Rugby is a game that I, as well as, I am sure, multitudes of people from all around the world feel very strongly about. We will wait in anticipation for the season to kick off, moaning constantly about the lack of any “real” sport in the off season. During the games, we will sit, breathlessly waiting until the final whistle, whether the result is a foregone conclusion or not. We will passionately defend our team in any situation, blaming anything from the ref, the touch-judge, the other team’s supporters or even imaginary people “read 1995 World Cup’s Suzie” instead of admitting that our boys were in the wrong.
Then, keeping this in mind, you turn on the television in the hopes of seeing an ugly burnt duckling, rising from its ashes like a mythological Phoenix, who, even in defeat, keeps its proud head aloft, by giving as good as it gets, and then some. Assuring all of its supporters that it will not die, that it may in the end crawl from the battlefield, but not before severely crippling its adversary.
With all of the above in the back of your mind, you then witness the abomination that was the Lions vs. the Waratahs.
As a SAFFA supporter, I was sickened by the display. So complete was the destruction of the Lions Rugby team, that the only positive to take from the match was the fact that it was only 80 minutes long with no extra time added. To make things worse it was against the Aussies, the most hateful of opposition, which obviously had something to do with my mindset as I took my place before my computer.
Many of my fellow bloggers felt that the lashing I gave the Lions was uncalled for and out of place, and that Dick Muir cannot be blamed for the Lions failing, as he has only been in charge for 5 games, while the Lions were already losing long before that.
Let’s entertain that notion then, 5 games and as he was appointed 0n 17 October 2009, about 4 and a half months? Oh wait, no, he was with the Springboks for the year end tour, where he coached 22 up and coming week-day Boks into oblivion.
I keep on forgetting that the Lions Director of Rugby is also the Springbok assistant coach, but obviously all his attention is with the Lions, isn’t it? I mean it has to be, because the Lions didn’t want to appoint Heynecke Meyer, a man that is so firm in his creation of structures, that he made it possible, for Frans Ludeke, a man sacked by the Lions because he couldn’t win a game that’s been bought, to win a Super 14 title, 3 years after his initial departure.
Muir obviously had to bring something to the table then, something huge. My guess is, he told the GLRU management, that he wants to play running rugby, exciting, bring the crowds back to Coca-Cola Park, running rugby…so much better that the tedious kicking orientated, “winning” brand of rugby that Heynecke Meyer is renowned for.
The same style of rugby that initially killed off the Sharks, before the introduction of John Plumtree, a structure freak, albeit not really a people’s person, which was where Muir came in, the two complemented one another perfectly. Dick Muir showed when he was a provincial captain,that he could get people around him to perform far above their potential. Even now, the Lions are clearly motivated, they just seem uncertain about what they are motivated about.
So how will the Lions turn their fortunes around?
I don’t think it will be that difficult, as incredible as that sounds. Just a few minor adjustments.
Firstly, Cobus Grobbelaar needs to be relieved of his duties as captain immediately, ironically, the only times you ever hear of a captain courageous, is in a losing team, read Corne Krige, World Cup 2003 or Andre Vos, during his whole reign. Sometimes a captain needs to do more than just lead by example, and unfortunately for Cobus, albeit he is an excellent player, leading by example is all he has in his captaincy arsenal. Jano Vermaak, Tod Clever or even Pumas Captain Franklin needs to slot into this role. I especially like Franklin, luring him to the lions’ den permanently might not be that bad a call.
Secondly, for heaven’s sake, appoint a defense coach, the Crusaders and the Stormers, the two stingiest sides in the tournament, has one day a week set aside for ONLY defense training…surely someone should see the benefit in this? There are many defensive experts looking for a job, names coming to mind are Andre Snyman, Pieter Muller, Henry Honiball, all guys who were tasked with organizing the defense in their respective teams, I am sure they have a lot to share, just be humble enough to accept that help is needed.
Thirdly, keep Dick Muir as DOR, removed from the direct business of coaching, appoint Hans Coetzee as head coach, get rid of Johan Ackerman, he simply cannot cut the mustard, appoint Balie Swart over the forwards and appoint Carlos Spencer backline coach, get him out of the starting line-up and into coaching then alternate between Burton Francis and Herkie Kruger at flyhalve, this we call development, this makes the team grow, this should be the way forward.
Let’s not even discuss the fat cats at the top, who is mostly to blame for everything going wrong lower down, because it is something unlikely to change, meaning that the playing structure, the past of GLRU bringing in the money, just have to adapt as good as possible.
Finally, be prepared to play boring rugby at times, I can guarantee not ONE supporter will moan about this, as long as the team is winning. Tone down the adrenaline and fuse with some good sense, fire Earl Rose and stop feeling like the team needs him, it is simply not true.
Lions rugby is currently overflowing with young players, trying to break into the big time, use this energy, and apply it positively, albeit through well constructed structures. South Africa needs a strong Lions team, stop moaning about what I wrote earlier, read it again and accept the facts.
The cliché reads, that if the Stormers and the Bulls are both strong, so is the Springboks…imagine if we had 5 strong teams…
Stormers have hit their straps… Stormers to beat the Cheetahs this weekend
About the Bulls / Canes match I’m hesitant…. Bulls better defend better.
About the Sharks / Landers game, I’m optimistic that we’ll see a Sharks win but the Landers are better than most people think.
About the Crusaders / Lions game, logically there can only be one possible result… Crusaders comfortably.
Face it people, we can ridicule each other’s teams all we want… there are periods in every team’s existence where they were rubish. We have to however live in the here and now and contend with current status of events, therefore the focus so strongly on the struggling Lions. It would be foolish not to voice dissatisfaction with the Lions at present, it would be foolish not to criticize the Sharks at present, it would be foolish not to applaude what the Stormers and the Bulls have achieved so far and it is only right that we hope that the Cheetahs have also turned a possitive corner in the Super 14.
If these factors have influenced certain bloggers to get their panties in a knot, so be it…. if I was a Lions supporter, I’d rather have looked why people are negative towards the Lions and tried to help remedy the situation.
A small zoo in Cape Town acquired a very rare species of gorilla. Within a few weeks the gorilla, a female, became very difficult to handle. Upon examination the vet discovered the problem. The gorilla was in season. To make matters worse there was no male gorilla available.
Pondering over their problem the zoo-keeper thought of Frik van Wyk, a local lad, Stormers supporter and part-time worker responsible for cleaning the animal cages. Frik, like many of the Cape Town men-folk, had little sense but possessed ample ability to satisfy a female of any species. The zoo-keeper thought they might have a solution.
Frik was approached with a proposition. Would he be willing to mate with the gorilla for R5000?
Frik showed some interest but said he would have to think the matter over carefully.
The following day he announced that he would accept their offer, but only under 4 conditions:
“First,” Frik said “I’m not going to kiss her on the lips!”
The keeper quickly agreed to this condition.
“Second,” he said, “You can never tell anybody about this.”
The keeper again readily agreed to this condition.
“Third,” said Frik, “I want all the babies raised as Blue Bull supporters.”
Once again it was agreed.
“Fourth and last of all,” Frik said, “You’ll need to give me another week to come up with the R5000.”
57 – No, and that is the point.
60- of sounder body and mind than Lionel Cronje….
The Sharks need two things to start winning again.
1. Get rid of the dup bro’s
2. Get a decent ref for an change.
64 – I understand the young one is a thug.
Why am I dissing the Stormers on a Lions thread?
Please post a Stormers thread where I can be rude to their supporters without offending the Lions.
Forgot the smiley.
😆
So my beloved Lions get a slagging yet again!
Not totally undeserved I suppose. I was embarrassed watching them in a public location last week.
The problem that I have is that when the Exco’ was replaced in July last year, there was a great Hooraah and much sabre rattling, and since then zip.
I reiterate to all who will listen, the S14 side that we see on a Friday / Saturday is just the tip of the iceberg. The problems are deep rooted and LARGE (IMO).
An old IT cliche goes “shit in, shit out”. Maybe it’s apt in this case.
Some humour for a Tuesday.
These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are
> things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now
> published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while
> these exchanges were actually taking place.
>
> ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
>
> WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
>
> WITNESS: Yes.
>
> ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
>
> WITNESS: I forget.
>
> ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you
> forgot?
>
> ___________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in
> voodoo?
>
> WITNESS: We both do.
>
> ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
>
> WITNESS: We do.
>
> ATTORNEY: You do?
>
> WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his
> sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?
>
> WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
>
> ____________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
>
> WITNESS: He’s twenty, much like your IQ.
>
> ___________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
>
> WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
>
> _________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
>
> WITNESS: Yes.
>
> ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
>
> WITNESS: getting laid
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
>
> WITNESS: Yes.
>
> ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
>
> WITNESS: None.
>
> ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
>
> WITNESS: Your Honor, I t hink I need a different attorney. Can I get a
> new attorney?
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
>
> WITNESS: By death.
>
> ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
>
> WITNESS: Take a guess.
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
>
> WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
>
> ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
>
> WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I’m going with male.
>
> _____________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition
> notice which I sent to your attorney?
>
> WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
>
> ______________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead
> people?
>
> WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
>
> _________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go
> to?
>
> WITNESS: Oral.
>
> _________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
>
> WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
>
> ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
>
> WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
>
> ____________________________________________
>
> ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
>
> WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
>
> ______________________________________
>
> And the best for last:
>
> ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a
> pulse?
>
> WITNESS: No.
>
> ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
>
> WITNESS: No.
>
> ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
>
> WITNESS: No.
>
> ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you
> began the autopsy?
>
> WITNESS: No.
>
> ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
>
> WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
>
> ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive,
> nevertheless?
>
> WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and
> practicing law.
>
>
Maybe one of these attorneys drew up the Lions players’ contracts!
Scrumdown 69,
Lions union has followed SA politics (actually worldwide politics)….the top cats are there merely for self enrichment.
The Saint,
Broer, it’s not really about being right or wrong and then apologising or not having to. Neither is it about the human right of freedom of expression either.
Its about a law higher than that – one based on mutual respect. It’s really whether one can communicate without dissing the other person, even when one is in the right.
But then again, I was only reminding you of the things you know already. And as per usual you can use or lose it.
#64
Damn ex-Freestate hooligan…hehehe
FS @ 71
In what way do you think they are enriched? None of the Exco’ receive any salaries.
73- Ouch. He [like Jannie DuP] was a weel brought up, well adjusted young man until he was poached from the Freestate. From then on it was just a downward spiral.
72 @ Fender
Well said.
#72
Fender
Jeez, you are putting me in a seriously uncomfortable position. But I probably deserve it, I will definitely be more mindful of these facts in the future.
With the last article, I have toned down, quite a bit, my first might have been a bit abrasive.
Thank you for being honest, and voicing your opinion, I appreciate it, and will definitely be taking it to heart.
72, Howzit Fender? You don’t think that you are getting a little deep with this do you? We should really be able to take the piss out of each others teams and still respect one another.
#75
I notice you say nothing about Bismarck…been a bit tedious even way back when then?
Scrumdown 74,
Maybe that’s the problem, get some people there that’s worth paying. 😉
#78
That’s how I saw it originally, my anger was always vented at the teams, never at individual bloggers.
Flok, julle is almal ‘n klomp DIEP moepels vandag!
Bismark is more of a subtle thug than his brash boetie, who has just turned into a vuilgat that can’t scrum.
#82
As jou span die naweek verloor gaan daar ‘n moerse donker artikel op Rugby-Talk publiseer word op Maandag… (Profetiese woorde)
82, GBS This is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to deep for me. If I can’t understand it then there is no way in hell that a dumb Bulls supporter would understand it.
Saint
If you tone down the articles on the Lions you should avoid Doornfontein. They may offer you a position!
Tell it like it is. Too many of my fellow Lions supporters think that by being critical of the team and / or the Union you are a traitor. This is not the case.
If the critisism is justifiable and constructive, then there is nothing wrong with it. Refusing to accept any critisism indicates that there is an opinion within any organisation that there is nothing too much wrong.
On current form the Lions will battle to win a game in this season’s S14.
Accept the faults, fix them, AND DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKES IN THE FUTURE!
A basic business principle IMO.
#83
Subtle? Subtle?
The only subtle thing about him is his subtle decline into the deepest and darkest ravines usually reserved for english footbal hooligans…
84@ The Saint – Jou span ook…. hehehehe
#88
Wonder of jy op dieselfde vlak as ek sinies en mislik kan wees?
Loosehead 83,
I second that. Jannie is poef useless all round rugby player, he needs to carry oranges for the VC side.
IMO, he’s the big cat behind the alleged rift in the Sharks camp.
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