The Lions are going through a torrid time this season. Taking a team over that was a unhappy camp is tough in itself. Having so many of your best players abandoning ship makes Dick Muir’s job almost impossible. What possibly could be a possitive for this embattled team, at this stage?
Somehow they must scrape a win , their next game against the Crusaders can turn their season around. Possible? Why not.
Kevin de Klerk said “I have full confidence in the coaching staff and in Henning’s (mind coach Henning Gericke) ability to lift the team, and I am certain that they will bounce back over the next weekend”
But while Gericke boards the plane, De Klerk gave coach Dick Muir a vote of confidence to do what is seemingly the impossible, and get the Lions to win a match in this year’s competition.
“Again, I wish to reiterate that I have full confidence in the coaching staff and the team to do this turn around”, de Klerk said.
However, facing the Crusaders this weekend is a massive ask to cause what would be the shock of the season against the third-placed side.
Calling for a shrink to make them believe they are world-beaters makes one wonder the extent of their problems. They should have persisted with Loffie in my opinion.
hmmmm, just dont know
i sense that the lions are looking for quick fixes rather than addressing real problems like their lack of structures (both on and off the field) etc etc etc
on loffie? in all fairness, he WAS given a full 4 years to turn the fortunes of the team around. according to them he didnt, so he had to go.
And they’re basically expecting Muir to turn the Lions around in one S14 season. Aint gonna happen.
Getting a psych to tell them that they are world beaters? They’re in the S14 for goodness sakes, what else do they think they are…..go play in the VC if you think you’re not good enough.
btw
what was the finding of jw and co on the problems at the lions? (i believe that he assessed not only loffie’s performance but also what the union lacked/ what problems the union faced?)
what was their suggestion/s, how was it going to be implimented and in what time-frame?
hei Straueli_My_Mate
how are you broetsie?
Yellow Ahley, lekker and you?
Just waiting for the Sharks to record a win, luckily your team keeps the coastal’s name high.
Not even Chuck Norris, David Hasselhoff and Tom Selleck can help the Lions now 🙂
You gonna check how Loffie brings Boland back into the premier division.
I dont think he’s a bad coach, I think the Lions have become un-coachable.
Look at Ludeke. Now look at even Muir vergatting his name with the Lions.
Fires @ 8
i certainly do hope so, bru
as i’ve said … lions seems to be looking for quick fixes … its a shame that a union with a history like that of the lions, had fallen like this
..
i wouldve felt soooooooo much better if it happened to a team like the bulls, though!! 😆
Ashley 9
Ja, would’ve been great to see it happen to the Nulle 😆
winston @ 7
charles bronson, perhaps?
firestrauli @ 10
😉
Firstly, I do not believe the Lions stand a chance against the Crusaders this weekend… so it will be 6 losses from 6… then they face the Highlanders, possibly their best chance to get a win on tour, but the Landers are no throw-away side…
I predict that the Lions will then be 0 from 7, when returning home.
Lions must hope that the Force are worse on tour than they are at home.
That’s their only chance of a win IMO. (1 May at Coke Blik)
On current form they don’t deserve to be in the competition!
Ashley, yes the problems are VERY deep rooted, but the Union do not see them.
Bottom line, the Lions have become a useless union, and deserves to be replaced by the Southern Kings or Spears (whatever they’ll call that union).
gbs
please see #4
do you know, perhaps?
Perhaps a young Bruce Willis in Die Hard, or the Terminator?
I will only judge the Lions at the end of next year. If they have the same staff in place at the end of next year one will be able to judge them against the previous season, which is this year. They have lost a lot of players. They started form scratch with a very young team. Give them a break, until next year.
Some people think they know it all. All the problems and how to fix it. Do you guys really think that Kevin de Klerk, Dick etc don’t know the problems they face and trying to deal with it? Come on!
16@ Asbak – I do not know exactly what Jake White’s findings were…. see if you can catch Scrumdown here, when he is here, he might be able to source the report fr us.
ok, i have found the statements issued by both the lions and jw’s winning ways
its a bit long, and frustratingly its says absolutely f*kkol!! would appreciate it if someone else have any other information on this issue to share!!
…..
Monday, August 24, 2009
GOLDEN LIONS PRESS STATEMENT
Golden Lions roaring to go
Johannesburg – Golden Lions CEO Manie Reyneke emphasized the need for the union to embrace the challenge of the future instead of getting stuck on the Super 14 failings of the last three seasons.
Reyneke, who initiated the rugby audit conducted by Jake White and Eddie Jones, on behalf of Jake White’s Winning Way Pty Ltd, said the audit had shown the need for change in coaching staff and highlighted the urgency in finding solutions.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union asked Eugene Eloff as head coach to stand down within days of White’s audit and Reyneke said he was comfortable with the decision, in light of discussions held with Eloff, the players and White.
‘The audit confirmed the worst. Jake and his company have made recommendations that we have accepted. Jake and Eddie (Jones) are two of the finest rugby coaches and thinkers in the world and they will provide the skills set needed to put Lions rugby back at the top,’ said Reyneke. ‘The message to our rugby public is that there is change. We have professionally dealt with the rugby issues of the last three years and we have acted calmly but with the necessary urgency.
‘Eugene Eloff had a three-year plan but there was not delivery on the plan and in any business an individual is judged on delivery. Hans Coetzee will take on the role of head coach in the Currie Cup and a decision on who will coach the Super 14 team will be taken in the course of the Currie Cup.’
Reyneke confirmed White’s company consultancy will start on July 1, although he was pleased that White and Jones had already worked with the squad in the last week.
‘Jake has had several meetings with Hans and both he and Eddie spent time with the team this week. Jake will meet with the union’s coaches of all levels on Saturday morning to detail the plans for the next four months.’
Acting President Neville Jardine said the Board had made an informed decision and that there had been no knee-jerk reaction to the Lions’ poor Super 14 season.
‘Jake and his company’s involvement goes beyond the professional team. It is about getting our rugby strong again as a province and making sure that the structures at all the levels are consistent with what is happening at the highest level.’
(Hans) Coetzee and Currie Cup captain Cobus Grobbelaar were convinced a change in fortune was possible and both embraced the input of White and his company.
Issued by the Golden Lions Rugby Union
– End –
Issued by Jake White’s Winning Way
For all media enquiries, contact Krystle Geach
T +27 11 402 2960
M +27 84 507 4571
E krystleg@glru.co.za
——————————————————————————–
Monday, August 24, 2009
JAKE WHITE PRESS STATEMENT
Jake White Winning Way Pty Ltd audit and way forward for Golden Lions
Comments by Jake White, speaking on behalf of Jake White’s Winning Way Pty Ltd
Having reviewed the tapes of the Super rugby matches, we found the style of play to lack cohesion, structure, shape and effectiveness to win the tournament or even challenge for the play-offs. The Lions defence was the worst in the competition and no team can be successful if defence is not a priority.
No team can be competitive if the players are not well conditioned and the results of the conditioning tests are evidence of why the Lions struggled in the Super 14.
Dr Derik Coetzee, our company’s conditioning specialist, reviewed the results of the tests and they were disgraceful.
The players must take responsibility but ultimately all responsibility is with the head coach, who has to oversee that his players are conditioned. This clearly was not done.
Dr Coetzee, who headed the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup conditioning campaign, compared each player and each player grouping to norm of the norm of the Springbok squad that won the World Cup,
The reason I asked for that comparison was because the core of that side plays for the Bulls and Sharks in the Super 14 and the Lions players have to be at the same levels of conditioning if they are to be title contenders in 2010.
The board was presented with the findings.
Of the 41 players tested in the last week, not one met the norm in all seven disciplines. Hans Coetzee, the interim head coach and I met with the players, and it has been made clear what is expected of them if they are to be successful as professional players.
Again I have to stress that every player needs guidance and a coach who has to be a watchdog.
The position specific grouping results of the five primary conditioning tests (of the seven) were as follows:
Props:
Fat %: Norm 12%, Lions 19.8%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 720, Lions 638
3 km run: Norm 12.45, Lions 16.62
10 m run: Norm 1.8, lions 1.95
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,1.
Hookers:
Fat %: Norm 11%, Lions 16,25%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 750, Lions 647
3 km run: Norm 12.00, Lions 14.8
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.84
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,3.
Locks:
Fat %: Norm 12%, Lions 15,72%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 750, Lions 630
3 km run: Norm 12.15, Lions 14.10
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.92
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.3, Lions 1,075.
Loose forwards
Fat %: Norm 10%, Lions 12%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 760, Lions 687
3 km run: Norm 11.45, Lions 13.10
10 m run: Norm 1.75, Lions 1.82
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Inside backs
Fat %: Norm 9%, Lions 13,5%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 780, Lions 680
3 km run: Norm 11.15, Lions 13.86
10 m run: Norm 1.65, Lions 1.75
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Outside backs
Fat %: Norm 9%, Lions 12,2%
Repeat Sprint: Norm 780, Lions 702
3 km run: Norm 11.15, Lions 13.8
10 m run: Norm 1.65, Lions 1.75
40 m sprint: Norm: 5.1. Lions 5
Bench Kg/Body Mass: Norm 1.5, Lions 1,3.
Eddie Jones, my business partner, and I also completed an audit on the strengths and weaknesses of each player and made recommendations to the board.
There is no doubt the squad needs strengthening with reference to the Super 14, but a player must have a reason to be lured to a union, and that will be the challenge of the Golden Lions Rugby Union and Jake White’s Winning Ways in the next four months.
We can only have an influence on what happens now and to labour the last three years serves no purpose, as that can’t be changed.
It was our recommendation to entrust Hans with the Currie Cup head coaching duties under the guidance of the Jake White Winning Way. We will make use of existing management resource, while also introducing specialist company consultants in specific areas of the game.
The consultants are there to improve the existing staff and not to compete with them for permanent jobs.
The Golden Lions Board will also make ongoing assessments of our company’s influence over the next four months to determine whether we can add further value in the 2010 Super 14.
– End –
Issued by Jake White’s Winning Way
For all media enquiries, contact Kara Ross
T +27 21 416 141
M +27 71 682 6377
E kara@jakewhiteswinningway.co.za
The thought of replacing the Lions with the Kings is laughable. They will get beaten by a bigger margin. That will just make things worse. The Lions will just have to sort out their problems.
gbs @ 19
i honestly dont hope its the reports as in #20
cause
it says absolutely fokkol!!
🙂
Rugbybal,
Don’t you think in order for Dick to get the Lions sorted he needs more than a S14 season? So how will the Lions come right with Dick being there only during the S14 (that’s if he returns next year).
They need a coach to be there the whole year round. They didn’t get one, so obviously they still believe it’s a quick fix deal. After 10yrs, what makes you think they know what they’re doing?
rugbybal @ 21
thats exactly the issue here …. the lions who have been playing superrugby from the beginning of the tournament (not 100% sure) are getting beaten by huge margins
but
you dont want to bring the Kings in
because
“you fear that they might just be beaten by bigger margins”???????? 😯
I wonder what the financial situation is at the Lions because if they can spend millions to buy Carlos Spencer they cant be the poorest union, but do they have any academies there and what development do they have at grass root level?
Morning folks,
I agree with you, Rugbybal.
In fact, and without wishing to sound like Loffie, it is unreasonable to expect Dick to build a team and have it achieve in the S14 in one season. The Lions fans (gee, why aren’t they on this thread?) should put their er…., pride in their pockets while Dick builds this new team.
Let’s see how they do in the CC. I won’t be surprised if they make a semi….
Go Lions!!
@23 I would like to give them the benefit of the doubt. Recent changes and appointments give us some hope. But I agree with you…they need more time. To give the Lions a fair chance we can’t judge them this year. Which yard stick are you using to judge them? Is it fair judgement? But I agree with you
hei gbs
you magician!!
seems like heres quite a few questions for both the lions and jake white’s winning ways
come on broetsie
do your magic!!
@ 24 My point is which franchise will become successful in the Super 15. Surely not the Kings. Lions will give them a hiding any day.
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