This is the third in the series of the Lions Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.
We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Lions 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Franco van der Merwe:
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Franco is a product of Hartswater Primary School, Hartswater High School and North-West University.
If there was ever proof that hard work, good manners and a professional attitude will bring success in life, it is Franco van der Merwe. The Golden Lions lock has toiled away without any real reward for many seasons, but has never stopped giving everything for his team. He was rewarded with a call-up to the Springbok squad in June 2012 and again in November 2012 as well as June 2013 and during The Rugby Championship in 2013. He has played 1 Test at the age of 30, on 5 October 2013 against the All Blacks. He has kept on working hard, giving his all for the team. Van der Merwe is a hard-working lock that is very good in the lineouts, but also not shy of getting his jersey dirty.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2002 – Leopards – U19 Competition
- 2003 – Leopards – ABSA U20 A Section
- 2004 – Leopards – Vodacom Cup, South Africa – IRB U21 World Championships, Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
- 2005 – Impala Leopards – Vodacom Cup, Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup Qualifying Round, Impala Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2006 – Impala Leopards – Vodacom Cup, Impala Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
- 2007 – Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2008 – Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2009 – Lions – MTN test, Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Emerging Springboks – British & Irish Lions Tour, Xerox Golden Lions – British & Irish Lions Tour, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2010 – Auto & General Lions – Vodacom Super 14, Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Xerox Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – MTN Lions – Vodacom Super Rugby, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – MTN Lions Vodacom Super Rugby, Springbok squad member Castle Incoming Tours, MTN Golden Lions ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springbok squad member Castle Outgoing Tours
- 2013 – Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby, Springbok squad member Castle Lager Incoming Series, MTN Lions Super Rugby Promotion / Relegation, MTN Golden Lions Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks The Rugby Championship
Franco is one of the most experienced Lions players in Super Rugby and is a sure starter for 2014.
Name: Luvuyiso “MB” Lusaseni:
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MB Lusaseni is a product of Selbourne Primary, Selbourne College, Ethekwini College and the University of Pretoria.
He started playing for the Border Bulldogs and represented them at Under 16 and Under 18 level between 2004 and 2006. He earned a call-up to the SA Schools team in 2006 and also joined the Natal Sharks academy in 2007. The following year, he was included in the SA Under 20 team for the 2008 IRB Junior World Championship.
He made his first class debut in the 2009 Vodacom Cup against a Free State XV. A few further games followed over the next year before he had a short spell with the Griquas during the 2010 Currie Cup Premier Division.
In 2011, he joined the Leopards, where he established himself as a first choice player.
He joined the Golden Lions for the 2014 season.
He also represented Varsity Cup teams UP-Tuks in 2011 and NWU-Pukke in 2013 and was named in a South African Universities team that played against Namibia in 2013.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2004 – Border – U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2005 – Border – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week
- 2006 – Border – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week, South Africa – SA Schools
- 2007 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2008 – South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2009 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2010 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Platinum Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Leopards – Vodacom Cup, SA Barbarians North – Castle Incoming Tours, Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
- 2013 – Pukke – Varsity Cup, Leopards XV – Vodacom Cup, Leopards – ABSA Currie Cup First Division
He needs to step up to the plate for Super Rugby and will have a lot to prove in 2014.
Name: Christopher Machiel “Chris” van Zyl:
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Chris is a product of Rondebosch High School and the University of Stellenbosch (Maties), where he played some Varsity Cup rugby, representing Maties in the 2011 Varsity Cup competition and making 3 appearances.
He then moved to Johannesburg, where he played amateur rugby for Pirates, also captaining the side.
He joined the Golden Lions senior side in 2013. He made his first class debut in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition, in a 22–27 defeat to the Falcons in Kempton Park, a match where he was also named captain of the side. He made a further 2 appearances in the 2013 Vodacom Cup competition.
His Currie Cup debut came in the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division match against the The Sharks in Durban.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2011 – Maties – Varsity Cup
- 2013 – MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
This is a step up to the big games for Chris, in a squad suddenly back in Super Rugby.
Name: Francois John “Franco” Mostert:
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Franco Mostert is a product of Elandskraal Primary School, Brits High Scool and the University of Pretoria (Tuks).
He joined the Golden Lions for the 2013 season, but was seriously injured in a car crash shortly after joining, which ruled him until at least the end of 2013.
He also played for UP-Tuks in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Varsity Cup competitions.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2010 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2011 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Blue Bulls – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2012 – Tuks – Varsity Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Blue Bulls – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – MTN Golden Lions – Lions Challenge, MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup
Franco Mostert has huge potential and hoping his injuries from the car crash is a thing of the past, he stands a good chance to get good game time in 2014.
Name: Martin Dirk “Martin” Muller:
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Martin Muller is a product of Bishops Preparatory School, Bishops, UCT and Unisa.
He represented Western Province at youth level and made his debut for them during the 2009 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a substitute in their match against the Mighty Elephants. Less than two months after his first class debut, he also played his first Super Rugby match for the Stormers in their match against the Chiefs.
In 2010, he moved to Kimberley to join Griquas. After just one appearance, he was included in the Cheetahs Super Rugby team and made 11 appearances for them.
He joined the Free State Cheetahs at the start of 2013, but suffered a groin injury and never made an appearance for them.
After it was initially announced that he would join Welsh team Newport Gwent Dragons for 2013–14, the deal fell through and he linked up with the Golden Lions for the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division instead.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2006 – WP – U18 Coca Cola Craven Week, South africa – SA Schools B
- 2007 – Vodacom WP – ABSA Under 19 Competition, South Africa – IRB Under 19 World Championship
- 2008 – UCT – Varsity Cup, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Vodacom WP – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2009 – UCT – Varsity Cup, WP – Vodacom Cup, Vodacom Stormers – Vodacom Super 14, WP – British & Irish Lions Tour, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, WP – ABSA Under 21 Competition, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, SA Students
- 2-10 – UCT – Varsity Cup, WP – Vodacom Cup, WP – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, Vodacom WP – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Toyota Cheetahs – Vodacom Super Rugby, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Martin has the pedigree and Super Rugby experience, to be counted as a Super Rugby player, but is far removed from any likelyhood of senior national honours.
Starters:
The Lions should start with Franco van der Merwe as one of the first names on any of their team sheets but the rest of the available locks will have to fight it out for the remaining starting spot and the bench spot. As with many other positions, the Lions is somewhat of an unknown quantity for Super Rugby 2014.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Lions looose forwards.
Pity Hendrick Roodt left the Lions during the Lions challenge. He would have added some grunt up front.
Looks like some ok locks but no real giants going by the heights and weights, will the Lions try and play a quick game and try avoid relying on lineout and scrum domination. Of course these locks may be very good jumpers which would negate any apparent lack of height but ideally the front row would want more bulk behind them in the scrums.
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