Firstly let me say this, The Saint is no Saint, and everything I say must be taken with a little laugh and a lot of patience….
Enough is enough, the Lions have messed up my whole Superbru season…how the hell am I supposed to predict exactly what margin they are going to lose by next week? For the uninformed, this my way of joking….
Naïve…as defined by a dictionary:
1. Lacking worldly experience and understanding
2. Showing or characterized by a lack of sophistication and critical judgment
3. Stresses absence of complexity, artifice, pretentiousness, or dissimulation\
Naïve…as defined by the Saint:
1. Dick Muir
2. The Lions Rugby Team
3. Lions Rugby Management
Before anybody rubishes my rant, I have to say that I’m not Anti-Lions, I am a concerned South African Rugby Supporter, and it hurt to see what I saw today!
It is time to say what has to be said. Today, the Lions were a disgrace to South African Rugby, and I cannot see one good reason why they shouldn’t be replaced by the Southern Kings in the 2011 version of Super Rugby, should they continue to deliver this kind of performance.
I have been badgered non-stop by a multitude of Lions supporters because of my stance on the Lions, even on this blog, people have left this web site completely because of an inability to accept reality.
Let me make it clear, not all Lions supporters are guilty of this, but those who are guilty, you know exactly who you are.
“All Out Running Rugby”, Dick Muir’s apparent blueprint for the Lions going forward, has to be the single most, uneducated, moronic and undeniably stupid stance ever taken by a coach in regard to a struggling team that he has just taken over.
Every week we hear the PR bullshit that all Lion supporters so desperately want to believe.
“Nah, the spirit in the camp has never been better.” or “I feel that we have definitely made progress.” or “You just wait and see.”
How can a team’s spirit remain true if they are humiliated weekend after weekend? How can you call anything progress, if your team hasn’t even mastered the two basic fundamentals of Rugby…namely attack and defense? What are we waiting to see, Loffie had supporters wait for years, and now Muir is just continuing the trend?
Defense is a personal thing, it is a one on one exercise which can be made more effective by involving a structured team approach. In this regard both the coach and the players are equally to blame. There is no structure to the Lions team, it seems that the players have no idea what to do 70% of the time, in fact, I doubt if any of the current players can even communicate without drooling on themselves. There is no effort, no commitment, and worst of all, no pride in the way that they conduct their approach to the game.
Muir seems to be the worst possible thing to have happened to the Lions, he has no pendant for structure, he apparently believes running can solve all problems and the coaching team he has assembled is inadequate, inexperienced and not in a position to turn fortunes around. The mere fact that Johan Ackerman played rugby for 100 years, doesn’t mean that he knows anything about coaching.
The Lions tight-5, albeit somewhat inexperienced, is a solid enough entity, yet they are man-handled week in and week out. Grown men, playing like pansies, the WP light 5 at their worst wouldn’t have stood for it…
The backs run around aimlessly, desperately trying to run everything from anywhere, unfortunately, they are not talented enough to get away with that approach for any length of time.
The mere fact that Muir is involved with the Springboks makes me so worried I am beside myself.
Yes, the players are not all up to Super 14 standard, but the Reds were in exactly the same position when this season started, but they went on to prove that you CAN slay giants, you just have to cut down the beanstalk first.
If Muir is reading this….. Dick, I used an analogy, it means you have to start at the beginning, do the basics right, teach them to pass and to tackle, those are your main problems.
There is absolutely no excuse for being pathetic, I don’t mind if the Lions lose, as long as they seem unhappy about it, and then try to change things around. Which is currently not happening!
If the Lions don’t start making work of their deficiencies, I would have no objection to the Kings claiming their place in 2011. Because it would be much more enjoyable seeing Cheecky Watson trying to explain a 100-point losing margin, instead of Cobus Grobbelaar stuttering out another ill-conceived PR Excuse.
I certainly hope you have read this Article carefully and do not jump to the unnesessary conclusion that this was an attempt to belittle the once proud Lions Rugby Union or their often still proud supporters.
I spent some time on WTR this morning, not one supporter is happy with their team.
In fact, some of their comments are much worse than yours.
My comment was more around perceptions.
As far as the Lions go, it has been something some of us has seen coming for a long time now.
Just refer to scrumdown’s comments over the last couple of months.
The Lions supporters are hurting, and my guess is, probably support your views to a large extent.
I must be off though, till later perhaps.
18 – 20 Fires, No why must the Lions supporters jump ship? A true supporter never does that.
Don’t agree that they never done well under any coach. L. Mains done well there. Before they were called the Lions Kitch done well there too.
Dick can never turn it around there in one season. Judge him after next or the following season. Not fair to judge them now.
None of us should be kicking them while they down either. Sure it is not nice to see a saffa team get beat like that but let us support them man.
#33
Kicking is not the idea with the article. A little while back, the Bulls were doing poorly, their supporters amongst themselves, started a stay-away from Loftus. Financially this hurt the Blue Boys, but it opened their eyes, had them take action…and guess who is the current S14 champs.
I want to mobilize the Lions supporters, feeling sad helps nothing. Getting a bit pissed off might.
Nay Puma, never said they never done well, ever since the new millennium they’ve been on a steady decline. I don’t know whether they’ve ever been beaten this convincingly.
Their supporters have been behind them for the past 4 – 8 years of ‘building’, yet there’s no results….the problem with the Lions has creeped into the root and I can’t see them changing things around unless they do a deep clean (which up till now has not happened and I can’t see it happening now either) and move their base somewhere else in Jo’burg.
They’ve been apathetic in fixing the problems. No coach, no player and no management team alone can fix them. Massive change is needed else the once mighty Lions will just shrivel into obscurity and be no better than the not so Mighty Elephants.
34 – Saint, The supporters must be hurting buddy. I feel for them. Also can you imagine if you were Lions player sitting in that dressing room after? They must have been hurting bad. I feel for them.
This is their first season with Muir. They need more time with him. Look the Bulls stuck with H. Meyer and just look where they are today?
This season is gone for them like it is for my Sharks. Maybe both teams learn a lot form this year. Let us wait another season with Muir and see how it turns out.
Not nice to read on all the blogs people having a go at them. Damn I feel for them. Let us support them. Constructive criticism is fine we can all take that. Not insulting them. That is not on. I have read terrible things said about them on other blogs. Let us not do the same here. Not nice.
35 – Fires, I know Ellis Park is not in a nice area, but it has been refurbished for the Soccer World Cup and still a great, great stadium. The prolem is where it is. They wont move cause that alone will cost millions.
Maybe they need time with Muir. Let us not judge them yet, wait a year under Muir. He alone can never turn everything around in just a few months.
Let us not throw stones our team is not doing too well either. I know we have had the bad end of the ref for two and a half games. I want to see how we go for the rest of this tour too.
I feel for the Lions and their supporters.
Fires, I supported Natal since 1981 we hardly won anything ever. I stuck with my team through the very, very lean years and eventually we won the CC in 1990. I will always support them. Win or lose. Win well lose bad they my team.
I have read such nasty comments about the Lions team everywhere and really I don’t think that is right. South Africans should stick together. The New Zealanders stick together with their weaker teams. We should too.
Look I know they lost bad this morning but wait another year with Muir. I think maybe let us judge them after next year not now.
meant problem.
36 – Puma,
The difference is Meyer was with the Bulls during that whole period, Muir is with the Lions for the S14, not the CC, they need someone the whole year round for the next 4 years.
Being that Muir’s appointment only runs during the S14, an overnight change was necessary, and it seems he was appointed to do just that. The same with Jake White, he was there but for a season.
The Lions aren’t serious enough about changing the franchise around, and they think it will magically come right by doing what they’ve been doing the past 10 years. If they keep that mind set they’ll be the next EP.
Puma,
Don’t get me wrong, I’m saying this because I’m also disappointed at the way the Lions have performed. I’m trying to think of solutions for them, it makes me feel better.
When I say they must leave Coke park I mean the area. No one wants to live near there which is why they only get the has-been players and never-will-be’s.
@ 1 I can understand you are pissed at the Lions, and deservedly so. They were pathetic. But now you are starting to call bloggers idiots. Who gave you the authority? Your ranting and raving is pathetic.
40 – Fires, I know that is a terrible area. Not many want to go there cause it is not safe. The thing is they wont move. That stadium has been refurbished and is still a great stadium so don’t see them ever moving. Will cost too much to rebuild a stadium.
Think we all want to see a strong Lions side again. Maybe it will take a another year or two. Agree that Muir should be working with them in the CC. Maybe he should have some say there.
Anyhow I wish them all the best, they going through a very tough time at the moment.
I also wish our Sharks the very best as we too are going through a tough time. Sure we not losing by that kinda margin but we have lost all our games. Ja, probably due to bad reffing but we need to play better so the ref never has a say. So hoping tomorrow we can turn it around against the Brumbies. Fingers are crossed until then 😀
This article reeks. Untactful writing, if you ask me.
Puma I fully agree – true supporters will support their teams no matter what. We will be disappointed in the results but next week a true supporter will support them once again. I just hope the Lions can pull themselves together and get a win or two under their belts. Difficult situation to be in but hey the Bulls were also there.
Rugbybal – I can’t remember if I was one of the idiots that voted 🙂
Puma,
If we’re feeling this despondent after 4 straight losses, think what the Lions must feel after close on 10years of saying they’ll bounce back.
Apparently they would have moved 10yrs ago, can’t remember exactly where, someone on sharksworld told me. I saw on Sport24 a while back that when the German soccer delegates visit Ellis Park they go there with bullet proof vests….the overseas soccer people are mostly moaning about Ellis Park, none of the other stadiums.
But I do hear you Puma, they won’t move, but I’m afraid that is the type of change needed there.
I’m just feeling a bit nervous as to the future of the Lions.
saint leave it as is then for now and we’ll monitor if complaints do arise
is it possible though for a part 2 of this article where itys more positive and how you suggest this union can turn the coner???
Bring back Louis Luyt 🙂
@ 44 Hi Karen, neither do I…anyway I hope the Lions can be a force in SA rugby again. I am confident that they will be in 3 years. They are appointing the right people in the right positions. Just wait and see. Bulls, Stormers, they have all been there.
Puma,
This is what CoffeeShopBok told me over at sharksworld:
‘Thats was suppose to happen 10 years ago already ..everything was in place to move from Ellis Park to the sports ground in Ruimsig , fantstic location with the potential of alot of untapped support. Easy to get to ..safe and a staduim that would atleast be full ..’
Lol Rugbybal – but then again I have been called an idiot before seeing that I am blonde lmao
Yes I think the GRU needs to get its structures into place from the top down. Not impressed with Kevin de klerk. Stormers are still not there – I bitch and moan every season but every season I am the first to say GO STORMERS 🙂
saint by the way the world beaters comment was for all not just you lol
think about the follow up article mate ,
the lions need to fork out and buy name players
1)Fact one is they dont have a great team on paper
2)They dont have depth
3)They still are managed poorly as a union
I agree on point 3 – they need to get their structures into place
Players – wow difficult one that one because a lot of the players left during the past few years. Geez when King LOUIS was running the show he flashed his cheque book and they had results.
Well the same can be said for my team the Stormers – they tend to buy some players that they should not be buying – Lobberts for one, we need a decent flyhalf soon but can’t see WPRU forking some bucks for a good one.
Naand Sharky-for-now en Karen Le Roux !
hahahaha hallo bdb hoe gaan dit?
55: Goed en jy, hoe gaan dit met JC ?
45 – Fires, They probably wanted to move but now with the refurbished stadium not sure if that is possible. Too much money put into it. I know that is the problem the area the stadium is in they don’t get full house, not just cause their team is not doing well. Though when the Boks play there they get fullhouse then you feel safe in numbers going there.
I hope they can turn it around next year. I really do. My support is behind them all the way.
Remember I told you I supported Natal from 1981 when I moved there. We only won the CC in 1990. So waited a long time to see us win anything. So you see good things can come, sometimes we expect them to happen over night and it hardly ever happens that way. We were superb in the 90’s with Mac.
Now being professional, who knows maybe we do expect too much from our teams than we did before.
Lions too have lost great players, Mostert, Alberts, Ludik and J. Fourie. Big players not just any players. So they need to rebuild there.
Anyhow now we have to see what our team does tomorrow. Another tough game for us I think.
Hallooooooooooo Superbul 🙂
Dit gaan goed met JC – hey JC is altyd “soet” 🙂
Hallo PUMA – if you don’t say hallo I am gonna kick your sharks ass lol. How you doing? Are you ready for tomorrows game?
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