In Africa, few creatures inspire such lore and legend as the majestic king of the beasts and this is why they symbolize power and respect all through the continent, and even across the world. The masai , a nomadic warrior people from Tanzania and Kenia, believes that killing a lion with your bare hands is the single greatest achievement a man can accomplish in his lifetime (short as it may be).

However, let it be known that the Jozi-jungle is not like the rest of Africa, not even a lion can walk around unscathed in this city it seems. Here, lions frequently get slaughtered by cows, koalas, ponies and even a flower or two, slaughtered and devoured. It is therefore quite appropriate that their lair is known as Coca-Cola Park, because coke goes well with any meal.

The Lions are probably most famous for their incredible ability to self-destruct. The effort that the Lions sometimes go to, to lose a game is absolutely astonishing, if there was a way that you could score an own goal in rugby, the Lions would absolutely jump on it.

Delving into the Lions’ style of rugby and their general approach would bring us nowhere, simply because there is no real structure in the game that they play. They do not possess a dominating pack of forwards or a vindictive flyhalf that can control the game. As a result, they have evolved into scavengers, hunting down balls in the loose facets and then using that possession to counter-attack. If they cannot win the ball, they attempt to spoil opposition ball, which in turn leads to a game that may be physical and brutal, but isn’t rugby as much as it is a wrestling match.

Yes, this approach sometimes leads to a victory, but it remains a gamble, especially when the opposition can rumble as good as you can. Once the Lions team attempts this against a structured team, everything goes to pieces, literally.
The main problem at the Lions camp seems to be their approach to rugby as a whole, it seems as if the Lions still approach rugby in the way that it has been approached in the amateur era, where teams relied on individual abilities, player and supporter loyalty, luck and generally roughing it, when the going got tough. Well the going IS tough, and before long something, or someone needs to get going.

I believe that the blame for poor form of Lions Rugby, should be placed squarely on the shoulders of the Gauteng Lions Rugby Union.
Rugby has been a professional sport since after the 1995 World Cup, the players became contracted to their different unions, and the game evolved from being a Saturday afternoon pass-time, to being a business. The players being the most expensive and temperamental commodities were in essence assets of the organization, who in turn started appointing people to aid in managing the players’ careers to ensure that they received the maximum return on their investment.

Or rather, that is how everyone else did it, the Lions Rugby Union only appointed a contract manager late in 2009, 14 years after the game turned professional, and this was only after the whole Jacque Fourie debacle. The GLRU lost masses of players, simply because their paperwork wasn’t up to scratch.

The question begs asking: If you were managed like you were an amateur, would you play like a professional?  In fact, will you play at all?

The Team

2010 sees a new Director of Rugby take up the reigns at Coca-Cola Park. But do not expect miracles to follow immediately, a recipe is only as good as the ingredients, and good food takes time!

In the front row Hans van Dyk, JC Janse van Rensburg, Ross geldenhuys, Lawrence Sephaka and Heinke van der Merwe seem solid enough to withstand most of the other Super 14 teams, but only because scrumming isn’t particularly emphasized in super rugby. In the second row Nico Luus and Jannes Labuschagne have been around the block, with young Franco van der Merwe developing nicely, but injury to any one of these players, leave the Lions seriously exposed, as their cover comes from first division teams that has never played super rugby before, and judging on the poor line-out work during the Currie Cup, the three of them already have their backs against the wall. At least there should be no problems in the backrow, Alberts, Baywatch, new boy Mokuena and Minnie are all superb players, and with the overflowing wealth of loosies in SA, I wouldn’t be surprised to see one of the new bucks becoming an overnight sensation.

Amongst the backs they have a few new acquisitions, at scrumhalve Jano Vermaak (incidently the Lions’ player of the year) picks himself, with Chris Jonck providing cover, however, JP Joubert from the Cheetahs have also been training with the Jozi side, which might leave Jonck out in the cold.

Herkie Kruger was mostly solid during the Currie Cup, and is busy regaining some of the form that saw him front up the Sharks a few seasons back, new transfer Burton Francis from the Bulls looked good enough in one or two games during the Currie Cup, but I seriously question his ability under pressure, performing behind a retreating pack is quite different than the other way around. Of course there is also the Rose duo to consider, both Earl and Jody showing some ecstatic form during the past season, unfortunately, Earl is about as consistent as cellphone coverage in the Karoo, and can either win or lose a match for his team, from flyhalf, wing or fullback.

At centre Doppies le Grange, Alwyn Hollenbach, Jannie Boshoff, Walter Venter and ex-bull Marius Delport should be solid enough if they remain fit and focused, none of them being truly flashy, but maybe dependable is what the Lions require at the moment. While on the wing Jackson, Frolick, Killian, Mentz, Noble and Mr. Lightening Chavanga have more than enough pace to burn. Louis Ludik was spotted at a few Shark training sessions during the off-season, hopefully the Lions retain him, for he and Rose make up the fullback berth. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if Chavanga is also given some time at 15, watch this space!

Overall the Lions seem to have pretty decent players in most positions, their lack of depth and experience at lock though could become very costly, this goes for the entire front row unit as well, you cannot play the game without the ball. I however can’t see them shaking their choker tag, Lions to finish last of the SA teams, but hopefully that is way up the log. Results to follow in 2011, when Muir has had a fair chance to shine.

Clashes to watch
17 April 2010 – Lions vs Sharks (Jozi) – They almost got the better of them in the CC, maybe their time has come
12 February 2010 – Lions vs Stormers (Jozi) – It seems that the Lions has the Stormers’ number, for once it could be a game not spoiled by negative play.

Forwards:

JC Janse van Rensburg, Kevin Buys, Wayne Swart, Lawrence Sephaka, Ross Geldenhuys, Charl de Plessis, Hans van Dyk, Derek Harwood, Nico Luus, Wouter Moore, Franco van der Merwe, Jannes Labuschagne, Jacques Lombaard, Jeffrey Taljaard, Willem Alberts, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jonathan Mokuena, Derick Minnie, Johan van Deventer, Robert Kruger, Danie Crous, Thuliphatu Marole, Warren Whiteley, Justin Wheeler, Stephan Kruger, Mina Nassif, Heinke van der Merwe, Gert Muller, Johan Snyman

Backs:

Alex Kock, Chris Jonck, Herkie Kruger, Ruan Boshoff, Divan Kotze, Jody Rose, Allistair Siegelaar, Dusty Noble, Michael Killian, Henno Mentz, Johan Jackson, Wigan Pekeur, Jannie Boshoff, Justin St Jerry, Pieter Engelbrecht, Alwyn Hollenbach, Doppies la Grange, Rouan Cloete, Shandre Frolick, Warren van Rooyen, Walter Venter, Marius Delport, Deon van Rensburg, Burton Francis, Earl Rose, Louis Ludik, Jano Vermaak, Tonderai Chavanga, JP Joubert

The players joining the Auto & General Super 14 Lions from the Leopards and the Pumas:

Leopards:
Draad Linde
Ryno Landman
Thabo Mamojela

Pumas:
Marius Coetzer
Hannes Franklin