Golden Lions interim coach Johan Ackermann says ongoing reports and rumours about players leaving the union after the Currie Cup are disrupting their campaign.
Sport24
The defending champions suffered a shock 42-32 home loss to Griquas last week, with the build-up to that game overshadowed by post-season player movements.
Jacobie Adriaanse (Llanelli Scarlets), Caylib Oosthuizen (Cheetahs), Paul Willemse (Bulls) and Ruan Botha (WP) all announced last week they will be leaving the Johannesburg-based team after the Currie Cup.
Then there was also the rumour about Josh Strauss moving to the Crusaders, which broke last Friday just hours before the Griquas match.
“I’m worried about it,” Ackermann said. “I told the guys you can’t play if you’re not committed. If they can’t handle it they have to be very honest with me so that the players who want to play in the Currie Cup can play.
There are also rumours about flyhalf Elton Jantjies possibly moving to Western Province and the coach admits it’s becoming annoying.
“Unfortunately there are rumours going around at present – some of it is true and some not. A player has family and friends who read it (media rumours) and then call them. So instead of relaxing at home he now suddenly has to answer 100 messages.”
The SA Rugby Union last month confirmed that the Southern Kings would play in the Super Rugby competition at the expense of the Lions next year – which brought about all the uncertainty regarding the future of their players.
The Lions head to Pretoria this weekend for a clash against the Blue Bulls on Saturday.
Lions won’t lose more than 3 – 4 players to other teams.
The rest just aren’t good enough IMO!
1 @ Scrumdown:
They lost 4 just last week alone….
This just screams the obvious.
No sympathy to be honest.
That sounds harsh but it’s a harsh world out there!
Irrespective of how good or bad our players are, all these rumours cannot be doing them any good. In any organisation, when there is sudden spike in staff turnover, or rumours of people leaving, morale does plummet. I hope Ackers and KDK address this issue with the players. We need more than just one terse press release listing the contracted players. The 4 players that have been signed by other teams are quite a big loss IMO.
WE could really use a player like Elton.
And Pat.
@ BobbejanklimdiebergStormersboySpringbokJan:
Hands off. You guys have messed up too many ex Lions already
It is not only the rumours disrupting the Lions, the fact that nothing is sure about what quality games will be played in 2013 by the Lions…. in other words what the exact plans are to find great quality games to replace the Super Rugby Competition, which is seriously debilitating and which drive players to look for alternatives and playing opportunities in Super Rugby as well as in Northern Hemisphere competitions.
Weekend before this last one, the Lions were in the same boat, but rallied well to beat the WP.
This week they face the Blue Bulls who were simply woeful against WP this past weekend.
Question is, who bounces back first?
@ grootblouBokJan:
I have seen a report that states that the Lions will play against the 5 Australian Super Rugby sides, warmups against the SA sides, matches against USA, Scotland and Fiji. When announcing the early start for Aus next year, he did confirm the fact while the B&I Lions tour Aus, that at least the 5 Aus teams would play against the Lions
@ LionJan4ever: Well then Elton will fit in nicely
@ BobbejanklimdiebergStormersboySpringbokJan:
So you want to mess up another Lions player? You want a no 10 who attacks the gain line better than most 10’s in SA? But your game plan is a defence and kick chase plan. Please tell me how Jantjies would fit into that game plan?
@ LionJan4ever:
We use the players we have. When Jaque Fourie joined the stormers he ignited the backline. Elton could do the same. One of the biggest problems with the backline being so static is Peter Grant. Elton kicks well, but what he does best is get the line going forward. In my opinion he’s the best 10 in SA at doing this.
@ BobbejanklimdiebergStormersboySpringbokJan:
Lets make a deal: You guys keep Peter Grant amd we will keep Elton
8 @ LionJan4ever:
If these arrangements haven’t been initiated already, my feel is that they never will.
Also, if SARU are involved in the arrangements F ALL will transpire. IMO they (SARU) want to see the Lions fold.
12 @ LionJan4ever:
Elton Jantjies has a “Super Rugby Clause” in his contract with the GLRU, which runs till end of 2013.
The fact that he has that clause in his contract, tells me he WILL play Super Rugby in 2013… the question is just for which side.
@ LionJan4ever:
And as for your comment about messing up players, you obviously don’t need us to do that, you guys seem to be managing perfectly well on your own
In any event, it looks like Elton is staying for now.
I’d certainly take a punt at players like Minne, Taute, Pat, etc. but i don’t think we have the cash to be honest, not without getting rid of a few of our older and more expensive guys, and I don’t see that happening in a rush.
@ Scrumdown:
http://www.suparugby.com/pages/Default.asp?More= – 30 August 2012&FeatureID=19775&SectionID=33
I don’t know how reliable this guy’s sources are, but it will be an interesting period if it is true.
@ BobbejanklimdiebergStormersboySpringbokJan:
Joe van Niekerk, Schalk Britz, Anton van Zyl, Ricky Januarie, Brian Mujati. All former Lions players who went to the Cape, and never achieved the same heights that they experienced at the Lions. Bryan Habana’s game really soared after he left the Lions for the Bulls, and when he went to Cape, he suffered a huge slump in form. The only player that did not really suffer too much was Fourie, but he also stabbed you guys in the back whne he left for Japan.
16 @ LionJan4ever:
Can’t see it being true.
If it’s a fait acompli, why doesn’t the Union say so and share the details with the media and supporters?
As I said before, if SARU are involved in any way, I can’t see it happening.
Smoke and mirrors I’m afraid.
@ Scrumdown:
Tend to agree, because its should have been all razmatazz etc.
Well of course guys are gonna leave!!!
Honestly, playing for the “pride of the jersey” is as old a sentiment as amatuer rugby itself.
So in what competition will they play? None. Safe the Vodacom Cup and the Currie Cup. The former is hardly a place to impress selectors, local OR abroad. Most foreign clubs (especially in Japan, where the BIG money is) are after “Big name players”. Ok~
The Currie Cup is sadly, yet hardly, much better, with most serious teams treating it as a dress rehersal for next year.
Looking at sponsers, ag sh*t, where do we begin? Or end? And as for admission prices. I take it that the price of a Vodacom Cup game is not exactly the same of the entrance fee for a Super Rugby final. Merchindice… I mean, the list goes on.
Last season the GLRU had to cut 13 (I think) players from their annual roster, cause they didn’t have enough money… good F***, now they have to pay millions to their feeder unions as well. And how long will MTN stick around for???
Hahaha, not even the Cheetahs, who were Currie Cup dominators for a while in the early 2000’s, play regular SR, and fare WAY better than the Lions in that comp, can hold on to their top players.
NOW, selection. I honestly believe that Pat Cillier, Minnie, Whiteley, Jantjies and Taute can achieve so much more, if they played with more experienced guys, and in a wining team. The same could even go for Hollenbach, Franco vd Merwe etc.
And if I can see this, then SURELY the players must as well.
Come now!
Just nine months from now – end June/beginning July will be the two Promotion Relegation matches of the Lions vs the last placed (5th) South African franchise from the 2013 Super Rugby South African conference.
Where are:
1. The rules for this two match series – Home & Away – Bonus Points – Tries Scored – Yellow Cards & Red Cards and
2. Will these two matches be televised or not.
And if these are not in place – what the hell is going on at the asylum?
These are cliff hanger matches that will determine player, sponsor, suite holder, season ticket holder 7 advertising contracts and agreements.
Best the General Council and the Competitions Committee apply their minds to this.
The relegation match will never happen SARU will do an about turn and say it’s not in the interest of Super Rugby, the Lions could be out for another 3 years, anybody who believes the Lies that comes out of SARU are dreamers. The Lions must look after themselves so that they can keep the union running. The Lions must try to entice clubs from the UK to play against them during the Super rugby season, and they should try to play on Sunday afternoons, this will bring a lot more people to the game, schools and clubs play Saturday.
Lions for Life !!!!
21 @ TonyM:
Thelunatics took over the asylum a long time ago!
The Lions could’ve stayed in SupeRugby had they want to, but they did’nt…
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