Players at the Golden Lions, the Lions' opponents in Johannesburg next week, have called off a threatened strike following this week's sacking of the Super 14 side's coach, Eugene Eloff.

The Golden Lions removed Eloff on Wednesday after commissioning the former South Africa coach Jake White to conduct a review of the franchise following a disappointing Super 14 campaign which saw the Lions record just four victories.

White's recommendation that Eloff be sacked was taken up immediately, despite the match against the touring Lions being just a week away. Players reacted angrily and said they would not play next Wednesday unless Eloff was reinstated.

"When I heard about the possible strike I rang Cobus Grobbelaar [the Lions' captain] and asked him not to go ahead with it," said Eloff. "I said that no emotion should be put into my departure and that it was in the best interests of everybody that they went ahead with the game."

"It is flattering the players support me but this is not about me but what is best for the Golden Lions and the players. They have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to test themselves against the British and Irish Lions and they must not jeopardise that."

The players walked out of a meeting with the Lions' chief executive, Manie Reynecke, after being told of Eloff's sacking. Hans Coetzee has taken over as coach on a temporary basis while White has been linked with the job on a permanent basis.

"The decision to replace the coach shocked the players and that was understandable," said Reynecke. "They asked me to reconsider but I told them that was not possible.

"We are running a business and changes had to be made. We needed some fresh air in the system and we had to make the move now, not after next Wednesday, because we are not here to write guys' CVs or hand out certificates."