Lions secure Mokuena
12 Oct 2009
The Lions have contracted Jonathan Mokuena and are hoping to sign another one of his Griquas team-mates for the Super 14.
Mokuena, who captained Griquas as well as the Springbok Sevens team, has been in brilliant form during the Currie Cup, and the No 8 will play out of Jo’burg for the next two years. The Lions have ample depth at loose forward, including captain Baywatch Grobbelaar, and CE Manie Reyneke stressed no leadership decisions had yet been made for the southern hemisphere tournament.
‘Jonathan is a great leader, but no promises have been made,’ Reyneke told keo.co.za.
The Lions are also hoping to sign impressive lock Jacques Lombard on a two-year deal in order to gain some much-needed second row depth. However, Reyneke said legal details still had to be finalised with Griquas regarding Lombard’s move.
American Todd Clever has done enough to secure a one-year contract extension, while the Lions have also signed Bulls utility back Marius Delport until the end of 2011. Delport can play centre and wing, but he has fallen out of favour at Loftus, and should receive more opportunities at Ellis Park.
The Lions are meanwhile back in the arbitration process to keep Jaque Fourie in Jo’burg. The matter is set to be resolved later this week, and Reyneke reiterated they are doing their utmost to retain their best players.
Injured fulback Louis Ludik and eighthman Willem Alberts – who had a great Currie Cup – have reportedly been on the Sharks’ shopping list, but Reyneke said they weren’t going anywhere.
‘Willem and Louis are both contracted until the end of 2011 and all of my players are being approached by other unions. But I will not let them go.’
This positive player recruitment news also comes on the back of the signings of Springbok winger Tonderai Chavhanga, as well as Bulls flyhalf Burton Francis.
By Grant Ball
93 Comments
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12 Oct 2009, 18:36 pm
#50 k.camron: The second coming of Carl Heyman might be wearing green & gold.
Geez, that guy to squeeze the tires off a mini cooper.
Then eat it.
Go boy.
12 Oct 2009, 18:36 pm
#47 skopskiet:
Not a done deal, this all rumours.
But agree Meyer should get it hands down.
12 Oct 2009, 18:38 pm
#52 WilladieLeeu: Any Kiwi’s on the shortlist? What about Euan McKenzie?
12 Oct 2009, 18:38 pm
#49 SodaJoe:
Chatted to him after the game.
Was in Monnas at eigth man, moved to TH and told me the he learned to scrum in France.
Genuine monster and equally nice guy.
12 Oct 2009, 18:40 pm
#53 SodaJoe:
Kiwi, Aussie en Pom applied.
Don’t know who are on the shortlist, but judging on what’s coming out the camp, don’t think they’re gonna look further than Meyer and Muir.
12 Oct 2009, 18:41 pm
#54 WilladieLeeu: The guys chest looked as wide as the other 2 guys put together.
He has a real shot imo. He’s mobile, he’s strong.
Didn’t see enough of his scrumming to make an informed comment, but if I was in the Lions set up I would have him in daily scrum-class learning technique.
Not a lot of great TH’s world wide, he can make a name, make the Boks, and get rich.
12 Oct 2009, 18:42 pm
#55 WilladieLeeu: Well I would take Meyer over Muir any day.
But please God don’t let Derick Hougarrd come and play for the Lions. Please.
12 Oct 2009, 18:44 pm
#54 WilladieLeeu: Not many better rugby schools than Monument either.
Very surprised that Bulls let him go. Hope they don’t know something we don’t.
12 Oct 2009, 18:50 pm
#53 SodaJoe: McKenzie an Aussie and has just been hired by Queensland Reds. Probably better off without him anyway.
Seems odd that Muir would leave the Springboks, is he not enjoying it?
12 Oct 2009, 18:53 pm
#57 SodaJoe:
The Bulls let him go, he was a 20 year old that got an offer from France, and they let him go.
Lions saw him o/seas and made him an offer to come back.
I don’t think you can learn more technique if you learn to scrum in France.
12 Oct 2009, 18:54 pm
#59 Big Hit:
You can coach Super 14 and stay with the Boks.
12 Oct 2009, 19:09 pm
I think it is a good signing.
Well done to the Lions and good luck to Jonathan. With some good coaching where he is taught to read and anticipate the game better and exercise better patience, Jonathan can become a star.
Good luck my man!
12 Oct 2009, 19:19 pm
whenever I come here to Keo all I read great news about the mighty Lions. Next we have to get that enforcer Lombaard because Bakkies is old news
12 Oct 2009, 19:19 pm
#62 PissAnt:
he better become a star quickly he is 30 years old…
12 Oct 2009, 19:24 pm
oh I need to throw in a Roar
12 Oct 2009, 19:27 pm
#64 gunther:
That was actually my next question…
He does not look it though does he?
Mind you, having been in Sevens for so long he has not been ‘damaged’ by the 15-man code…
I reckon he has a good 4 years still left in him?
12 Oct 2009, 19:28 pm
ROAR
12 Oct 2009, 19:33 pm
#66 PissAnt:
well lets chat about that after 2 seasons of super 14….
12 Oct 2009, 19:38 pm
#68 gunther:
Yeah lets do.
I like Jonathan, he brings intensity to the game which is lacking from most players today imo.
12 Oct 2009, 19:40 pm
#68 gunther:
Mokeuana’s 28.
Born 1981.
12 Oct 2009, 19:41 pm
#69 PissAnt:
he is a good signing …..
12 Oct 2009, 19:44 pm
#69 PissAnt:
agreed, he uses what Baywatch does not use – the top 4 inches of his brain.
Hopefully when we get Meyer the team will work on becoming more street smart.
12 Oct 2009, 19:46 pm
#71 gunther:
thanks, I will research him.
12 Oct 2009, 19:55 pm
as for Mossie, if he wants to go let him go, hell if Mossie wants to dye his hair blond and talk with a like hey man twang I don’t care …let him go to a team that is coached by disco lights Rassie who is just as good/bad as old Fester (record wise).
12 Oct 2009, 20:02 pm
#72 RedLion:
sorry yo e quite right….he seems to get a lot of cards for such a cerebral player though…
12 Oct 2009, 20:21 pm
he is a good signing but they should have taken the scrumhalf as well
12 Oct 2009, 20:37 pm
#26 WilladieLeeu:
Depends on what strategy u are going to play.
Using a ball carrier at 7 has been used plenty times.especially when the 8 is going to be used as a link player.Mokuena is a better link man and has a wider skill set that Alberts.
Alberts would be perfect in the 7 role as he is a bullocking runner,used to get over the advantage line creating momentum with the likes of Mokuena as a link and van Deventer towards the ball.
Joe van Niekerk played his best rugby as a 7 but he was the best ball carrier in the team especially early in his carrier when his linking skills werent at their best.
Juan Smith played 8 at WC 2003 but has since played his best rugby at 7 and he is by far the best ball carrier at the Cheetahs and when on form even in the Bok team.
Imanol Harinodiqouy is another who has since played his best/consistent rugby at 7.Jean Deysel also fulfills the same role for the Sharks same as Duanne Vermeulen for the Stormers and all those started at 8.Their bulk,strength in running straight is their best attributes,thus taking the ball up from secondary phase from 7 gaining momentum is a premium for their team.
I see Alberts in the mould of Qwen Finegan.
12 Oct 2009, 20:40 pm
Owen Finegan
12 Oct 2009, 20:59 pm
This signing doesn’t make total sense to me as there are plenty of loose forwards that are doing well in the lions. I wonder if they are going to move Alberts to lock? Glad to see that Delport has also been signed, homefully they steal a couple more bulls players! Maku, Fudge, Wanneburg, Tiger to name a few
12 Oct 2009, 21:11 pm
#79 I wanna be coach:
They’re building a healthy competition system within the squad. The more competing for one position, the better you need to be.
12 Oct 2009, 21:17 pm
#77 mshiniwami:i agree with what youre saying about alberts being an all out ball carrier …however i think we are seeing this part of the game evolve so rapidly -we have so many diferent types of eights that all bring something different to the table…also what are youre thoughts on leaving alberts at 8 and having mokuena play at 7 as he ,im sure is faster ,and there for can also serve as a flank that plays towards the ball ?supose at 8 hes better suited to do that anyway?
any ways it is a usefull thing to have to flank forwards who are both big strong and cover many of the same fassets of the game and still have alot to offer individually-on attack mokuena at 8 and on defence alberts at 8?
13 Oct 2009, 06:54 am
Mokuena + Delport = hot heads.
Mokuena is a walking yellow card, cost the Griquas. Hope he gets it right. Delport is strong and they should use him a wing and not centre (like the Bulls did). Although I will pick Jackson ahead of him (there is some talent there).
What is the plan with this Kilian kid. I haven’t seen him do anything wrong when he is on the field. What is the plan here Lions?
13 Oct 2009, 07:21 am
#61 WilladieLeeu: wouldnt that lead to severe bias, a coach could even lose confidence from the players if hi side finish rock bottom with least tries scored yet he’s the backline coach for boks?
13 Oct 2009, 07:39 am
Surprised Lions need Mokuena (is it a colour thing?). I think Lions loosies outplayed WP’s lighter lads (Vermeulen excluded). It wasn’t the ref skoppie, I thought he was quite lenient on the WP coming in from the side and standing offside to try and stop the Lions beasts. If I was to cherry pick Griqua’s it would be Riaan Viljoen, Sarel Pretorius, maybe Naas Olivier.
13 Oct 2009, 08:32 am
#83 Papoose:
I don’t know.
But Gert Smal cooached the Stormers in Super 14 and was assistant coach to Jake.
This season the Lions only scored on try less than the Sharks. Average of 3.8 per match. And that was with Herkie at 10. With Boshoff and Francis next season, expect some more tries.
So, I don’t think that will be a concern.
13 Oct 2009, 08:38 am
Lions….take H M …not D M…
13 Oct 2009, 08:39 am
#84 husky:
Lions are trying to form a competetive environment between the players within the squad.
And not to bring colour into it, but the Lions have struggled in this regard.
Now they suddenly have a couple of guys that could all possibly feature in the match day 22.
Sephaka
Mokuena
Francis
Noble
Chavanga
Rose
Lewis
Huge improvement.
13 Oct 2009, 08:42 am
#86 grant10:
They are the two current favourites, I would def pick HM.
Not just because he’s the best, but logic also picks him.
If you have Muir, your gonna have to get another coach for Currie Cup because of his involvement with the Boks.
But with Heyneke, you’ll have the continued continuity of the core of player and coach throughout the Super 14 and CC.
13 Oct 2009, 08:45 am
#88 WilladieLeeu: agree…logical sense…well we will know soon….
Exciting times…enjoy Willa…you guys long suffering …like us wp okes…so i hope you challenge for top honours soon
Have a cool day
outta here
Cheers
13 Oct 2009, 09:24 am
#88 WilladieLeeu:
If **** gets the job, there’s no way he could stay on with the Boks. As I understand it, the Lions are looking for a DOC, which is a fulltime position.
13 Oct 2009, 09:37 am
#88 WilladieLeeu: How sure are you HM applied for the job?
13 Oct 2009, 09:51 am
#91 Tisme:
Well, that’s what all my sources are telling me. He approached the union for the position.
But, we’ll only find out when they announce the shortlist.
#90 David:
Think if he get’s the job they’ll probably work around that. Find a way to accomodate both parties.
13 Oct 2009, 09:52 am
#91 Tisme:
I think Reyneke confirmed he was one of the applicants.
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