Van der Merwe, one of the stalwarts of the Lions scrum, contracted the virus and was confined to bed on Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving him weak and unable to train with his teammates, and prompting coach Johan Ackermann to replace him with Corné Fourie, who has impressed from the bench thus far in the season.
Fourie is one of two changes to the side that lost to the Stormers for the first tour game, with Ross Cronje returning to the 9 spot in a straight swop with Faf de Klerk moving to the bench.
