Restoring the pride
4 Jan 2010
The Lions are the fallen giants of South African rugby, but CEO Manie Reyneke tells SA Rugby magazine that they will rise again under Dick Muir.
A photo of the triumphant 1999 Currie Cup winners greets you upon entering the Golden Lions Rugby Union offices. Jannes Labuschagne and Hannes Strydom and co lifting a trophy – the last time a Lions side managed to do so. Ten long years – an eternity in professional sport.
With Louis Luyt as president during the ’90s, the Lions were the dominant South African team. In a period from 1992-1994 under coach Kitch Christie they held virtually every title on offer – a pair of Currie Cups, three Lion Cups, two M-Net Night Series titles, and the Super 10 trophy in 1993.
How things have changed. Results in the past couple of years across all teams make for unpleasant reading. The Lions came last in the 2008 Super 14 and 12th in 2009, and while they made the Currie Cup semi-finals last year they finished sixth in 2009. Dig a little deeper, and the Vodacom Cup, U19 and U21 sides haven’t yielded any silverware either. The U19s reached the final this year, but were walloped 45-13 by Free State. The University of Johannesburg have failed to make the play-offs in the Varsity Cup for two years running, and the Craven Week side hasn’t produced. From the senior side to the schoolboys, the Lions are losers.
Lions CEO Manie Reyneke is always positive, but by late October he looked a jaded figure. More poor results, the departure of coaches Leon Boshoff and Loffie Eloff, and the Jaque Fourie contract saga will do that to you.
‘It’s a stressful job, there have been many problems that I’ve had to sort out over the past two years,’ says Reyneke.
Those problems in the union came to a head with the axing of Eloff after the Super 14. After his three-year plan had failed, Jake White’s Winning Way company was employed. The Lions didn’t make the Currie Cup play-offs, but their last match of the season against Western Province provided some hope.
Now Lions supporters will wait to see if this was yet another false dawn.
The third intervention in three years came when Dick Muir was appointed as director of coaching, which includes leading the Super 14 team. He says claiming that title is the goal by the end of his three-year contract.
How?
Various changes were implemented under White, but Muir has a different rugby philosophy. While White favours a structured, defence-orientated game (the Lions scored the sixth most tries in the Currie Cup but had the third best defensive record), Muir prefers a more expansive style.
‘We also had an expansive game plan during the Currie Cup,’ says Reyneke, ‘and we scored some good tries. I don’t think it will be such a major change.’
Reyneke stresses the involvement of Winning Way and the positive structures that were introduced in those five months – such as implementing player support systems – will not be wasted.
‘When we brought in Winning Way, we were really down and out. I would tell the coaching staff every Monday that the players were unconditioned, but we needed someone from the outside to do those tests and look at our structures. Jake brought value. He introduced many things to the union – not things we didn’t know, but things that needed to be changed. We need to be at the top again, so it was vital for this union to be cleaned out.
‘The structures were there, they were just never used properly, so we’ve reinforced them. We knew exactly what needed improvement and all those things are up and running. All we need to do is maintain them. I’ll make sure whoever is responsible for certain things does their job.’
Muir is going to be an extremely busy man, juggling not two jobs, but three. You would expect the director of coaching role to be an all-year-round job, but Muir will continue as Springbok assistant coach as well as the managing director of the International Rugby Academy in South Africa.
‘It’ll be quite easy for Dick,’ says Reyneke. ‘He’ll be Super 14 coach and director of coaching, and will look at all the structures at the union. He’ll make sure that the coaches who take the Vodacom, U21, U19 and Craven Week sides are competent. He was busy looking into all that before the Boks’ November tour. I’m confident he can manage it.’
Fellow Bok assistant Gary Gold had also worked with the Stormers, but is now set to focus solely on the national job, posing further questions around whether Muir will be able to negotiate all three roles. His former employers at the Sharks even lodged an official complaint to Saru, as they felt it would be a conflict of interest as he could entice players away from them to his current team. Muir denied this would be the case and stressed that he would manage to juggle all three jobs.
‘The Lions appointment is a natural extension of my other roles. I believe that the dual role – as the Springbok assistant coach and Lions Super 14 coach – will further enrich my position as the facilitator of the academy.’
Muir was selected ahead of 16 other applicants from across the world, beating off the challenge of his nearest competitor, Heyneke Meyer. Meyer was viewed by many as the ideal candidate to do a similar job at the Lions to what he’d done with the Bulls at Loftus – making them the all-conquering union they are today. However, he wanted an entourage of support staff.
‘The main reason we didn’t want Heyneke was because he wanted to bring a complete new structure,’ says Reyneke. ‘He wanted different personnel in a package deal of himself and seven other people. With Winning Way we evaluated our staff and there are competent people here.’
While Reyneke stresses that the structures are in place to return to the glory days of the early-90s, the main ingredient missing is quality internationals. The Lions’ only Bok of 2009, Fourie, has left, making them the only big-five union without a regular Test player. The Lions have haemorrhaged talent, but both Reyneke and Muir believe another rebuilding job is not impossible. Most of the recruiting was done in the months prior to Muir’s appointment, but Reyneke isn’t concerned.
‘Yes, a coach does make a difference in terms of who will be recruited – he does favour certain players before others – and Dick looked at all the lists. He gave input and we took his advice. There is a committee that does recruitment, where we evaluate each and every player, so it’s not just individuals’ choices. We have sent offers to overseas players, although we’re limited in the number of foreigners we can recruit, but there are also excellent South Africans in Europe.
‘The fact is there are not many Boks around who don’t have contracts. But players follow coaches, and although it won’t have an immediate effect as we are one of those unions that honour contracts, there will be players coming our way. We’ll strengthen our side and become a force.
‘We also have an abundance of young talent in this country and we’re doing many of our players an injustice by contracting them and not giving them game time.’
Another challenge facing the Lions is the pitiful crowd attendances at Ellis Park due poor results and safety concerns. Some have suggested relocating to a ground outside the Jo’burg CBD, but Reyneke believes the ailing Lions brand will only get a much-needed injection once the team starts producing.
‘You must remember this is a cosmopolitan area, it’s not as easy for us to have the same homely atmosphere as the Sharks or Bulls. There are many Stormers supporters staying in Jo’burg making their money here, and the same goes for the other teams’ fans.
‘We have excellent projects; we’re the only union in the country that gives all U7 to U18 registered rugby players in the province free season tickets. There are many good projects on the go, but once we start winning, it will change overnight.
‘The fact is I could spend R20 million on marketing and it would all be wasted if we don’t start winning on the field. Winning is marketing.’
By Grant Ball
– This article first appeared in the December issue of SA Rugby magazine. The Jan-Feb issue is on sale now.
231 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All
4 Jan 2010, 09:41 am
Heyneke DRAGON Meyer would have been fantastic for the Lions, pitty.
4 Jan 2010, 10:03 am
tough times ahead for Lions…cant see them getting anywhere
4 Jan 2010, 10:32 am
1. Van Der Merwe
2. Van Dyk
3. Buys
4. Labuschagne
5. Lombaard
6. Grobelaar
7. Van Der Merwe
8. Mokuena
9. Vermaak
10. Francis
11. Mentz
12. La Grange
13. Van Rensburg
14. Chavhanga
15. Hollenbach
16. Van Rensburg
17. Shimange
18. Sephaka
19. Luus
20. Earle
21. Van Deventer
22. Minnie
23. Clever
24. Joubert
25. Kruger
26. Jackson
27. Venter
28. Delport
29. Noble
30. Rose
31. Swart
32. Harwood
33. Muller
34. Geldenhuys
35. Mockford
36. Snyman
37. Moore
38. Kruger
39. Whitely
40. Jonck
41. Siegelaar
42. Snyman (or is Boshoff the name of the young 10?)
43. Boshoff
44. St. Jerry
45. Pekeur
46. Killian
47. Lewis
A smattering of decent players but not too much to speak of.
4 Jan 2010, 10:38 am
Director of coaching? If it weren’t so tragic I’d be laughing. Muir is a clown, the last thing the Lions need. They also should never have let Eloff go. More blunders that resulted in players leaving. The Union is one big screw up. Very sad. Hopefully things will turn around for them sooner rather than later.
4 Jan 2010, 10:40 am
In 1995 – 1998 none of the above players would even make the Lions C team …… exept maybe for : Heinke (fit) & Vermaak
4 Jan 2010, 10:41 am
2 words ….. Louis Luyt
4 Jan 2010, 10:43 am
Lets talk again after the S14
4 Jan 2010, 10:45 am
2010 could be the last year that the Lions play Super Rugby
4 Jan 2010, 10:49 am
yeah the Lions peaked in 95 by winning the RWC.
4 Jan 2010, 10:58 am
@RedLion:
4 Jan 2010, 11:02 am
@puff: how can u put Rose at 30 you plonker
should be starting at 15 and slot at 10 at times, during this season
4 Jan 2010, 11:10 am
I’d put Rose @ 100 ….
4 Jan 2010, 11:13 am
Why are you people discussing the Lions when there’s cricket on.
4 Jan 2010, 11:22 am
why you posting old stories?
4 Jan 2010, 11:40 am
@Blogger: then u clearly dont know much abt rygby
EOS
4 Jan 2010, 11:44 am
Papoose …and clearly you must be Earl himself or his father…cause not even his own family member’s will talk him up. He is k@k ….. a 2nd Jorrie Muller and he proved that in the 2009 CC. EOS
4 Jan 2010, 11:54 am
‘fallen giants’
bwahahahahaha
The Lions were NEVER giants!!!
4 Jan 2010, 12:24 pm
Trip to Ellisprk, GPS voice in car: Take Harrow rd offramp and continue for 2km. Precaution possible hijackers in bushes. At Rockey str crossing, duck for flying bullets due to drug war. Continue down Harrow, Ponte tower on your right, watch out for flying faeces as residents take a dump out their flat windows.
4 Jan 2010, 12:29 pm
Transvaal will rise again
4 Jan 2010, 12:31 pm
@RedLion:
soo true
4 Jan 2010, 12:32 pm
@greatest13gerber: Let’s hope not.
4 Jan 2010, 12:42 pm
This is extremely difficult for Manie and the Lions. If you fall behind in the pro era of rugby it is damn difficult to catch up and the Lions have fallen behind quite a bit.
I still maintain that in the way changes were brought about, ie. the way in which Loffie was fired and the bad blood between Fourie and the union suggests there is a lot more wrong than what Manie seems to suggest here.
Muir will need to clean house, force an approach of professionalism unlike any this union has seen and just maybe, he can change things around.
If I was Muir, I would also invest heavily in local clubs and players and concentrate a hell of a lot on my youth structures.
The Lions need to find an identity and culture and do it very soon.
I do not know if **** has the type of personality for this though…
He invested heavily in the Sharks youths and unkowns at the time when he started there, some of them went on to become Boks…
But this will be much tougher than the Sharks.
4 Jan 2010, 12:44 pm
@greatest13gerber:
I thought it was Gauteng now G13G?
Do you not move with the Times?
4 Jan 2010, 12:49 pm
Here’s a question.
If Muir fails this year with the Lions and the Springboks play below par because of general fatigue, will Muir’s Springbok job be in jeopardy?
Will he be the scapegoat?
4 Jan 2010, 12:57 pm
there is no time to concentrate on youth structures & k@k ….
4 Jan 2010, 12:59 pm
Happy New year to everyone from a cold and frosty Holland and congrats to Rangerman the Daddyman.
@puff: And if Muir succeeds at the Lions but the Springboks fail to fire who will get the chop from the Bok coaching line-up if anyone?
4 Jan 2010, 13:00 pm
@greatest13gerber:
Hoesit ou ding.
4 Jan 2010, 13:06 pm
@PissAnt: PA the Lions weren’t that far away from getting it together last year. They showed some really encouraging signs on the field and as far as I understood it was the organisation and structures behind the scene that let them down.
With a couple of enhancements to the squad **** could possibly get them winning a few and buy himself some time to concentrate on the development of the structures. Once the ball gets rolling it can pick up momentum quickly if you have the support of administration and sponsors.
I think they may be onto something good here, the Lions that is.
4 Jan 2010, 13:10 pm
@bananaboy:
My point is I feel Muir has opened himself up to being vulnerable by placing so much on his plate.
You’ve got to hand it to the guy – he seems to have balls.
4 Jan 2010, 13:10 pm
Most of the changes at the GLRU has happened within the union. Problem is that the Lions don’t get a lot of press time and publicity compared to the other big unions.
The only people that truly know what has happened are those lucky few close to the inside. As a commited and hardened Lions supporter – I am more than happy of what has happened and what is still happening.
Yes, looking at the squad, there are a few real good players with great talent and a bright future – and then those that other union’s supporters don’t know much about.
But all with talent and bright futures. Gone is the deadwood.
All of today’s superstars was at a time and unknown and a good player. And this will happen again.
Predict a 6th spot in Super 14, ahead of Stormers and Cheetahs. Vodacom cup champs and either a CC final or Champions.
Ons is weer besig om op te staan.
4 Jan 2010, 13:16 pm
I unfortunatly believe Muir is the wrong man for the job .. it is a full time possition that Muir sould have started already last year, but was with the Boks.
The Lions messed up by not getting H Meyer into the union .. the Lions will cry, and the Bulls will sing and dance for a long time still because of this stupidity.
Another 3 long years await us.
4 Jan 2010, 13:26 pm
@Paws:
It took Muir one season to get the Sharks to the top. It took Meyer 4 seasons with the Bulls.
4 Jan 2010, 13:30 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
Which trophy cabinet would you rather have in the last 10 years .. the Bulls, or Sharks?
The Lions could have had Meyer, the complete article doing duty 100% of the times at the Lions .. now they have Muir 5o% of the time.
Bad choice if you ask me.
4 Jan 2010, 13:35 pm
@Paws:
I agree, to get this right will take time, forget about instant success.
The measure must be the Super 14 and business end of the CC, and the Lions will fall short in my view.
4 Jan 2010, 13:36 pm
@Paws:
Paws, I hear what you say.
I just believe that the type of game that Meyer plays is one dimensional and I don’t think that it would have suited the Lions. We don’t have a dominating line-out and we definitely don’t have a Morne Steyn.
The brand we play and have always played is enterprising running rugby, and that suits ****’s type of ideas. We scored some brilliant tries in the last couple of season, but our defence was herrefic.
**** will take the running game up a notch and we will be one of the most physical sides in the tackle. Don’t forget Ackerman’s involvement as well as Henning Gericke and Sherylle Calder. Both on our payroll.
Our coaching staff is brilliant:
**** Muir
Johan Ackerman
Hans Coetzee
Henning Gericke
Sherylle Calder
That’s not too bad at all. But I respect your opinion, and only time will tell. For both our sakes I hope I’m right.
4 Jan 2010, 13:43 pm
Firstly may I wish all posters – local and foreign, Keo staffers, rugby supporters, players and administrators…
…a Storming 2010!!!
@WilladieLeeu:
“Problem is that the Lions don’t get a lot of press time and publicity compared to the other big unions.”
With the head-offices of the Sunday Times, MNet, SABC, The Star and a hoste of other media companies based in Gauteng… the problem is not that the Lions don’t get a lot of press time… no one ‘gets’ anything… The REAL problem is that the Lions don’t put out any media releases and that can only be the fault of the Lions Union. They keep their info among “those lucky few close to the inside”. They need to cultivate relationships with the media companies and rugby journos and put out positive PR and then they will rack up the column/centimetres and sound bites…
4 Jan 2010, 13:47 pm
Note to Manie Reyneke
From the Lions Financial Manager
Subject: R20 million on Marketing – Ahem
Have you lost your f&*$îng your mind?
We have no money and only enough to see us through till end January 2010 and then we are right royally rogered in the old poop shute because you have no plan to raise any cash and only 5,000 supporters pitch up on a good day.
If we lose 3 matches in a row that will drop to a gate attendance of 1,500 and we will have to play in the day as there will be no money to switch the lights on.
What are you going to do about it and do not look to **** Muir, as he is spending the cash on players.
I feel sick.
4 Jan 2010, 13:55 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
I hope so too …
4 Jan 2010, 13:59 pm
@ufo:
True and I had a chat about that with Manie, and it is going to change.
But what I’m saying is that every union has a reporter that “represents” them. JJ Harmse and MMorris Gilbert for the Bulls. Hennie Brandt for the Cheetahs etc etc.
The Lions don’t have that. The Star is one of the sponsors of the Lions, but you don’t see them setting up an interview with **** Muir or chatting to some of the players like the Beeld does with the Bulls and so on.
The only press the Lions get is usually negative. For example the contractual issue, none of the papers have made the effort to find out exaclty what happend. Thus everybody still under the impression that the Lions don’t know how to set-up contracts and were idiots and so on. Which is entirely not the case.
4 Jan 2010, 14:06 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
Liam del Carme
4 Jan 2010, 14:07 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
I hope for your and the LIon’s sake WIlla that it does…
but the fact is it shouldn’t be The Star setting up an interview with ****. It should be the PR person (if there is one) of the Lions setting up the interview with The Star!
Sounds like they need a PR person – or a new PR person… They don’t have to spend R20-mil… just cultivate those relationships… schmooze The Star (Sunday Times/MNet/SABC)rugby/sports/community desk journos… and ‘tame’ some of them so that they do have a few ‘domesticated’ media people ‘on-side’…
4 Jan 2010, 14:10 pm
@PissAnt:
And they HAD the JWWW/Keo crew in their pockets…
4 Jan 2010, 14:16 pm
@PissAnt:
Well, he’s then not doing his bloody job. :lo:
@ufo:
We do have a PR person. But IMO not up to it. a Real sweet girl, but doesn’t have the knowledge or experience to do the job properly.
Biggest problem is that there is a misconception that there are no Lions supporter around anymore. Yes, the stands are empty, but once we start winning, Ellispark will be packed to the rafters.
4 Jan 2010, 14:25 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
well then you do need a new PR person.
sure… the stadium will be packed to the rafters when you win… but you want the it packed to the rafters even when you don’t win…
that’s when the PR and buy-in from supporters really shows…
4 Jan 2010, 14:28 pm
@Alucard:
Loffie achieved nothing. The Lions need Meyer, not Muir
4 Jan 2010, 14:29 pm
@ufo:
What happens at Kingspark and Loftus when they start losing? The stands gets emptier and emptier.
2008 after thos couple of losses, the Bulls had their lowest attendance in recent years. No matter how you try, when you lose, supporters will stay away.
Unfortunately just how it goes.
4 Jan 2010, 14:42 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
true Willa… but there is more to it than that…
hate to bring it up… but… Newlands bucks that trend… why?
there is buy-in from fans down here like there is in few other rugby (or sport) unions around the world…
I know it’s anathema to you guys… but the Lion’s (and other unions) should be looking at why and how Province manages to attract their supporters through good and (now mostly) bad times… year after year…
500 000 fans went to Newlands last year… five hundred thousand…!! That’s a farking lot of fans going back to every game…
I know all you other supporters like ragging us WP ouens… but there must be something right down here… your unions should take note…
4 Jan 2010, 14:43 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
Kingspark had 20 000 empty seats for the CC semi-final…!! So it’s not just about winning or losing…
It’s about the Unions doing the PR and getting the supporters into the stadiums…
4 Jan 2010, 15:06 pm
@Blogger: dude tht joke is so old and so lame cos i’ve criticized him as a player as well and used thet same joke on his fans
however every1 from naas, Bob, darren, Wiese said one of the few players, there weren’t many,player who redeemed himself and selection for dirt trackers was earl rose.
they also mentioned haergreaves
u obviously didn’t watch the dirt tracker matches and shows how much of a bok supporter u really are
cut the **** and go blog on the soccer sites
4 Jan 2010, 15:12 pm
@WilladieLeeu:
Willa boytjie.
You are a true champion for your team and you have to be admired for trying to defend them! Clap Clap Clap Clap.
Forget the PR chick in hot pants.
She is not the cancer at the Lions it is the CEO. It goes back to Dr. Jannie Ferreira who gave this to Reyneke after Andy Turner ran out the door. These okes are in denial.
Have you any idea how deep the dung is at the Lions den?
You seem to hang around there, so get the financials for last year and the budget for next and let’s see. Wys vir ons.
There is no quarterly, annual or 3 year plan.
These Lions might be scrawny but do they know how to hunt?
Had **** Muir asked to see the financials before signing on he would have had a moerse accident in his pants!
Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.