Southern Kings OUT of Super Rugby next year

[en_force_er]

No way the Kings will beat the Lions.

Really? They've done no worse than the Lions usually do AND they've had all their better players in the same location under the same systems all year.

 

[Blue]

Anyone know if the Lions get all the players that were out on loan back for the relegation match?

Jantjes, Adriaanse etc?

 

[boyo]

No way the Kings will beat the Lions.

For the sake of a comma, the meaning could be so different.

 

[RoffsChoice]

Anyone know if the Lions get all the players that were out on loan back for the relegation match?

Jantjes, Adriaanse etc?

Pretty sure the loan covers Currie Cup as well, so they might be away from the Lions until November.

 

[PaarlBok]

Anyone know if the Lions get all the players that were out on loan back for the relegation match?

Jantjes, Adriaanse etc?

They will have their loan players back, not Jacobie, he play up north.

R365

The Golden Lions may have been forced to take a different route, but coach Johan Ackermann is confident his team is raising the bar high enough ahead of their Super Rugby promotion-relegation games.
They face the Southern Kings on Friday, July 26 (in Port Elizabeth) and a week later (Friday, August 2 in Johannesburg).

While their planned tour to North American and encounters with several French Top 14 teams never materialised, Ackermann feels the quality of their game in the replacement fixtures are setting them up nicely for the play-offs.

They face Griquas at Ellis Park on Saturday in their final match before taking on the Kings later this month.

They have come through their 50-12 win over the Bulls last week relatively unscathed.

Some players have to go through the concussion protocol, but Ackermann is confident he will be able to field the same group that demolished the Bulls' back-up squad.

He will make a call later in the week about the players who were out injured last week.

"I doubt if players like Jaco [Kriel], Warren [Whiteley] and the others [scrumhalf Michael Bondesio and centre Alwyn Hollenbach] will be available this week," Ackermann told this website.

"We are almost certain to use the same group, unless I rotate a few players."

The Lions mentors described as "very positive" his team's performance against the Blue Bulls.

"It was one of our best games and was very happy with the quality of our game."

He added that the excitement is building ahead of their two-match series against the Kings.

"We all know what is just around the corner [the promotion-relegation matches on July 26 and August 2], but we are in that phase of uncertainty," he told this website.

"You think you are ready [for the play-offs], but you are not sure what to expect [of the opposition].

"There is a certain amount of excitement building up and the only way our preparation could have been better is if we had a higher quality of opposition for these matches.

'The guys are training hard and we are playing well in the games at this stage and hopefully that will be good enough when we get that chance."

The Lions' results this year:
Lions 51-13 Russia
Lions 33-17 Cheetahs
Lions 32-38 Bulls
Lions 41-31 Southern Kings
Lions 56-24 Mont-de-Marsan
Lions 74-14 Samoa
Lions 42-12 Western Province
Lions 33-29 Sharks
Blue Bulls 12-50 Lions
Lions v Griquas

* They also played their frontline selection in the latter stages of the Vodacom Cup competition-once it was confirmed that the North American tour and matches against the French teams were cancelled.

The Lions' results in the Vodacom Cup play-offs:
Final: Pumas 28-42 Golden Lions
Semifinal: Golden Lions 44-25 Western Province
Quarterfinal: Sharks XV 25-42 Golden Lions

 

[PaarlBok]

Teams in the last Lions Challenge match:
Blue Bulls: 15. Clayton Blommetjies; 14. Jesse Kriel, 13. Ulrich Beyers, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Travis Ismaiel; 10. Handrè Pollard, 9. Rudy Paige; 8. Jean Cook, 7. Jacques du Plessis, 6. Shaun Adendorff, 5. Dennis Visser, 4. Schalk van Heerden, 3. Marcel van der Merwe, 2. Willie Wepener, 1. Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: 16. Bongi Mbonambi, 17. Hencus van Wyk, 18. Christof Gouws, 19. Irne Herbst, 20. Roelof Smit, 21. Ruan Snyman, 22. Tony Jantjies, 23. Dries Swanepoel, 24. Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 JJ Breedt, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Guy Cronjé, 22 Lionel Cronjé, 23 Chrysander Botha.

 

[PaarlBok]

Really? They've done no worse than the Lions usually do AND they've had all their better players in the same location under the same systems all year.

The Lions will smash them Boet. They are in form while the Kings are in bits and pieces.

 

[en_force_er]

The Lions will smash them Boet. They are in form while the Kings are in bits and pieces.

You'd know more than me, but I'd point to the very different quality of opposition.

 

[PaarlBok]

Latest on Lions
R365

Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann will hope to welcome back four of his high-profile loan players next week, when he moves into the final phase of preparations for the Super Rugby promotion-relegation series.
The promotion/relegation games against the Southern Kings are scheduled for Friday, July 26 (in Port Elizabeth) and Friday, August 2 (in Johannesburg).

Ackermann, who is preparing his 'stay-at-home' players for their final warm-up match against Griquas in Johannesburg on Saturday, will be sweating as the loan quartet play their final matches for Super Rugby franchises.

Franco van der Merwe (for the Sharks against the Southern Kings), Elton Jantjies and Martin Bezuidenhout (for the Stormers against the Bulls), as well as Callie Visagie (for the Bulls in the same match) are due back in Johannesburg next week.

"I requested that they all return by [next] Monday [July 15]," Ackermann told this website in an interview ahead of the Griquas encounter.

Injuries will also play a role in the build-up to their encounters with the Kings

The Lions lost star loose forward Warren Whiteley with a leg muscle injury two weeks ago, fellow loose forward Jaco Kriel with an ankle injury in the build-up to their 33-29 win over the Sharks and midfielder Alwyn Hollenbach tore his toe ligaments against the Sharks.

"Most of our injured [stay-at-home] players at this stage are 50-50 [for the play-offs]," Ackermann said

"It is too early to say if players like Jaco [Kriel], Warren [Whiteley] and [centre] Alwyn [Hollenbach] will recover in time.

"Maybe they will miss the first match [July 26], but play in the second match [August 2]."

Injured loan players who are definitely not available for the play-offs include Jaco Taute (who underwent surgery after he severely damaged his anterior cruciate knee ligaments playing for the Stormers against the Cheetahs in April), Andries Coetzee (who underwent shoulder surgery while playing for the Sharks in April) and Lionel Mapoe (shoulder injury playing for the Bulls last month).

Ackermann will keep a beady eye on the Super Rugby encounters in Durban and Cape Town, hoping for no more injuries.

"We are hoping they come through the games [this weekend] unscathed and then they can start training with us this week," he said of Van der Merwe (Sharks), Jantjies, Bezuidenhout (both Stormers) and Visagie (Bulls).

If all his players come through this weekend's fixtures and some of his injured stars make a quick recovery, Ackermann will have a very strong squad from which to select his team for the play-offs.

Lions squad:

Backs: Ruan Combrinck, Deon van Rensburg, Nicolaas Hanekom, Dylan des Fountain, Anthony Volmink, Marnitz Boshoff, Ross Cronjé, Guy Cronjé, Lionel Cronjé, Chrysander Botha, Michael Bondesio, Elton Jantjies, Alwyn Hollenbach.

Forwards: Lambert Groenewald, Derick Minnie, Warwick Tecklenburg, Hugo Kloppers, Hendrik Roodt, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, JC Janse van Rensburg, Francois du Toit, Jacques van Rooyen, CJ van der Linde, JJ Breedt, Willie Britz, Ruan Dreyer, Franco van der Merwe, Martin Bezuidenhout, Callie Visagie, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

so... it is the Lions who will be the Wooden Spooners next year... How do the South African Franchises organize Last position so efficiently?

 

[Christopher McDonald]

so. it is the Lions who will be the Wooden Spooners next year. How do the South African Franchises organize Last position so efficiently?

Hehe funny... I just looked up the details and of the 17 completed seasons, South African sides have finished last on 12 occasions (Lions 3, Cats 3, Bulls 3, Sharks 2, Cheetahs 1) Australian sides on 3 (Force 1, Rebels 1, Reds 1) and NZ sides on 2 (Crusaders 1, Highlanders 1).

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

Yes - I ran the numbers some time ago, and out of 34 opportunities, they have provided one or both of the last 2 teams on some 22 occasions!

this year is not guaranteed, but it is highly likely - (I wasn't really being that humorous)...

personally I was surprised - I would have bet on Oz Franchises having a worse record - but they do not.

 

[PaarlBok]

Yes - I ran the numbers some time ago, and out of 34 opportunities, they have provided one or both of the last 2 teams on some 22 occasions!

this year is not guaranteed, but it is highly likely - (I wasn't really being that humorous).

personally I was surprised - I would have bet on Oz Franchises having a worse record - but they do not.

Due to the conferense system this isnt debatable. Waiste of time. So keep pleasing yourself.

 

[Hell West & Crooked]

Due to the conferense system this isnt debatable. Waiste of time. So keep pleasing yourself.

Waste of Time?... really?? - or just statement of fact.

The reason it is not debatable is because it is a simple reading of the records. I know you don't like it, but, if you are going to react, you will have to do a lot better than that.

Particularly as the 'Conference System' was championed by the SARU as they felt they were being unfairly treated by their travel commitments - (which were in fact the same travel commitments they were expecting before they originally agreed to join the competition).

I think you are stretching this elastic band a bit too far.

 

[Brisbok]

Yawn. Haven't read this argument before!

 

[Blue]

Waste of Time?. really?? - or just statement of fact.

The reason it is not debatable is because it is a simple reading of the records. I know you don't like it, but, if you are going to react, you will have to do a lot better than that.

Particularly as the 'Conference System' was championed by the SARU as they felt they were being unfairly treated by their travel commitments - (which were in fact the same travel commitments they were expecting before they originally agreed to join the competition).

I think you are stretching this elastic band a bit too far.

It was introduced and championed by one John O'Neill who saw the gap the get SANZAR to fund more local rugby.

Saru then turned around and said you guys got the Force franchise we want another one.

Watch out those same elastics have a way of shooting you in your own eye.

Anyone who gives a shit we have this messy bed now and have to lie in the damn thing

 

[Mank]

Because that doesn't make any sense, of course.

The competition has 15 teams. SARFU chose to screw with that. So they have to fix it.

Excuse me? O'Neill chose to screw with it.

 

[PaarlBok]

Anyone who gives a shit we have this messy bed now and have to lie in the damn thing

Not for long. Look like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

 

[PaarlBok]

The way the Lions destroyed the Wallabies last week is a big warning sign for Sanzar rugby. The NH has caught up and look like getting ahead. The SH big star players are all on the chicken run up north and their rugby showed it. For SA it make so much sense moving our game up north. Players are already in their leagues plus the time zone is 100%

Beeld

Die Internasionale Rugbyspelersvereniging (Irpa) en Internasionale Rugbyraad (IRR) het gister in Dublin met gesprekke begin oor ’n voorstel vir ’n globale rugbyseisoen van 2016.
Hoewel dié idee al dikwels vantevore in die kiem gesmoor is, is daar nou ’n besliste opflikkering van hoop dat die rugbykalender wêreldwyd gewysig kan word om vuisvoos spelers se welstand te bevorder.
Indien Irpa se voorstel aanvaar word, sal dit beteken dat die toetse wat tans in Junie gespeel word na die laaste drie weke van Julie skuif.
Die Rugby-kampioenskap sal ’n paar weke daarna begin.
’n Verkorte Super-reeks sal van einde Maart tot vroeg in Julie strek – sonder die onderbreking van drie weke in Junie, wat tans ’n irritasie is.
In daardie geval sal die Noordelike Halfrond se klubreekse in Oktober, eerder as September, begin en tot in Junie strek.
Die deur vir ’n moontlike wysiging van die rugbykalender wêreldwyd het oopgeswaai, danksy die feit dat onderhandelings vir die Noordelike en Suidelike Halfrond se uitsaairegte die eerste keer op dieselfde tyd beding word.
Piet Heymans, die uitvoerende hoof van die Suid-Afrikaanse Rugbyspelersvereniging (Sarpa), meen só ’n wysiging sal saam met speler-welstand ook tot ondersteuners se meelewing bydra.
“Die lekker ding sal wees dat spelers ’n lang ruskans het wanneer hulle van die jaareind-toer in November terugkeer.
“Die idee is om die Super-reeks met drie weke te verkort en eers einde Maart daarmee te begin,” het Heymans gesê.
“Daar sal waarskynlik na ’n Super18 gekyk moet word met sesde spanne vir Suid-Afrika en Nieu-Seeland en spanne uit ander lande.
“In daardie geval sal die toernooi nietemin só gestruktureer wees dat daar minder wedstryde gespeel word.
“Die boodskap wat van spelers én ondersteuners kom, is dat daar eenvoudig te veel rugby is.”
Heymans het erken dat daar nog baie water in die see moet loop. Veral omdat dit ’n uitdaging kan wees om die Noordelike Halfrond te kry om in te stem – maar voeg by dat daar belowende tekens is.
“Die Engelse is nie daarteen gekant nie en die Franse is oop vir gesprekke. Dís klaar ’n pluspunt,” het hy gesê.
“Daar sal uiteraard ook met uitsaaiers gepraat moet word.
“Dit sal verg dat ons die beginsel van ‘minder is meer’ moet vestig. As ons dít kan vermag, sal ons meer ondersteuners by wedstryde kry.”

 

[Mank]

What do you mean by that PaarlBok? I actually want the Kings to stay in the competition now that they are there. I feel for the Lions, but they have had years and years of propping up the lower end of the log.

A region with a Super Rugby franchise is likely to do better in the Currie Cup than a region without simply because they'll have more cash and players. I think with a few years in the CC, we could see the Kings start to perform. Even this year they have not disgraced themselves.