­
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER

SA Rugby magazine

South African rugby news, interviews, videos and more. Covering the Springboks, Bulls, Stormers, Sharks, Cheetahs and Lions, as well as schools and club rugby.

Primary Menu Search
  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER
You are here: Home ∼ Lions exceeding expectations

Lions exceeding expectations

Published on April 2, 2014 | Leave a response

A mid-table finish for the Lions would mark an outstanding comeback to Vodacom Super Rugby, writes JON CARDINELLI.

Consider where this franchise was 10 months ago. I visited Ellis Park to do a series of interviews for an investigative piece I was writing for SA Rugby magazine, and spoke at length with president Kevin de Klerk and coach Johan Ackermann. By the end of those interviews, I shared De Klerk's anger towards Saru's decision-makers, and also felt some sympathy for Ackermann, who at that stage was uncertain of his future as Lions head coach.

It was a sad time to be at Ellis Park, and a depressing time for Lions rugby. Their resources had taken a big hit with the Super Rugby relegation in 2012, and they faced further setbacks if they failed to qualify for the 2014 competition.

At the same time, they had to worry about what came after a possible reintroduction to Super Rugby, and how they could avoid the wooden spoon and possibly another relegation scenario. De Klerk and Ackermann were realistic about the Lions' chances. They expected to battle against international teams that boasted a number of Test players.

Ten months on, and the Lions are sitting at fourth on the Super Rugby log. They've already collected a few big scalps, beating the Stormers, Blues, and Reds, and are three from three at Ellis Park.

Nobody should expect the Lions to win the competition from here, but if they were to finish the season mid-table or even scrape through to the play-offs, it would mark a dramatic turnaround.

It's important that fans temper their expectations. It's important to remember where this team was less than a year ago, and how their struggles in 2013 will still limit their ability to succeed in 2014.

The long-term future is bright for the Lions. Unlike the Southern Kings in 2013, the Lions will not have to worry about a promotion-relegation battle at the end of a long and taxing Super Rugby season (as De Klerk and Ackermann initially feared). They will have a chance to build a team over the next few years and restore some real pride.

What we're witnessing in 2014 is just the beginning. And in the context of their struggles and setbacks in 2013, the Lions have already exceeded expectations in 2014.

The Kings went into the 2013 Super Rugby competition with a handicap, as Saru only confirmed their inclusion at the 11th hour. This impacted on their ability to contract players and attract a title sponsor. They succeeded in securing the latter four rounds into the 2013 tournament.

The Lions have faced similar challenges in 2014 with regards to player recruitment and sponsorship. The announcement earlier this year that no South African team would be relegated from Super Rugby is a significant boost to the Lions' long-term prospects, but will have little impact on their current season.

And this is why the Lions' efforts these past few weeks have been especially commendable. Like the Kings in 2013, they have defied expectations with what is a limited team. They have come together as a collective and take down several big names sides that are stacked with world-class individuals.

The Lions may score another upset victory when they play the Crusaders this Saturday. They have some capable forwards and in Marnitz Boshoff they certainly have a match-winning goal-kicker. The Crusaders are not the team they once were, and at Ellis Park, the Lions are certainly capable of getting the desired result.

Whether they can sustain these types of results and finish the league stage in the top six is another story. They've already lost one of their best players and leaders, Franco van der Merwe, to a long-term injury. The injury toll will climb as the season wears on, and the Lions' lack of depth is bound to be exposed.

They will also face a testing tour Down Under, not only in terms of the opposition (the Chiefs, Highlanders, Waratahs, and Force) but because so few of their players have toured Australasia before. It will take some time to adapt to the conditions and the pressure of playing overseas.

But if they continue to win at Ellis Park, they may indeed finish the season in a relatively good log position. Teams such as the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers will be criticised if they fail to qualify for the play-offs this season, as all three have the resources and personnel to do so consistently. The Lions, at present, are not as well established as those teams. In that context, a mid-table finish for the Johannesburg side would be viewed as a big success.

Photo: Gallo Images

Posted in Uncategorized

Post by Jon Cardinelli

Jon Cardinelli

Check out Blackout Rugby Manager HERE!

← Previous Next →

Sevens’ party falls flat

World Rugby shouldn’t have messed with a winning sevens formula, writes SIMON...

Draining format clogs Blitzboks’ blockage

A protracted schedule took the wind out of South Africa's sails at...

England cut Eddie, Razor to stop the bleeding

England have made the rash decision to part ways with coach Eddie...

Rassie ref hom in die rooi

Rassie Erasmus is hardly the embarrassment that some are making him out...

Cut and paste Kurt-Lee for Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse ticks all the right boxes to replace the injured Cheslin...

Rassie auditions for England job

Rassie Erasmus has made the most calculated of public job applications to...

Boks need to make mentality adjustment

The Springboks need to lose their underdog mentality, writes SIMNIKIWE XABANISA in...

Kolbe’s worth every penny

Cheslin Kolbe’s big-money move to Toulon should be welcomed as a massive...

‘Bok gameplan, when executed correctly, is hard to match’

The opportunity to play against the All Blacks is a career highlight...

Five key areas the Boks need to dominate for first victory

SA Rugby magazine highlights five crucial areas the Boks will need to...

Top six: Best and worst foreign imports

SARugbymag.co.za identifies six of the best and worst foreign players to play...

Column: When context is needed

As highlighted by the Argentina controversy, ‘cancel culture’ needs a spoonful of...

Dark cloud hangs over WP Rugby

The problems at Western Province Rugby are layered, and everyone involved needs...

From the mag: Foreign Favourites

As Vodacom Super Rugby turned 25 this year, JON CARDINELLI picks an...

Bulls rookies to watch

After a massive exodus of players the Vodacom Bulls will be eager...

Analysis: The new suffocate-and-strangle game

For the Boks to emerge as World Cup winners, they need to...

VIEW MORE
  • Bonus-point Bulls douse Dragons
  • Munster maul luckless Lions
  • Stormers sign off 2022 in style
  • Sharks carve Bulls on New Year’s Eve

Jacques Burger’s Perfect XV

    BKT United Rugby Championship, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland 8/1/2023 Glasgow Warriors vs DHL Stormers Stormers' Damian Willemse Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Craig Watson
  • Highlights: Heartbreak for Stormers in Glasgow thriller

###


COVID-19 Corona Virus
South African Resource Portal

African Insider
African Insider News

ABOUT

  • Contact us
  • Competitions
  • Videos
  • Player Features
  • Subscribe
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy Policy

TOURNAMENTS

    • Rugby Championship
    • Super Rugby
    • Currie Cup
    • Varsity Cup
    • Gold Cup
    • Schools
    • Six Nations
    • Champions Cup
    • World Cup
    • Challenge Cup

OPINION

  • Mallett on SuperSport
  • Cardinelli column
  • Lewis column
  • Xabanisa column
  • Borchardt column
  • Superbru

Primary Menu

  • Home
  • Match Centre
  • Vodacom URC
  • Videos
  • Cars
    • Cheap cars for sale
    • Used Cars For Sale
    • New Cars For Sale
    • Demo Cars For Sale
  • Deals
    • One Day Deals
    • Nationwide Deals
      • Deals in Cape Town
      • Deals in Johannesburg
      • Deals in Durban
      • Deals in Pretoria
      • Deals in Port Elizabeth
    • Accommodation Deals
    • Romantic Getaways
    • Food and Drink Deals
    • Experiences
    • Health and Wellness Deals
    • Beauty and Spa Deals
  • BLACKOUT RUGBY MANAGER