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…

204 Responses to The Lions…a retrospective.

  • 151

    148@ Tjarkie – … and the most gullible.

  • 152

    demmit rudi jy weet ons kos issie beste 😆

  • 153

    Tell me, what draws a prospective supporter to become a Sharks or Stormers supporter?

  • 154

    FS remind me not to call rudi FRIEND 😆

  • 155

    GrootPienk 153,

    The other three franchises 😆

  • 156

    for us to know and for you to find out ffs 😆

  • 157

    Sharky 154,

    Don’t worry, we’re all allowed to have at least on dumb friend in life 😆

  • 158

    :lol:fires

  • 159

    loosehead @ 46
    oops, sorry bru
    missed your post there
    unfortunately you posted after i left
    maybe thats what will happen to your team this weekend
    they’ll only score during halftime
    and
    after the final presentations!!!
    oh and
    stoooooooooooooooooooooooooooormers!!

  • 160

    #138 GBS

    No problem with the colour or the thickness of the skin this side, broer. Gooi – I can take it!

    But a thick skin does not mean that one must also have a thick skull, of wat praat ons alles?

  • 161

    155@ Vuurtjie – That was a clever answer, but a dishonest and evasive one… try again!

    156@ Tjarkie – Fark, for you it was probably die girl met die groot tieties wat nie wou ja sê tot jy ‘n Tjark geword het nie…. hehehe

    Ek weet sulke dinge sal byvoorbeeld vir Asbakkie belangrik gewees het in sy besluit…

  • 162

    loosehead @ 62
    lmao

  • 163

    159- Ash, only scoring that you will be doing is some tik from your merchant.

  • 164

    On the serious side, why do you say the Stormers or the Cheetahs will win this coming weekend?

  • 165

    gbs @ 153
    o’s het ñ siiiiiiiiiieeeeeee
    en
    ñ mia-oun-tian!!

  • 166

    loose head
    your name describe you very well!!
    bliksem!!

  • 167

    164- The Mighty States can’t lose to that rubbish, thats why.

  • 168

    Asrse ly- blerrie Stormers supporters are all the same.

  • 169

    165@ Asbak – So, dissie see waarin julle nie kan swemmie, water is te koud, en die berg…. nie die rugby nie…. oooooooooo, ek sien!

  • 170

    Where, oh where is Blouste?

  • 171

    #168 Loosehead & Ash

    Vattit va warit ko, Ash!

  • 172

    gbs @ 169
    was jy al ooit op yzerfontein?
    nou DAAI water is flippen koud!!

    loosehead @ 168
    hei djou oranje moegoe
    waa’van praat djy?

  • 173

    GBS, can I please go to Newlands as the R-T reporters this weekend?

  • 174

    loosehead @ 173
    nee flokkof
    is daai miskien JOU f*kken tysveld?
    oranje moegoe!!

  • 175

    Fender and Ashley must be related, they speak the same language.

  • 176

    174- ek smokkel djou sommer in saam met my. Dan drink ons daie gratis drank klaar.

  • 177

    173@ Loskoppie – Neeeeeee, ons wil darem ‘n rugbykenner daar hê!

    Hehehehe

    Sorry boet, we had to nominate okes, submit photo’s, get accreditation cards with the ID’s on them…

    One of our accreditations are up for grabs though at Newlands, to support KingPaul there, we have had a resignation in the ranks… now who is a Stormers rugby guru, a knowledgeable rugby blogger… I wonder?

  • 178

    #175 Loosehead

    Hehe, innie Kaap share ons alles – selfs ons winkeltanne!

  • 179

    gbs @ 177
    nee flok ek weet nie
    sal jou laat weet as ek een innie kaap raakloop!!

  • 180

    gbs @ 177
    sien djy wat het djy nou flokken gemaak
    daas ammal weg vannie site af
    sieker ammal biesag om hul cv’s op te stel, hehehe

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