Loffie’s Lions need luck
24 Jul 2006
Lions coach Eugene Eloff is remaining steadfast in the face of mounting criticism that his team is not producing the goods in the Absa Currie Cup.
The Lions – traditionally one of the powerhouses of South African rugby – suffered their fourth defeat in five matches at the weekend and face a daunting task against a resurgent Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
Defeat and a win for the Pumas over the Valke could see the Lions drop to bottom of the log.
But Eloff is adamant that he must stick to his guns, both in game plan and personnel. “The game plan is working and the structure is good. It’s the execution that is leaving a little to be desired,” Eloff told keo.co.za. “But that is to be expected from an inexperienced team.”
“Silly mistakes have cost us on countless occasions this year, but I really feel we are improving each week.” Whether that means the Lions can actually step up and beat WP in Cape Town remains doubtful.
“We have identified the areas that need to be worked on, but these things take time and we need patience.” The Lions inability to finish off is a major cause for concern and they will need to work hard this week on that aspect of their play if they hope to trouble Province.
And they are simply giving away too many penalties to compete at this level. Against Griquas they had the lion’s share of both territory and possession, but failed miserably to make that count.
Eloff puts it down to inexperience. “We have more players in their first year of Currie Cup than any other team and that has been evident, but there is talent there and I will continue to show faith with the guys I have.”
“And with a little luck coupled with our hard work I believe we can still turn things around.”
Eloff is not expecting to welcome any of the old (and injured) hands back for the trip to the Cape, but the likes of Jannes Labuschagne, Lukas van Biljon and Marius Hurter should be back in the fray in a week or two, which will help shore up the problems up front.
By Andrew Hollely
25 Comments
24 Jul 2006, 17:40 pm
Big Problems with the Lions!
24 Jul 2006, 17:41 pm
Lions to beat their Problems on Saturday!!! I hope…
24 Jul 2006, 17:42 pm
they need a friggin miracle.
24 Jul 2006, 17:44 pm
What was the result last year? Didn’t the Lions beat WP?
24 Jul 2006, 18:01 pm
Keep on going boys – we have faith. After all we support the Bokke too
24 Jul 2006, 18:06 pm
Any Lions supporter would be a very good Springbok supporter.
They just dont lose as far.
24 Jul 2006, 18:06 pm
Nope Quinny,
The Lions was the only team to beat the Bulls and they also beat the Cheetahs twice, but lost both times to Wp……
24 Jul 2006, 18:07 pm
No dynamic forwards since departure of Schalk Britz and Kleinjan Tromp while Lions backs lack experienced.They also lack real qaulity loosies (No Watson, Wannenburg, Floors that can link with backs)
24 Jul 2006, 18:10 pm
But Loffie,
The team that played on Saturday did not have that many rookie’s.
There were 4 in Saturday’s match if I’m not mistaken of which 2 of them are Vermaak and Ludik, best of the whole lot currently.
Earl played for wp last year…..
24 Jul 2006, 18:13 pm
I’m with Loffie on this one. The process might be too slow, but they are slowly but surely improving.
It might have bee a ‘rotational squad’ but the record books show that the Sharks also saw the(ir) gat in Kimberley.
Go Loffie! Go Lions.
If they are there (by a miracle!) Lions to win the S14!
24 Jul 2006, 18:13 pm
emiel,
There forwards have been playing well and their loosies have been good in the rucks, but their midfield defence with Choob Julies there……
Must say on saturday he at least did not look like the Plateland C team reserve he usually does……
And they gave away plenty of penalties, gosh…Dewey had a shocker of 10/15 minutes….
24 Jul 2006, 18:17 pm
RedCard,
Yeh, but we have been losing to everybody, the Valke were woeful against us and we did not even bearry them……the Sharks at least rotate and have played with a few 19 year olds and experimented in all positions and that’s why they lost……we fielded the best we had and we are being complehensively beaten week in and out…..
If we are this **** in CC, how **** will we be in the S14…..
24 Jul 2006, 18:19 pm
Not as **** as the Spears…
24 Jul 2006, 18:20 pm
Hmmmm “if” we play in the S14 I can guarantee you we wont drop more than 1 spot on the log
24 Jul 2006, 18:21 pm
Just remember we did not lose the the Force! That special little place in history was claimed by our Currie Cup Champion Cheetah team.
24 Jul 2006, 18:26 pm
Hmmm, forwards have been totally outplayed against Cheetahs and Bulls while playing gamely against Griekwas and Falcons. The treis scored against Sharks, Falcons and Griekwas were the work of the backs. Must also add that van Heerden Joubert and Grobelaar are all honest grafters, but lack the skill and vision to act as link between forwards and backs.
24 Jul 2006, 18:42 pm
The Lions will become just another feeder union for the Blue Bulls.
Why not do the honest thing and reach your hands across the Jukskei and merge for the S14.
It’s the right thing to do.
24 Jul 2006, 18:58 pm
Yeh Redcard, that’s true…..was close though….
24 Jul 2006, 19:02 pm
Emiel, we won 2 tight-heads against the Cheetahs, won a few of their line-outs and but the Cheetahs did win the battle on the ground, but only won like 4 turn overs…..
The backs don’t do to badly on attack, although they seldomly pull the moves off but when they do they quite often get a try, in general they look ordinary….their defence however has been less than woeful………
24 Jul 2006, 21:38 pm
The whole Lions team need to see a sangoma.
24 Jul 2006, 22:31 pm
I for one am not convinced of Loffie’s credentials. Any man that can take the youth that this country has to offer, and only get to the quarter finalyouth world champs cant be as good as he claims to be…
24 Jul 2006, 22:46 pm
Loffie
Ferreira
GLRU
All with the same problem inexperienced ……… at winning!
Loffie is talking the same **** the Frankly Ludicrous handed out.
25 Jul 2006, 01:15 am
no the need JORRIE MULLER!
25 Jul 2006, 08:28 am
this reminds me of the sharks in last years CC and the year before. the lions will come right,,,eventually
25 Jul 2006, 08:50 am
I can’t believe that coaches still talk the **** they do. If the Lions had of told their supporters at the beginning of 2006 that they would be experimenting and farting around for the whole of 2006 – would they have any sponsors or fans left.
We don’t care that you have a young, inexperienced team. You are all supposedly professionals and the mistakes are unprofessional – whether you are experienced or inexperienced!!!!
We are sick and tired of excuses – we want results. Loosing to Griquas on any day of the year is inexcuseable.
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