Lions toil through player exodus
4 Oct 2012
Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann says his team is focused on securing home-ground advantage for the Currie Cup play-offs, despite the off-field disruptions.
The Lions have been rocked with several player exits this week. Prop Pat Cilliers and utility forward Michael Rhodes have confirmed their moves to Cape Town, lock Franco van der Merwe has signed with the Sharks (on loan) and hooker Bandise Maku is off to the Kings.
Flyhalf Elton Jantjies and utility back Jaco Taute are also expected to announce loan moves next week.
These exits follow the permanent departures of loose forward Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), props Jacobie Adriaanse (Scarlets, Wales) and Caylib Oosthuizen (Free State Cheetahs), and locks Ruan Botha (WP), Paul Willemse (Blue Bulls) and Etienne Oosthuizen (Brumbies, Australia).
Despite president Kevin de Klerk’s arguments that there will be no player exodus after the Johannesburg franchise’s Super Rugby relegation – their big names are shipping off in quick succession.
However, Ackermann believes his team is not distracted by these happenings.
‘As a squad, we knew this was coming,’ Ackermann told keo.co.za. ‘We knew players would leave. We knew there would be changes. There are no hard feelings. Players need to make the best choices for their careers.
‘This is probably the last competition these guys will play together as team-mates. And in a way, that has brought the team closer together. They want to win the Currie Cup, like we did last season.’
The Lions are in a strong position to do so, especially after their 22-9 victory over WP at Newlands.
With two rounds remaining, they top the standings after winning six of their eight matches. They face Griquas in Kimberley and the Blue Bulls in Johannesburg for their final league fixtures.
Ackermann said the Lions need to win those matches to secure home-ground advantage for the play-offs, which was key during their title run in 2011.
‘The victory over WP gave us a lot of confidence as we haven’t won in Cape Town in a long time,’ said Ackermann. ‘We haven’t had continuity in selection over the last couple of weeks because of Springbok call-ups and injuries. But the guys who have stepped in have trained with the squad from day one and have filled in very well.
‘We always knew it would take a squad of 30 players to win this tournament. If we can carry our winning momentum into our final league matches, we’ll have the platform to clinch back-to-back Currie Cup titles.’
Meanwhile, Ackermann hopes there won’t be other player departures in the coming weeks.
‘We have a plan to keep our remaining top players in Johannesburg. We know they want to play Super Rugby, so hopefully they’ll be able to go on loan to other franchises and return to the Lions.
‘We will handle each case individually as every player has different terms in their contract.
‘We need a competitive squad for our fixtures in 2013, especially the Super Rugby promotion-relegation play-offs.’
By Gareth Duncan
25 Comments
4 Oct 2012, 09:20 am
Leaving dragons!
4 Oct 2012, 09:25 am
such poor executive ability on show for the entirety of the lions existence.
4 Oct 2012, 09:45 am
What a disgrace!!!! King of the jungle my @rse!!!! — pathetic that the WWF allows this k@k team to call themselves Lions …. it makes a mockery of nature!!! No wonder every month you hear someone being killed by a Lion … ppl think that Lions are these lame, tame f*cked up animals because of the k@k Transvaal/Gauteng rugby team !!!
4 Oct 2012, 09:56 am
All of the other unions will benefit greatly from the demise of the Lions. If I was Ackerman I would hope to hold onto senior members of the squad aka Butch James, Waylon Murray, CJ Van Der Linde & Cobus Grobelaar along with youngsters such as Minnie, Whiteley & Deon Van Rensburg
4 Oct 2012, 10:16 am
Deon Van Rensburg isn’t a youngster, I think he is close to 30. Minnie has signed for 2 more years and Murray is so injured always I don’t think anyone will take him. CJ is hopeless and that makes Pat such a big loss.
I am a bit shocked Ruan Botha moved to WP. Maybe they really rate him, but moving to a province that has: Eben, Bekker, Elstatd, De Kock Steenkamp, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Dom Armand and the very talented Quinn Roux.
I hope he is Bekker’s #5 understudy and Quinn Roux comes back as Eben’s understudy for #4. That would be 4 World Class locks and then leaves Elstatd to focus on #7.
IF Ruan Botha went to Cheetahs, he would be starting #5. I am worried for Cheetahs at lock. They should also have snapped up Paul Willemse to be their starting #4 next yr. Then that would be best for SA rugby, instead I think these two will see limited game time the next couple years.
4 Oct 2012, 10:26 am
Urm, how are they gonna be competitive in the relegation match? Lions losing most of their exp players, and those on loan will opt to stay at winning unions… This k@k union should disband next year.
4 Oct 2012, 10:34 am
10yrs of p@esklappe in superugby, 10yrs of admin shambles , 10yrs of utter embarrasment has thankfully ended.
4 Oct 2012, 11:05 am
@Slappes-7: Should we go and have quick look at EP history?
4 Oct 2012, 11:08 am
@Slappes-7:not as bad as WP who have not won anything in 11years.
4 Oct 2012, 11:08 am
lions are kak just give us jantjes
4 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@strikers-5: I really hope the Cheetahs end up on the chopping block the same as the Lions because that would be the end of them, they are a house of cards waiting to fall.
4 Oct 2012, 11:39 am
Once again their word of their president Kevin De Klerk’s means little. I am beginning to think that he is more of a problem than anything else.
As much as I want the Kings to play as they DESERVE to be there , I did not want in to be at the expense of a proud Union as the Lions. Its gonna be a tough journey back and I wish them well.
At the end of the day it seems corruption and creed more than anything else led to their downfall.
4 Oct 2012, 12:19 pm
Shopping list for the Kings:
Brian Mujati
Kolisi
Elton Janties
Ngundane twins
4 Oct 2012, 12:20 pm
Lions missing out on SuperRugby next year might be a blessing in disguise.
I hope it allows them to spring clean, sort their $hit out and get proper administration in place.
Its like when Jake benched Matfield or Heyneke benched Bekker – in both instances they came back motivated and ready to kiss @ss.
Maybe the Lions will now use the next year to finally get their act together after this wake-up call?
4 Oct 2012, 12:49 pm
@saru1983-10: No.
4 Oct 2012, 12:56 pm
@whitey01-13:
I’d add a hooker and a lineout lock to that list, but looks good so far
4 Oct 2012, 13:08 pm
@umkhonto-11:
What a stupid comment. Besides, where will SA get their props from if FS is no more?
4 Oct 2012, 13:24 pm
The whole shambolic pathetic excuse for having the Kings was supposedly because the EC had so much up and coming talent that is just waiting to be fully developed along with rugby as a whole in that area. What chances are these players going to get when their bosses are just raiding the larders of the other unions (particular my beloved Lions).Good luck to the players that do move though, lifespan is limited so make the most of the chance to earn good money. I can see big tears in PE, thanks Cheeky you devious little miscreant
4 Oct 2012, 13:53 pm
@foxpox-18: The operative word here being “fully developed ” , these players will be getting no favors by starting games. No Region has ever succeeded and no Region will ever succeed with rookies.
5 Oct 2012, 03:24 am
@Hop Hop Spinnekop-8:
Don’t hold your breath waiting for an honest answer.
These guys – slappes, Transformation and their ilk – dish out the trash but have not once, not once, reflected on the dismal on-field and corrupt off-field history that is EP Rugby…a basketcase union from inception to today, not even a single, lone Currie Cup title in sight. The opnly thing ever to occupy space in the EP Rugby cabinet is dust.
And they have the gall to trash the Lions as a union.
5 Oct 2012, 06:48 am
@Joe Maher-20: “The Kings’ inclusion in Super Rugby will not be at the expense of any existing franchise/s.”
How many times did you hear those words or words to that effect coming out of Oregan Hoskins’s mouth?
The liar, I never trusted him before and will now never believe a word that gets spewed out of his mouth.
Another thing, I saw Cheeky Watson being interviewed on TV a few weeks ago; never trust a man who answers questions while wearing darkglasses…
5 Oct 2012, 07:35 am
The Stormers were relegated in 1997 and went to the semis the next year. Since then the big 5 have been having it easy. Still getting their SARU and IRB money. Now that a team has to fight and reorganise their union, they crumble. I thought this was a sport for men.
5 Oct 2012, 08:42 am
@RugbyStudent-22: The diffs is back then the Stormers actually recruited more players while the Lions are losing them. Also WP rugby back then and I say back then were much more finally stable than the Lions Union as it is today.
The Lions needed a clean sweep but I am not convinced they will be back strongly next year , as I said before I wish them well
5 Oct 2012, 09:32 am
Well to be frank, rugby is a business. The amateur era is over. The Lions and Cheetahs have consistently underperformed as a business and now they expect their handout to coninue. Get the results, organise your business optimally and man up. I get annoyed when I hear how sorry we need to feel for the Lions. I don’t. I’m glad I can go to FNB stadium instead of Ellis Park. Its nicer.
5 Oct 2012, 10:46 am
@RugbyStudent-24: Nobody is telling you to feel sorry for the Lions.
But people are upset about the handout-for-mahala handed out elsewhere.
“Get the results” first as you say.
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