Pride restored
6 Jan 2012
CLINTON VAN DER BERG, writing in SA Rugby magazine, reveals how the Lions went from Super Rugby chumps in 2010 to Currie Cup champs in 2011.
Ahead of the Currie Cup semi-final against Western Province, Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk sat down to pen a letter to each member of the squad of 22.
To Doppies la Grange, he wrote, ‘You are one of those rare players who can turn a game … but we haven’t seen the Doppies factor for a while. We need it.’ To Elton Jantjies, he wrote that he believed he could become the best flyhalf in the world and that he needed to continue working hard on the basics.
And so he went.
Such was his painstaking attention to saying the right things, it took him five hours.
For De Klerk, the original lion king, it was a matter of honour to be associated with the Lions of 2011. Indeed, when they followed up a week later with their rousing Currie Cup title triumph against the Sharks, he was beaming.
They had come through tortured times and he had inherited a mess, but here was growth at its most resplendent.
Exactly 40 years before, he had made his first start for Transvaal, the Rooibonte. In the ensuing years he had watched despairingly as the grand empire built by Louis Luyt in the 1980s slowly crumbled.
De Klerk, who earns his money in the demolition business, is central to the Lions narrative because he is such a core part of their revival. He wasn’t motivated by the gravy train, the free tickets or the headlines. What motivated him was history.
‘I grew up in Rosettenville, the son of a miner,’ he recalls. ‘I was always guaranteed a fight on the way home – and that was usually with the strongest girl.
‘I played rugby because I loved it. My first game for Transvaal in ’71, I locked alongside my hero, Piet Botha. I always appreciated what administrators and coaches did for me.’
That same year he was in the side that drew with Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup final. He would go on to play many more games for Transvaal and later shared in a Springbok series triumph against the All Blacks. Lions blood courses through his veins.
Many factors contributed to the Lions’ ascendancy this year, but arguably one of the most important was the very first issue De Klerk tackled when he assumed the presidency in 2009.
‘I needed to get the team ethos back. We were very fragmented – practising in Randburg, gyming in Bryanston and then playing at Ellis Park.’
The point was that the team was literally and figuratively all over the place. And it showed as they became a laughing stock.
De Klerk’s philosophy was that the Super Rugby and Currie Cup sides were the shop window to the union. But the window was muddy, tatty, embarrassing.
‘We didn’t have the money … we had to farm with what we had. There was talk of unloading Derick Minnie and Michael Killian and I said no. They needed encouragement and belief.’
The next thing he did was work on morale, among the team and the administrative staff.
‘The first thing I did was pull the dynamics together – coaching, training, motivation – and helped elevate the spirit among the staff, the executive committee, the board and the trust. I involved equity partners too, but that backfired.’
De Klerk still hosts a bi-weekly session with his staff over tea and biscuits.
‘The improvement in morale has been phenomenal,’ he says, stressing that any success achieved has been the result of a collective effort.
‘Among the team, I wanted to bring back the culture of old, how we used to sing songs and tell rugby stories.’
In De Klerk’s first few months, Jake White’s ‘Winning Way’ was brought in, as was Dick Muir. The results were mixed, but one happy spinoff was that Muir recommended coach John Mitchell to the union.
De Klerk liked the New Zealander the instant he met him.
‘His demeanour, attitude and philosophy were just right. Take my word for it: there isn’t a better technical coach in world rugby and there is no way I would allow him to be poached by the Springboks. He is with me until 2013, at least.’
Mitchell arrived with the reputation of being a straight shooter. His direct style had won him few friends in Perth, where he was the founding coach of the Western Force, and he was known for wielding the big stick.
By all accounts, Mitchell’s players aren’t his biggest fans, but De Klerk likens that to his days in the army. ‘I hated my corporal, but I was never fitter in my life.’
The Mitchell method isn’t for everyone. The Force team ultimately rebelled, but the Lions were different, responding to his strong sense of order and discipline.
‘I think it’s because South Africans grow up with a deep respect for their elders and leaders,’ says De Klerk.‘John talks to the cause. Hy dra nie doekies om [he doesn’t beat around the bush]. There are lots of teams where it’s a case of the tail wagging the dog. You can’t become friends with your coach. John has no problem saying, “Listen pal, you’re not cutting it.”’
One moment during the Super Rugby season perfectly demonstrated his attitude. After losing 34-30 to the Chiefs in a classic game, there was a feeling that the Lions had done well. Mitchell wouldn’t hear of it.
‘We let this one slip. I’m not interested in people praising one another because they came close to winning.’
It’s an attitude recognised by Josh Strauss, the piratical figure who became a lightning rod for the team’s fortunes.
‘The talent was always there; the coach just managed it better. He instilled discipline and he made us choose core values. The guys he finished with are the guys who can handle it, who can take the criticism.’
Strauss and La Grange addressed the team during the captain’s run on the eve of the final. Their message was that they had taken so many pot shots from the media and supporters that nothing the Sharks did could blow them off course. When the players were handed their match jerseys, the number ‘9912’ was embroidered on, to represent 1999, the last time they had won the Currie Cup, and the dozen years since.
Part of what made Mitchell so successful was the training team he assembled. Wayne Taylor of New Zealand, his conditioning coach, is a stickler for fitness. He got stuck in. Even now, he says they are three years off where they ought to be physically.
Backline coach Carlos Spencer’s reputation precedes him, suffice to say that he hates losing. Despite his quiet presence, he lets the team know exactly how he feels. It was Jantjies who earned the plaudits after scoring 24 points in the final, but less dwelled upon was the bag of tricks Spencer endowed him with. The jinks, the subtle touches and the clever kicks are straight from the Spencer manual.
Then there was the quiet, brooding presence of Johan Ackermann, who fired up a pack of forwards that could by no measure be called outstanding. But JC Janse van Rensburg, Bandise Maku, Franco van der Merwe and others were like a band of brothers who stuck together and fought together.
Elsewhere, you only had to look at the form of players like La Grange, Strauss, Michael Bondesio, Minnie and Jaco Taute, a group of renegades, aspirants and nearly men, to realise that Mitchell’s great gift was his ability to draw the very best out of them.
But the Lions’ journey to Currie Cup success wasn’t without potholes. The fallout with their equity partners was damaging and there was also the messy departure of Jano Vermaak, one of De Klerk’s great regrets.
‘To lose him was a helluva blow, but then Bondesio came in and injected a tempo we never had. Watching every player develop was a thrill, but a particular highlight was JC Janse van Rensburg. He has the heart of a lion despite not being physically imposing. It’s hard to dwell on individuals, there were so many. Michael Rhodes, Elton, Josh Strauss, Franco … I saw Franco walking down the tunnel the other day and told him, “Now you’re starting to look like a lock, my mate.”’
Notwithstanding the difficulty in signing new players – ‘You don’t just pull them off shop shelves,’ says De Klerk – he believes they are well set to approach the new Super Rugby season with greater confidence. There is no hubris surrounding their Currie Cup win, just the certainty that they need to build on it.
‘I must reiterate that the victory belongs to the players,’ says De Klerk. ‘We were behind the scenes. All glory to them.’
The success in the Currie Cup will doubtless help attract players, as it did in early November when a number of new signings were announced, including the Cronjé brothers (Guy and Ross), Stephen Greeff, Callie Visagie and Hendrik Roodt. Mitchell will doubtless be shopping for more.
There’s no outlandish claim to cracking the Super Rugby play-offs, but De Klerk says he would be disappointed if they didn’t finish in the top half. The last year was pock-marked by what-could-have-beens, but with many young players now entering their third season of Super Rugby, the expectations are rooted in realism. ‘We’ve helped stabilise the rocky ship and they feel it.’
Happily De Klerk is in it for the long haul. He may be hobbling around thanks to recent knee replacement surgery, but the to-do list remains long and he remains determined.
Right at the top is preserving the status of the Lions as Saru ponders how to make six go into five for the 2013 Super Rugby season. De Klerk won’t tolerate talk of the Lions being removed or merging with the Cheetahs.
‘It’s been tough, but I’m going damn nowhere. I won’t allow these doors to close.’
– This article first appeared in the December issue of SA Rugby magazine. The January-February issue is on sale now.
108 Comments
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All
6 Jan 2012, 12:50 pm
Great article.
6 Jan 2012, 13:13 pm
Good story….as an ex-gautenger now living on the KZN South Coast I am still amazed by the amount of support the Lions get in the pubs down here. The Sharks may be my team now (for 5 years already) but I still enjou the Lions, and am thrilled to see their revival. It is great for South African rugby overall. May 2012 be a great year for South African rugby in general!
6 Jan 2012, 13:23 pm
Talking about Mitchel he writes: Take my word for it: there isn’t a better technical coach in world rugby and there is no way I would allow him to be poached by the Springboks. He is with me until 2013, at least.’
What a pity! We need innovation in the Bok set-up! Tired of the boring skop and jaag rugby. A new broom sweeps clean. Let’s hope for the best…
6 Jan 2012, 13:27 pm
Discipline is what makes a good coach. Being buddy, buddy with the players never works. The players don’t respect such a coach. Most of the Fat Boys club have either retired or gone abroad, so the new coach better instil his discipline within the team.
6 Jan 2012, 13:34 pm
If the mangy Lions don’t pick up where they left off, this rabble will be quickly forgotten…like yesterday’s KFC meal.
6 Jan 2012, 13:35 pm
Lions S15 preview.
_http://davesviews.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/2012-super-rugby-season-preview-mtn-lions/
6 Jan 2012, 13:36 pm
@Bill Reyts-3:
yeah, well done to the lions and well done for sa rugby.
@Bill Reyts-3:
i hate to be a party pooper but its still just the cc.
lets see how he goes this season in the big show.
6 Jan 2012, 13:37 pm
@Bill Reyts-3:
???????
@Siyavuna-2:
sorry, that was for you.
yeah, well done to the lions and well done for sa rugby
6 Jan 2012, 13:39 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-7:
Early days for sure! BUT look what the Lions were and what he did with them in a short time. That alone says a lot. He doesn’t take nonsence and no-one has a right to the team. That is what is needed in the Bok setup and players will quickly know it is a privalege and not a right to play for the Boks.
6 Jan 2012, 13:40 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-8:
6 Jan 2012, 13:56 pm
@Bill Reyts-10:
he talks a lot of kak sometimes that kevin
6 Jan 2012, 13:58 pm
@au revoir mon tout noirs, au revoir…-11:
SERIOUS….
6 Jan 2012, 14:01 pm
they are still the laughing stock of super rugby.
6 Jan 2012, 14:10 pm
Can someone please tell Clinton that the saying is “doekies omdraai”. Otherwise, nice piece. Can’t wait for this S15 to get underway.
6 Jan 2012, 14:12 pm
@mvk-13: As you are the laughing stock of your jazz dance class.
6 Jan 2012, 14:13 pm
@mvk-13: @mvk-13: to be fair to the lions they most probably will pass that baton on to the bulls this year.
6 Jan 2012, 15:02 pm
it is great to have the lions roaring again…
and sincerely hope they do carry that form into the s15
6 Jan 2012, 15:07 pm
@ufo-17:
For sure! I would like to see them become a force again.
6 Jan 2012, 15:18 pm
The real test will be the away games under NZ & Aussie referees
The Lions should bag most of their home games at Ellis Park, more so if these games will be refereed by Jonker and Craig Joubert
A seven victories in 2012 season will be a boost!
6 Jan 2012, 16:39 pm
I don’t think they have the depth to go through a full S15 season.
They’ll score some great victories, notch up some heartbreakingly narrow defeats, and fall out of the bus completely in some other games.
Mid table finish would be an excellent result for them, given their player pool.
6 Jan 2012, 17:31 pm
@>^..^< katman-15: OI !!!!!!!! I took jazz dancing classes for years !!!!
6 Jan 2012, 18:09 pm
Simon I must congratulate you on a compiling a brilliant December edition of the SARugby mag … it had to be something special to get me to buy it … hell I bought a few copies, gave one to the bird, one to the fellows at work and one to my sister.
Just a pity you messed up with the January edition.
6 Jan 2012, 18:12 pm
‘I grew up in Rosettenville, the son of a miner,’ he recalls. ‘I was always guaranteed a fight on the way home – and that was usually with the strongest girl.’
Eish, those rock rabbits in the south are roff I tell you … KdK is lucky to still have all his own teeth.
6 Jan 2012, 18:13 pm
@Roar my Lions …. Currie Cup Champions 2011-22: I Agree, I think it is the best cover of 2011. Hopefully there will be alot more “Lions” covers in 2012.
The Lions will be a much tougher team to beat in 2012 and i think we can end up on top of the SA Conference log and in the top 8 overall.
6 Jan 2012, 18:22 pm
@Chris4Lions-24: It’s not going to be easy predicting the winner of the SA conference, the team that does win will finish 3rd on the overall log and will be moered in the semis …. fact.
If the Lions only moer the Bullies, Guppies, Cheetahs and Brokebacks in the Den I will be one happy Lion.
6 Jan 2012, 18:40 pm
the lions are a super rugby joke….end of story.
6 Jan 2012, 18:49 pm
The one thing i dont like about the S15 is the Semis and final fixtures. If you end up third or fourth on the log then it is almost impossible to win. A player cant be at his best when he has to travel all those thousands of miles in one week just to play in a semi and then travel back for the final if they won. No chance of winning.
The semis and final must be played on a home and away leg with points difference to claim a winner. But then again its extra games for the season,and there is already too much rugby!
6 Jan 2012, 19:19 pm
Mitchells the key, not de Klerk, but to move them on they need 1 or 2 big buys, and not the cronje brothers and not someone on their last legs, otherwise all the momentum of the CC will be lost and the ship destabilised. CJ could prove to be excellent but they need a bit more oomph upfront maybe at lock to get into the tophalf and a strikerunner outwide to complement taute, maybe that young kiwi bloke can do it – but it’s still a team that is punching well above their weight and not sure can sustain that for S14 but if Mitchell can get into top half after last place fir last decade, be a minor miracle. Go Boys.
6 Jan 2012, 20:07 pm
You gave one to the bird? What kinda bird?
6 Jan 2012, 22:08 pm
@Dawn-29:
Hi Dawn
Happy New Year, are you on holiday still too? Everyone in SA seems to be very laid back……
7 Jan 2012, 03:42 am
@carol-30:
Hi Carol,
Happy New Year
No they are just building up their steam and come back fighting everyone an anyone on this site
7 Jan 2012, 05:13 am
Irony is that mighty Lions can easily be Super Rugby chumps again in 2012. Currie Cup success means sweet blue f*all when it comes to the real deal – any pride restored in the local Micky Mouse tourney will be pis*ed away come February.
7 Jan 2012, 06:53 am
My condolences,thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the 11 people who died in a hot air balloon crash in NZ.
Very sad and so tragic.
RIP
7 Jan 2012, 08:26 am
We’ll see where they are come the end of S15? Hell, Gerrie Coetzee was also a champ for one fight
7 Jan 2012, 13:36 pm
The Return of the Scribs.
Welcome back JC and Simon.
Did we miss you.
You bet.
7 Jan 2012, 13:38 pm
@trupisero-34:
lol, gerrie,remember getting up at sparrowfart to watch that.
7 Jan 2012, 13:42 pm
“Mitchell arrived with the reputation of being a straight shooter……….”"
This is a long winded way of saying.
Mitch is knut.
7 Jan 2012, 15:11 pm
@cab-36: Quivering lip and all
7 Jan 2012, 15:16 pm
Talk about waxing lyrical… coming second last in the S15 is ‘restoring the pride’?
And this only due to a new team being introduced which was not permitted to include any contracted Super Rugby players in their own country!
Cheetahs won 3 CC titles whilst getting smashed in the S14 yet I did not see any of the above from them…
That said IMO they stand a good chance of earning some local points this year more due to the fact the Bulls and Sharks are on a downward spiral…
8 Jan 2012, 04:31 am
I remember reading the pen-pictures in the programmes for that famous 1974 British and Irish Lions tour. There you had “Willie-John McBride — bank clerk” and “JPR Williams — surgeon”. “Hannes Marais — university lecturer”. “Johan Oosthuizen – policeman ” ; “Chris Pope — student” and so on.
And there it was “Kevin de Klerk — professional punter”.
Professional punter? Was it a misprint? Was it “painter”?
Seeing as casinos were illegal and so were slot machines and greyhounds and sports betting and internet betting didn’t exist, how on earth was this big Bok lock paying his bills? By betting on the horses! At a time of full employment and anyone could apply for a post at a bank (like Willie-John) or an oil company or in insurance or whatever. But Kevin de Klerk went to the ponies at Turffontein on Wednesdays and Saturdays and “studied form” and actually made a living out of betting on the horses! How extraordinary!
8 Jan 2012, 07:58 am
@TheTackler-40: Maybe Professional Punter was actually a mistranslation of Investment Banker… Easy mistake to make. They could just as well have said Gambler – same darn thing.
…. “You’ve got to know when to hold ‘em
Know when to fold ‘em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run
You never count your money
When you’re sittin’ at the table
There’ll be time enough for countin’
When the dealin’s done”…
In the mean time the world economy implodes and collapses….
8 Jan 2012, 07:59 am
WE ARE THE 99%
8 Jan 2012, 08:47 am
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19-33:
yes very sad indeed
What seems to be a problem here is that i bought my wife and her sister tickets for a balloon ride in Christchurch. Cost a wee bit now shes thinking that i am trying to rid off her.
Anyway Happy new year all, hope everything went well through Christmas
8 Jan 2012, 09:07 am
Don’t your wife trust you?
8 Jan 2012, 10:01 am
wow!
its just comical some of the reports on the organisational and logistical screwups going on at the anc’s centenary celebration. comical but unsurprising.
and it cost how much for these screwups?
no, i dont think i want to know.
8 Jan 2012, 10:14 am
@Hurricane-43:
The balloon hit a powerline.
My brother in law has a 4 seater Jabiru so that is maybe why aviaton accidents upset me so much.
8 Jan 2012, 10:23 am
@bryce_in_oz-39:
I can’t see into the future but I would not put any bets on the Bulls or The Sharks propping up the bottom half of the Super 15 log.
I am curious to see if there will be any improvements in The Sharks midfield and what the brainstrust are doing about it.
8 Jan 2012, 10:26 am
Funny how the CC is below par when your team don’t have it.
8 Jan 2012, 10:33 am
@HHS-48:
The Sharks supporters said the same thing in 2010.
8 Jan 2012, 10:35 am
@Dawn-44:
Just insured my wife for 1 million dollars, honestly i dont see what she has a problem with
Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.