Lions ring changes … again
11 Apr 2012
John Mitchell has made five changes to the Lions’ run-on side for the clash against the Bulls in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Most of the changes are in the backline, which has been reshuffled. Alwyn Hollenbach moves to inside centre in Butch James’s place, while Jaco Taute is switched from fullback to outside centre. Andries Coetzee moves to fullback, while James Kamana is selected at wing.
In the pack, lock Stephan Greeff replaces injured youngster Paul Willemse. Hooker Callie Visagie is rotated with Martin Bezuidenhout.
The Lions have lost five of their six matches and face possible relegation if they finish last in the South African conference in light of the Kings’ assured entry into the tournament in 2013 and Sanzar’s refusal to accommodate an extra team from the Republic.
Asked about fears relating to that situation, Mitchell said: ‘It is a valid question, but that is not our game plan. That is the administrators’ game plan to play and they obviously have to be clever and play that smart.
‘At the end of the day, all we have to do is continue to progress as an inexperienced Super Rugby side, so that is the only thing we can control. I don’t get involved in that stuff and it is certainly not part of our motivation, and as far I as am concerned it is negative motivation if you want to get into survival mode.
‘I have never had that philosophy and I never will; this side will continue to be ambitious and will look to grow.’
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 James Kamana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse/CJ van der Linde, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Christo le Roux, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Butch James, 22 Lionel Mapoe.
17 Comments
11 Apr 2012, 12:26 pm
The Lion in the circus ring Dragon
11 Apr 2012, 12:49 pm
Another reason Keo doesn’t like the Lions. Butch is not the no. 1 flyhalf.
11 Apr 2012, 12:52 pm
Lions for the win!
11 Apr 2012, 13:40 pm
John Mitchell doesnt know what he is doing. Lots of no-names in that team.
11 Apr 2012, 14:04 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-4: It’s the “no names” that play the decent rugby in this team atm.
11 Apr 2012, 15:52 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-4: They do not have any big names, then people like you expect them to compete with other teams with massive player resources. Feel sorry for John Mitchell. Doing much better than Plumtree that has a massive player pool.
11 Apr 2012, 16:25 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-4: You say JM doesnt know what he is diong.
Seeing that you know what to do, then what would you do different that will work.
I guess you are more experienced than Mitchell to make that comment. I guess you are an ex international player, years of winning coaching and experience, i guess you know better!!
11 Apr 2012, 16:30 pm
@UK Bok(UK Bok)-6: I feel excactly the same
What can we really expect from the Lions. They are a bunch of young inexperienced players, and the players who has the experience are injured.
I dont expect the Lions to win saterday, but i expect them to atleast be competative and dont get a hiding. What more can we ask off them with the player recources they have!
11 Apr 2012, 16:53 pm
Woza the Kings Woza!
11 Apr 2012, 17:09 pm
@Atlas(Atlas)-2: hahahaha well said
11 Apr 2012, 17:15 pm
@ShaunSwindon(Karma-zaf)-9:
11 Apr 2012, 19:38 pm
Say what you think about these changes on http://www.thetimo.com and see who agrees or disagrees with you!
13 Apr 2012, 01:43 am
“…in light of the Kings’ assured entry into the tournament in 2013…”
Not sure that’s accurate, Gareth. My understandinbg – and you may wish to correct me if I’m wrong – is that South African administrators want it that way BUT their SANZAR counterparts and media partners are saying ‘No, we have a deal until whenever it is, that deal is for the 15 sides currently in the competiition, scream as much as you like but nothing’s going to change before this current contract expires.”
My guess, Gareth, is that this is a case of your wish being the father of your thought.
13 Apr 2012, 01:53 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-13:
Joe, according to saru the Kings are guarenteed a spot in next year’s competition. They trying to expand the comp to 16 teams to accomodate them and this is where SANZAR said no way…contract is a contract and we not expanding. This leaves us with the sitution that the last SA team may have to make room for them.
My guess we heading towards the courts at which point saru will say they did what they could but unfortunately the Kings will have to wait…they dug yet another hole and it is the only way out for them.
13 Apr 2012, 06:46 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-14:
Thanks for the clarification.
I’m sure, though, that there is more to it than just the SANZAR partners’ refusal to expand to 16, am sure I read somewhere that the contract – including the media partners who ultimately call the tune as they provide the mighty dollar – lists the 15 franchises that are part of the deal and you can’t simply change the franchises to support your whim. The 15 sides named in the contract are as much part of the contract as any other detail. You can’t simply move one and replace it with another as that would constitute altering the contract, something SARU can’t simply do unilaterally.
My guess is, in true SARU fashion, they haven’t done their homework, have no idea what they’re up against contractually and legally and will get rolled in court.
I see, though, that in his more recent ‘Crisis, What Crisis?’ piece, Gareth Duncan is considerbly less gung-ho and stays away from words like ‘assured’.
Time will tell…
13 Apr 2012, 07:03 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-15:
You may well be correct in your first paragraph but your are 100% spot on in your second. saru has again jumped the gun and will fluff they way through it and will proably end up in court, again!
13 Apr 2012, 07:45 am
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-15: This is a good post.
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