­
  • 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 ∼ De Bruin: I really lost it at half-time

De Bruin: I really lost it at half-time

Swys de Bruin Lions coach Swys de Bruin
Published on March 17, 2019 | Leave a response

Swys de Bruin says he was furious when the Lions trailed the Rebels by 21 points at the break, before staging a remarkable comeback to win 36-33.

The Lions trailed 26-5 at Ellis Park after a wretched first half blighted by errors. They conceded another try early in the second half to go 33-5 down, before roaring back into the contest with four tries. A last-gasp penalty from replacement Gianni Lombard then turned the result in their favour.

HIGHLIGHTS: Lions vs Rebels

De Bruin said the turnaround was in part thanks to a few harsh words from him to the players at half-time.

‘Walking into that change room, I was in a flat spin. I don’t think I’ve ever lost it like that before at half-time. I really lost it because I know how good these guys can be and they were not.

‘There were one or two words that came out badly and I’m sorry about that. But in hindsight, it was maybe time to lay the marker down for once because that first half wasn’t good enough. But there’s a process we follow in the change room, so I had to calm down; everyone calmed down.

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen a side turn a 33-5 deficit into a victory. I’ve got so much belief and faith in this team and what we stand for.’

De Bruin praised his team’s character, saying the youngsters and the more experienced players all played a vital role.

‘I’m very blessed and happy because those bunch of youngsters had to dig deep. When I pulled Elton Jantjies, I knew it could come down to a pressure kick. [Backline coach] Neil de Bruin sat next to me and he said he backed Gianni to step up and slot one if it came to that. Stars are made for big moments and to slot that kick there, maybe Gianni is a future star. Tyrone Green is also an exciting prospect.

‘I keep harping on about the youngsters, then the old dogs came out and basically won the game for us. Lionel Mapoe and Andries Coetzee were phenomenal and even Ruan Vermaak. Every single guy that came on contributed. It’s not often your substitutions work exactly the way you want them to. Our guys showed lots of character and the leadership from Malcolm Marx was impeccable.’

The Lions, though, almost made a mess of it as they turned down three kickable penalties in the final 10 minutes and failed to score a try. De Bruin is adamant he would have shouldered the blame had they gone on to draw the game.

‘We rolled the dice, because field possession was vital. But if we’d lost that game, I’d have been the guilty party because I said play. That we got that last scrum was a miracle on its own.

‘The Rebels have many internationals, they bought themselves a bloody good side. So this was a fight and you won’t believe what it [the result] does for character in the [Lions] team.’

Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images 

Posted in Lions, Super Rugby, Top headlines Tagged Lions, Super Rugby

Post by stagingsar

stagingsar

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