Lions coach John Mitchell said the results of his team’s pre-season matches in the Newlands tri-series will be far less important than the “energy and enthusiasm” his players bring to the field.
The New Zealander admitted there would be huge expectations on the big-spending Lions to perform in 2011 – starting with the pre-season encounters against the Sharks and Stormers in a tournament that gets underway in Cape Town next Friday, January 28.
However, Mitchell is adamant that results in the pre-season games are not of primary concern for his emerging outfit.
“There are expectations that we put on ourselves, and what we do,” Mitchell told rugby365, when asked about his goals for the pre-season and the expanded Super Rugby season that gets underway next month.
“What is important is that we improve culturally and in terms of attitude.
“Yes, winning is important, but if there is one objective that I would like to see us achieve is to excite our Transvaal [Gauteng] region and community.
“If we play with energy and enthusiasm, and demonstrate a work ethic that encourages our community, then we’ll have an enjoyable experience.”
Mitchell will have ample opportunity to mold his team for their first Super season under his guidance, ahead of the opening round of the tournament proper – when they take on the defending champion Bulls in Johannesburg on February 19.
It has been confirmed that the Lions will also play the strong Argentinian provincial outfit Tucuman after the Tri-Series in Cape Town, while there are additional warm-up matches scheduled to take place against the Pumas and Southern Kings.
That will give the coach five pre-season outings in which to achieve all his goals.
“We just want to give all our guys game time, get match conditioned, test some of the areas and concepts that we want to base our game and playing style on”
“We will give ourselves a chance to make some corrections and identify the areas where we can improve and also give all 35 [players] a hit-out.”
Asked if encounters with the Stormers and Sharks would give him an indication of his team’s progress, Mitchell again stressed that results were not important.
“I’m not really worried where we are at trial-time [in the pre-season matches],” the Lions mentor said, “in the end it will all come on the competition.
“I don’t get too focused on trials, it is just part of the process of getting the players ready for the competition and getting match fitness in.
“It is a long year, so there will be plenty of opportunities presented post trial time.
“I’m not even interested in the outcome – if we win it is great, if we do not win that is great also, because you can learn from it in trial phase a lot quicker.
“It is not a matter of losing. You are building towards something, because you are testing it for the first time.”
Courtesy of rugby365
Well, lets look at the positives:
Mitchell seems to know a lot more about pre-season planning than his three predecessors.
They have some very nice talent and experience in the 9-10 berth, and with Spencer around, it could just be that he could be working some magic in that area.
The Lions may not have made the biggest buys of the decade, but, most of the players they brought in are at the least solid.
They can ONLY do better than last year.
Negatives:
Except for a few front liners, the quality in depth is not very good. What happens if Pretorious gets injured, then Jantjies has to play the whole season? Hiwena.
The preseason schedule could provide the coaching staff with a lot of answers, yes, BUT, it could also cause some injuries.
The Lions are, sorry to say, in a bit of a loosing culture-rut. No matter how you cut it, they need to get out of their negative frame of mind. One big season like the WPRU had last year could do it. But then again WPRU have been working towards that one big season for almost three.
All in all, I hope the Lions do well. I hope all SA teams do well, especially against overseas opp.
Unfortunately, I do not really see them having a winning rate higher than 35% maybe 40%
From a Bulls view , we have the most difficult task/start in years with this years competition. Taking on a wild eyed Lion team and then our most annoying opponent the Cheetahs next. 😀
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