Lions coach Johan Ackermann says that unless someone gives them a lot of money he will not be doing any recruiting ahead of Super Rugby.
After being knocked out of the Currie Cup in their semifinal defeat to the unbeaten Western Province at Newlands, focus for the Johannesburg franchise now shifts to their re-entry into Super Rugby.
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However, having recently picked up a few promising former Varsity Cup players in Ricky Schroeder and Courtnall Skhosan, the Lions will not be adding to their playing stocks.
When asked about his plans, Ackermann said that he is set to work with what he has already and sees next year as a starting point after a year in the wilderness.
“I think this is about it, unless someone gives us a lot of money, then these are the guys that must grow into that role. This is basically year one but we didn’t even play Super Rugby so you can’t even count that. Next year will be year one,” he said.
Whilst there will be a few players back from injury next year, Ackermann also has a crop of players that have never played Super Rugby, and they will need to make the adjustment quickly.
“There are a lot of guys that must still come into the system. Obviously we can add Ruan Combrinck, Dylan des Fountain and Alwyn Hollenbach who are coming back from injury. Robbie Coetzee, Jacques van Rooyen, Chris van Zyl, Marnitz Boshoff, Chrysander Botha, Robert de Bruyn – those guys must all still play Super Rugby and there are a lot of guys that are injured that haven’t played Super Rugby before. There are a lot of guys who join us for their first pre-season, and they are going to need it to getting them physically at the level that we want them,” he explained.
The Lions coach said that he was proud of the effort his side showed at Newlands and throughout what has been a testing year for the union, but added that Province had been too strong.
“I am proud of the guys and the way they fought the whole game and this whole year, I think there was a lot of growth. In my eyes this was a Super Rugby match for us, playing against a full strength Western Province side and unfortunately you can’t let in two tries like that,” he said.
Ackermann added that the commitment his side showed on defence gave him a lot of heart, despite the fact that some crucial lapses led to the two Province tries.
“There were a lot of times that they looked like they were going to score and we really worked hard and scrambled to stop the attack. There was a lot of heart in our performance and there were a lot of guys who were playing in their first Currie Cup semifinal and they haven’t even played Super Rugby yet so this was a big learning curve for them.”
The Lions boss praised the Cape side, who will have a shot at making it an unbeaten season against the Sharks in a home final next week.
“There are no obvious weaknesses in the Province side, they have got a big pack of forwards and a guy in Catrakilis that can dictate with his kicking. Then they have got exciting backs, guys that have been around the block that can break your line at any time. Any team that wants to come here and match them they have to be good defensively as well, and then you have to have good set phases,” he said.
Eish… money is the root of all evil… is’nt it!
… and of course all women need roots… hehehe
Looking at the crop of MTN Lions players for Super Rugby 2014, there are some great players, but also some glaring shortcomings, which recruiting could have sorted out rather nicely.
Dare I say that the MTN Lions forwards are good enough, they are however a great scrumhalf or 2 short and at least one wing.
Depth, to rotate properly, also may be a big problem…. as well as naivity in the game plan they employ.
I wish the MTN Lions a good rest, proper pre-season and a good Super Rugby season in 2014, after a very difficult year in 2013.
Luke Watson will be available.
So the Lions want to take on SR with a group of players that could only wind 40% of their CC round robin games?
I reckon they should book the flights to PE now for the Promotion / Relegation game. Could get a good eal for booking early.
@ Scrumdown:
Crickey, you can see I was in KZN this weekend. I caught Puma’s typing deficiencies.
wind = WIN, and eal = DEAL
4 @ Scrumdown:
How was the golf?
@ grootblousmile:
Day 1 at Umhlali was ok. Persistent but light rain. My partner & I were joint leaders after day 1.
Day 2, Mount Edgecomb. Absolute monsoon rain started on the 3rd hole. Managed to play 9, and my partner and I were going great and would have taken overall lead, but because some of the maoning old farts walked off after 3 holes all scores were null and void.
I got absolutely soaked.
Day 3 at Zimbali also had some quite persistent rain for about an hour, but my golf (and my partner’s) was absolutely “hond kak”.
The course was so wet you were always standing in water to play a shot.
The greens had been treated the week before, so consequently you couldn’t hit into a green because it wouldn’t hold, but if you hit it short it just plugged in the wet fringes.
I’m now as sick as a dog, (probably from Friday), but need to get right quickly as I’ve suddenly got too many short term deadlines.
6 @ Scrumdown:
Golf in any weather still beats working hands down!
7 @ grootblousmile:
But what we did on Friday was plain STUPID.
It’s asking to get double pneumonia.
8 @ Scrumdown:
True… that’s the day where you sit at the Club House bar… and almost take it too far…
@ Scrumdown:
Hopefully the Lions can get some adequate players from the Pumas and Leopards. And some of the players in the junior ranks can also make the step up.
@ Loosehead:
Swearing like that is unacceptable, Loosehead. That man and rugby should never be used in the same sentence.
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