British Lions fears are growing that more Covid cases in South Africa camp will cause further chaos to tour

WARREN GATLAND fears more Covid cases in the South Africa camp will disrupt next week's fixtures in Cape Town.

The Springboks have been eerily silent since announcing 11 new positive coronavirus cases on Tuesday.

Head coach Jacques Nienaber and fly-half Handre Pollard were named as the latest high-profile guys struck down earlier in the week.

And a further update is expected later today from the South African Rugby Union.

And Gatland said: "I think there are a number of players that have tested positive and they're in sort of isolation and locked down.

"And I don't know how much training that they've been doing as a group.

"So they may need to have an internal hit out against each other with not being able to play the Georgia game.

"And potentially their game could be switched from from Wednesday to Saturday.

"We're not 100%, it will be either the Springboks or The Stormers. They might switch those games around.

"That hasn't been confirmed, but hopefully in the next 24 hours we'll know which way those games go."

The Lions have had their own problems and have lost attack coach Gregor Townsend for at least the next two games.

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So skills coach Neil Jenkins has stepped in to help run the attack while Scotland boss Townsend chips in remotely.

When asked if Townsend would be in the coaches' box to face The Sharks again on Saturday, Gatland said: "He won't be there.

"But Neil Jenkins wasn't a bad out-half himself so he has been helping with the attack.

"Jenks is always that extra voice - he does the kicking and exit plays - but he is also an excellent attack coach in his own right.

";He is incredibly experienced and has been stepping up and doing a bit of that.

"It’s obviously been a slightly turbulent week, but we remain determined to keep rolling with the punches.

“In many ways, the challenges we’ve faced this week have strengthened our resolve to do everything we can to overcome the challenges created by covid."