Wikus back at the helm

Wikus back at the helm

18 Jul 2006

The Lions have been boosted by the news that a revitalised Wikus van Heerden will lead them against Griquas on Saturday.

Van Heerden was given two weeks break from absa Currie Cup action by coach Eugene Eloff, but returned to training today after spending time on a farm outside Johannesburg. He was only due back next week.

“Wikus phoned me on Sunday night and said he felt rested and was ready to come back. I told him it was his decision. He will definitely be the captain against Griquas,” Eloff told keo.co.za.

That means flank Ernst Joubert steps down after just one match in charge. He can be proud of his contribution having overseen the Lions first victory of the year.

On Saturday they travel to Kimberley for one of the toughest assignments of the year. And as the Sharks found out last weekend, Griquas are a different proposition when playing at home.

“It is never easy playing Griquas in Kimberley, but I believe if we stick to our plan we can come home with a win. I’m happy with our progress, but I’ll be the first to admit we are a long way off where we want to be.”

The Lions have missed too many first time tackles and left almost ten good scoring opportunities on the table. The first phase play also needs improving if they hope to confound their critics and make the semi-finals for the eighth year in a row.

“It is typical of a young side to make mistakes, but as long as our learning curve keeps moving up then we have a chance.”

Eloff will announce the Lions team tomorrow.

By Andrew Hollely


36 Comments

  • 1.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:13 pm

    Wickus is going to make zero difference to these plonkers….the best they have looked was when he took a break….

  • 2.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:15 pm

    Who stole your rattle, Ig?

  • 3.Stan: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:16 pm

    He should move to another province.
    He does not deserve to be associated with that bunch of gutless losers.

  • 4.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:17 pm

    Big farking deal, he’s not as good as all Cats & Lions supporters think!

  • 5.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:21 pm

    Wickus is BAAS – net soos WP

  • 6.Brickwall: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:22 pm

    YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS!!!

    Sorry for posting in on more than one thread, but its just something I have to share.

    I was just bannished from the silverfern for posting the following:

    “The All Blacks are in danger of becoming the embarresment of the decade if they loose against the down in the dumps bok team on saturday”

    I did not swear or nothing. I promise.

    BBBBBWWWWWHHHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH!!!!!

    Does this mean that they are actually scared of loosing?

    You think?

  • 7.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:25 pm

    Are you shitting us Brick?

    Stan ons het nog nie by die huis teen die rugbrekers verloor nie. O ja die bulle ook n.., sorry, vergeet, julle het.

  • 8.Brickwall: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:27 pm

    Redcard

    I promise!!! Have you ever. I am dumbstruck. First they just deleted the comment. Then when I tried to post again today they said: “Sory guest, you are bannished from posting on this site”.

  • 9.Hmmm: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:29 pm

    grootblou,

    It is not the Lions supporters that think he is great, it is the rest of the country.

    Many Lions supporters actually think he is a bad-luck captain.

    I think he needs a klap and should start over with no history, then he will be great.

    I however don’t expect much with the midfield we have or had all season for that matter, ever team broke through at will in every game thus far.

  • 10.Stan: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:44 pm

    Red card,
    Die Lions gaan 3e laaste eindig hierdie jaar. Net bo die valke en die Pumas.

  • 11.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:49 pm

    Ons sal sien Stan.

    Gaan kyk hoe dit met die Bulle gegaan het 4 jaar terug. Was vir lank nerens, en dit het geeindig met ‘n jong snotkop op Ellis Park wat Naas Botha se rekord opgedonner het.

    Daar is nog baie geloof by hierdie Leeu oor.

  • 12.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:52 pm

    Geloof is al wat jy het RedCard, niks anders nie…….hehehehehehe

  • 13.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:58 pm

    gbs, 3 woorde vir jou:

    Loftus
    Rugridders
    2006

  • 14.Stan: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 16:59 pm

    Ek verstaan jou lojaliteit RC, maar julle het nie die spelers op die oomblik nie.

  • 15.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:02 pm

    RedCard,

    Ek het drie woorde vir jou ook!!

    Ellispark
    Bulle
    2006

  • 16.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:09 pm

    The Lion’s need a powerful sangoma to do a purification ceremony at Ellis Park to clear all the stodgy negative energy in the ethers.

    My magtig maar die Leeus is kak. It’s not good for our rugby. Could the Spears pomp them? They might. It’s sad.

  • 17.sarky: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:10 pm

    GBS
    Drie woorde
    Ag Sies Shame

  • 18.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:12 pm

    Sarky,

    Heheheheheh

    Is jy ook ‘n leeutjie ondersteuner….met baie moed om so getrou by hulle te bly!!

  • 19.Brickwall: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:15 pm

    I am not a lions fan, but I have to admit. I see alot of potential in quite a few of the younsters currently playing for them. Give them a year or two and they will be a force again.

  • 20.cab: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:18 pm

    where is Baywatch godamnit?

  • 21.Ig: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:18 pm

    cab – baywatch has been ****

  • 22.Deutsche_bok: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:24 pm

    Springbok wing Akona Ndungane, who made a satisfactory debut amidst the carnage of Brisbane, has been struck down by injury ahead of Saturday’s make-or-break Tri-Nations test against New Zealand in Wellington. is this true ?

  • 23.cab: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 17:37 pm

    Ig – sacriledge!

  • 24.poublou: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 18:07 pm

    Die wedstryd is Saterdag, Andrew. Wicus kan maar Vrydag opdaag, daar sal niemand wees nie!

  • 25.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 18:12 pm

    Still rate Andre Vos to have been a better captain than Wickus will ever be. Man, the lions have really improved on the loser model.

    Great coach, some young to be great players, k@k attitude thus no silverware! :lol:

  • 26.Karibu: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 18:22 pm

    First bit of rugby knowledge displayed by Ig.

    As much as John Smit is not the first choice hooker it sends shivers down my spine to think JW considered Wickus for Bok job if JS got injured.

    We may have won in Brisbane then Andrew?

  • 27.Grrrr....I'm a Lion!: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 18:36 pm

    Julle hap my span baie k@k op my tread!!! Ek sal julle almal hard bliksem!!! Lions gaan nog ‘n paar manne lelik op hulle neuse kyk. Net voor ons die ding wen!!!

  • 28.xpat: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 19:20 pm

    Grrrr….Bietjie laat komentaar en bietjie ver weg maar ek sal help bliksem. Wickus is baas, dis sy spanmate wat moet regkom. Lions vat die CC die keer.:)

  • 29.Andrew: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 19:33 pm

    Karibu, only if he had played at flyhalf…. :lol:

  • 30.emiel: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 19:59 pm

    Some good young talent amongst the backs(Ludik, Vermaak, Pretorius). Not enough quality experience amongst the tight five, while loosies are all work horses(no Watson, Burger, Smith, Wannenburg)

  • 31.Catfish: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 20:09 pm

    I dont care how long it takes. I hope that when the Lions r back on top again they will be a team that SA will be proud of – not leave us in shame when playing in the s14 semis.

    Sa rugby needs a strong lions side – so that we can go back to the glory days – 1995. Tvl was the centre of the bok team then. Look at our rugby now when 7 bulls r in the starting line up. Cant do that anymore – its a dissaster!!!

  • 32.Duke Toaby: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 20:37 pm

    Dream on boys, while the old guard still manage the Lions, you will remain jusy pussycats! :lol:

    It all starts at the top, in your case it also ends there.

  • 33.CouchRugga: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 21:18 pm

    this site is infattuated with the Wikus …he is no more than a solid club player.

  • 34.Katsesnor: Reply to this comment
    18 Jul 2006, 21:25 pm

    Die rugby is tans alles net ‘n klomp kak. Wikus in of uit skeel my tans min. Die Leeus en Bokke is in ‘n stryd teen mekaar gewikkel om te kyk wie ons die meeste kan frustreer. Soos ek al vantevore geskryf het, is daar beter dinge om met ‘n mens se tyd en geld te maak as om hierdie spul paloekas te ondersteun. Hulle weet anyway nie wie ek is nie so waarom sal ek my oor hulle ontstel? En min van die spelers gee tans self veel om vir die truie waarin hulle speel. Ons rugby is in total shambles.

  • 35.pompies: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 09:42 am

    My hero.

  • 36.walter: Reply to this comment
    19 Jul 2006, 10:18 am

    Wikus is ‘n yster, een van die min ouens by die Leeus wat elke wedstryd alles gee..sy hande laat hom partykeer in die steek, maar dis een ou wat elke wedstryd behoort te speel, bly hy is terug vir die Griekwas wedstryd.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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