Lions Super Rugby 2011

[gman]

Ok, since I see that Oom PB hasn't started one let me, the in-house-supporter-of-the-worst-performance-team-in-super-rugby supporter, do so.

Well you all know that John Mitchell has taken over the reigns here in Jo'burg. Did some good things in the 2010 CC with the team in bleeding some fresh new youngster in the squad. The most notable Elton Jantjies and Jaco Taute. Two 20 year old's, both were still teenagers last year.

Elton going along with the Bok EOYT, but only managed to get game time in the BaaBaa match. Jaco very unlucky as he got injured during the CC season. JM did however said that Elton was not ready for international rugby as yet, as he hasn't had any higher level, except U/20 test rugby, experience.

Jaco another find of the 2010 season, and truly a Bok in making. His prefered position is at 10, but most guys reckon he should go to outside centre (13 for the international listeners). But JM played him at FB and was devastating for the Lions at FB and I rate him a better player at FB than Louis Ludik. Also think he should stay there as he made the FB position his in the Lions squad.

Another find for the Lions is Joshua Strauss. The Lions version of Chabal. Has no fear and cleans a ruck with force, a.k.a. Bakkies Botha style. He plays 7, but also can play 8. Was instrumental in the Lions loossies want was sorely missed when he got injured and missed a couple of games.

He almost lost to SA rugby as he was only playing Varsity rugby. He decided to go overseas, but his agent sent in a DVD to JM. JM had a looked and called him in. The rest is history as they say.

Also the Union lured the service's of Nico Serfontein, from the across the Jukskei river ( for those who don't know, the Jukskei river is the border between Pretoria and Johannesburg), Blue Bulls.

He was instrumental in the build up of BB junior rugby, in conjunction with Heinke Meyer. This is the best signing for me for the Lions.

Also Andre Pretorius and Rory Kockett is back with the Lions. I can only see AP with Carlos helping out and neutering young Elton to become and all round flyhalf. With Butch, hopefully, coming middle of the year, this can only be a good thing.

Rory, well the main reason he left the Lions a couple of seasons ago was that him and Jano Vermaak never saw eye to eye, but with JM at the helm I can only see that the two will bring the best out of each other. Both in their middle 20's now and young Michael Bondiso from the Leopards means the best 9/10 combo will be availble for selection.

One international signing from NZ is James Kamana, from Tasman. Anybody has more information on him, please feel free to share.

Also heard the Fronco van der Merwe ( Mad Frank ) will be the captain. Bad luck to Baywatch, but I think it is the best move.

On the commercial side of the Union, the Union has received some strong financial backing with Robert Gumede, an IT billionaire and Ivor Ichikowitz, an international businessman.

Also, in a media briefing yesterday, MTN (Vodacom's rival in the Mobile operator sector in SA.) has signed a ZAR20 million sponsorship for 5 years. So financially the Union is strong.

There is some ho ha about the MTN deal and many pundits saying this is not good business practice as Vodacom is the main sponsor in the country of rugby. Ba humbug I say. Business is business.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ok, since I see that Oom PB hasn't started one let me, the in-house-supporter-of-the-worst-performance-team-in-super-rugby supporter, do so.

Dankie Boetie. Good tactic from myself to get you on here. Now Blou en Rusty can start the Brutes one.

 

[Sandpit Fan]

I had a few beers with a proud Lions supporter the other day here, he was very optimistic about this season. I think Mitchell will go a bit better having walked into an existing structure - it is unfair to judge him on Force results.

 

[gman]

I had a few beers with a proud Lions supporter the other day here, he was very optimistic about this season. I think Mitchell will go a bit better having walked into an existing structure - it is unfair to judge him on Force results.

Yea I think the majority of the few supporters that are left are feeling cautiously optimistic about the season. I think the situation at the Force helped him out tremendously and will suit him. Although this an existing structure a lot had to be started from scratch, like a winning culture.

 

[Ruggo]

They will come good. Pretty much like the 2009 Reds. Outstanding in attack but no work put into defense. The Lions can turn it around and with not a minute played in 2011 you would be mad to wright any of the teams off. To prove my point, all the doubters were on the Reds this time last year.

Best of luck to the lions in 2011.

 

[gman]

Well as stated in the first post Mad Frank has been appointed as the captain for the season and Doppies la Grange as the VC.

 

[Lee Grant]

gman

That's a great effort; so thanks for it.

What do you think the matchday 22 will be for Round 1 and what will be the changes in that 22 from the best 22 of 2010?

 

[gman]

gman

That's a great effort; so thanks for it.

What do you think the matchday 22 will be for Round 1 and what will be the changes in that 22 from the best 22 of 2010?

Hi Lee

A difficult one as the final squad hasn't been named as yet. But will in due course do so, probably be next week. Another player I forgot to add what the Lions got is the Blue Bulls hooker Bandiso Maku. He played in the one test against the Ita's last year. Most people rate him better than Chilleboy. So on hooker I think the team as solid albeit they are youngster's, all three below 23, I think.

Martin Bezuidenhout
Edgar Maratule
Bandiso Maku

Another thing I read this morning is that Wikus van Heerden will really step in the footsteps of his dad and will be selected at lock. Now that is an awesome idea. Last year in the CC is was nowhere to be seen with the loossies when he played. He is to slow now, no offence Wikus. Playing him at lock with Mad Frank can just boost his confidence as captain. Also the experience he brings in to the squad is huge.

But here is a go what I think the squad might look like when they run out in the first game.

1. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Bandiso Maku
3. Ross Geldenhuys
4. Wikus van Heerden
5. Franco van der Merwe
6. Derrick Minnie
7. Joshua Strauss
8. Warren Whiteley
9. Jano Vermaak/Rory Cockett
10. Elton Jantjies
11. Lionol Mapoe/Deon van Rensburg
12. Doppies la Grange
13. James Kamana/Waylon Murray
14. Michael Killian
15. Jaco Taute

On #8 I'm not too sure. Warren also came over from the Guppies in 2009. He is a tall lanky person, but has a sidestep of note on him. Hopefully he has bulk up a little bit. On lock's, like I said, the preferred combo will be Wikus/Franco.

Don't expect Baywatch just to walk back in the team. Derrick Minnie had an absolute blinder in the CC season, when Baywatch was out. I think that Baywatch might be on the bench. But as usually in SA we have an abundance of loossies. There is another player Rolanda Bothma. Youngster and don't be surprised if he plays a game or two actually.

On props, JC and Ross did a sterling job. It would have been nice to had the Beast there, but like the old saying goes, a prop only plays his best rugga in his 30's. Both are younger than 25. I also have a feeling the Lions is trying to lure back Heinke van der Merwe. He is currently playing in Ireland.

On flyhalf will be Elton Jantjies to start, but I think Petoors will feature in the more difficult games, like the touring ones in Australasia, just to let Elton get the feeling of playing there. On another note of Elton, Carlos Spencer as a player really backfired on the Lions, but as a coach he has been instrumental. Carlos has came from leap and bounce as a coach and with John Mitchell as your mentor don't be surprised if Carlos feature in the coach team's of either Boks ar the AB's in the not so distant future.

On centre's, well # 12 is Doppies place, he also the VC. On #13 might be a difficult one. Waylon has gained his form back, but still like's to play a a crab. Also with the signing of James Kamana will it be a selection that I don't like to make. Will see about that one.

Scrumhalf, now this is where it get's interesting. Jano Vermaak v Rory Cockett. Will leave this one to the coach as I like both players. Hopefully this rivalry can bring the best out of both.

Wings, well #14 is Michael Killian's spot. Made it his during the CC and #11, well Deon did some sterling job in the CC as well but got injured. Like Petoors he is also a bit injuring proned and with the signing of speedster Lionel Mapoe I think Lionel will be in the starting XV.

Fullback - Jaco Taute. His speaks on the field.

Will report back a bit later on any new developments.

 

[rustycruiser]

Lions also picked up loosehead prop Pat Cilliers and loosie Michael Rhodes after the Sharks let both go due to a lack of cash. I hope the Lions have a 2010 Reds like season in them in 2011. Would be great for SA rugby to get the old Transvaal union back up to the top of the table and competitive with the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls. I think the Cheetahs are going to bring up the rear this year.

 

[Train Without a Station]

Just out of curiosity, where does the nickname Baywatch come from?

 

[gman]

Just out of curiosity, where does the nickname Baywatch come from?

Is/was his favourite show, for some other reason........

 

[Lee Grant]

Minnie may be a good player but Baywatch is exactly the type of player the Lions need to be on the park. They need more of his never-give-up, follow-me and high work rate type, not fewer.

I like the looks on young Elton Jantjies and think he has a long career ahead of him, but you are right: Petoors will be handy in some games where they need an experienced guy to move his team around the park. I didn't know that Kockott had left the Sharks - the Lions will be well served with both Vermaak and him available.

I can't say that the changes in the players will have a huge influence on the Lions. I see more of a chance in the change of style of the coaching. The Golden Lions CCup team is not the same as the Lions Super team but many of the same players are in both and they improved a lot in the CCup under Mitchell.

I thought the Super14 Lions played too loose under Muir last year. I don't know enough about them to judge if that style suited their players better, but it certainly didn't work. Better to have a stricter fellow in charge like Mitchell, warts and all. They will have to work on their defence because they won't win a lot of games giving up an average of 45 points per game as they did in 2010.

Teams loved it when they came to town.

 

[gman]

Minnie may be a good player but Baywatch is exactly the type of player the Lions need to be on the park. They need more of his never-give-up, follow-me and high work rate type, not fewer.

I like the looks on young Elton Jantjies and think he has a long career ahead of him, but you are right: Petoors will be handy in some games where they need an experienced guy to move his team around the park. I didn't know that Kockott had left the Sharks - the Lions will be well served with both Vermaak and him available.

I can't say that the changes in the players will have a huge influence on the Lions. I see more of a chance in the change of style of the coaching. The Golden Lions CCup team is not the same as the Lions Super team but many of the same players are in both and they improved a lot in the CCup under Mitchell.

I thought the Super14 Lions played too loose under Muir last year. I don't know enough about them to judge if that style suited their players better, but it certainly didn't work. Better to have a stricter fellow in charge like Mitchell, warts and all. They will have to work on their defence because they won't win a lot of games giving up an average of 45 points per game as they did in 2010.

Teams loved it when they came to town.

Well they did preform better in the CC when Mitchell took over leaking very few tries in for the oppo.

Re Baywatch, like I said the final squad has been named yet, but Derick is a very good player and also a hard grafter like Baywatch, but I get what you are saying. I don't think the oppo team should expect that they will be walk overs anymore.

I don't expect they will win this year, but at least just 1 win will make a bloody huge difference in the team.

 

[Bruce Ross]

I've tried to resist but I just can't help myself:

with Carlos helping out and neutering young Elton to become and all round flyhalf.

It seems high risk but it just shows how professional rugby is becoming. It's very common practice in horse racing when a colt can't get his mind off the fillies, and they usually run better after gelding.

If it's successful I can think of a couple of 10s at Australian franchises who might benefit from the procedure.

It certainly puts Jone Tawake's finger amputation in perspective.

But if I were young Elton I'd think Carlos Spencer would be about the last person I'd let use the scalpel.

 

[gman]

I've tried to resist but I just can't help myself:



It seems high risk but it just shows how professional rugby is becoming. It's very common practice in horse racing when a colt can't get his mind off the fillies, and they usually run better after gelding.

If it's successful I can think of a couple of 10s at Australian franchises who might benefit from the procedure.

It certainly puts Jone Tawake's finger amputation in perspective.

But if I were young Elton I'd think Carlos Spencer would be about the last person I'd let use the scalpel.

Flip ja ok, I was reading an Afrikaans article when I was typing this up as well. :banghead

 

[PaarlBok]

Flip ja ok, I was reading an Afrikaans article when I was typing this up as well. :banghead

Dont worry Boetie, you stil have Herkie Kruger around to help Jantjes with the other side of the scalpel. Yu ot touch on Minnie, never forget about Josh Strauss, a Boland rough diamond, Mitchell have discover and looking forward to see him going on S15 level. Wikus in lock, dunno about that one, want to see Johan Snyman rather getting a start.

 

[Lee Grant]

Bruce is on fire - again.

 

[PaarlBok]

Bruce is on fire - again.

Bruce knows his shite, thats for sure. :thumb

Pretty sure the Lions will be a totally different animal compare to previous years. They have the right persons coaching in all their structures.

Ian McDonald wll take charge of their Vodacom Cup side and Oom Hans the youth lot. Serfontein the x Brutes structure specialist will build their structure strong.

 

[DPK]

Bold prediction: Lions to be the Reds of the SA conference in 2011.

 

[qwerty51]

Bold prediction: Lions to be the Reds of the SA conference in 2011.

Score only 1 victory against their own countrymen?