Currie Cup Coach-of-the-Month for September, John Mitchell, made only the one anticipated change to the Lions starting lineup for Saturday’s decisive clash with the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Sport24
Mitchell, who was on Wednesday awarded for his team’s impressive run of form in recent, included Deon van Rensburg on the wing with Michael Killian shifting to fullback in place of injured Jaco Taute.
Van Rensburg’s place on the bench will be filled by former Blue Bulls utility back Marius Delport.
In another boost to the side, eighthman Warren Whiteley has recovered from injury, but Mitchell opted to stick with the loose-trio combination that stood their ground against the Sharks last week.
Whiteley has been included among the replacements in Johan Snyman’s place, while Trevor Hall will provide second-row cover.
A great contributing factor in the team’s success lies in the few changes Mitchell has made to his relatively inexperienced squad since taking up the position of head coach a month ago.
“Continuity is very handy and I guess it is something I’ve been working towards since I’ve come here, as it is important to create familiarisation and cohesion among the team,” said Mitchell.
“I think it is probably the best way to create team work. It certainly helps.”
In contrast to previous seasons, it has become apparent that the players who take the field for the Lions play for each other and take great pride in their performances.
But because of their poor start to the competition, the Lions have been fighting to stay in contention for a semifinal berth for the past six weeks and, according to captain Franco van der Merwe, the fear of failure has been replaced by a mood of great expectation.
“Now we actually have something to play for, and that is a place in the semis, so I think there is more excitement rather than pressure,” said Van der Merwe.
“The guys are really looking forward to perform and to do well.”
As for the challenge of facing a pack of forwards, who are both feared and respected by most teams in the competition, Van der Merwe said his men knew what to expect and were ready for the task at hand.
“They’ve always been a side that show a lot of attitude on the field and they showed that when they beat Province at Newlands, and they also showed it in last year’s semifinal when they beat the Sharks,” he said.
“It is going to be tough and it will always be as long as they have that attitude up front.”
Teams:
Lions:
15. Michael Killian, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Deon van Rensburg, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Josh Strauss, 7. Wikus van Heerden, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe(captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Wayne Swart, 18. Trevor Hall, 19. Warren Whiteley, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Marius Delport.
Free State Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Corné Uys, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Christoffel Philippus Van der Walt, 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Waltie Vermeulen, 4. Francois Uys, 3. Willem Petrus Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Izak van der Westhuizen, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Riaan Smit
Mitchell and the Lions are already in the process of being rewarded for consistency in selection, as they have now shown again and stand a bloody good chance of pulling this game through.
The positive changes has also transformed the Super 14 stragglers to a potent force and they have recorded wins already against the Cheetahs, WP and Sharks in this Currie Cup.
They are now a team to be recconed with… who amongst us would have guessed that in May this year….
I’m seriously worried for my Cheetahs about this one.
@ grootblousmile:
GBS i watch this guys with interest they really do well now, but just as i said in the Bulls vs WP game article, what would this young team do against a FULL Bulls team. So being glad for them i am not a JM disciple yet, i am a hard man. I will give this coach the thumbs up if he can do this in the Super Comp.
3@ superBul:
You’re not so hard… you are extremely SOFT against Snorrie…
Which leads me to believe that once you find a favourite, you stick by that… and become very hardegat and defensive towards that guy / team…. in other words, you’re stubborn… there is a difference, you know.
@ grootblousmile:
Ja GBS ek bly langer lojaal as baie ander. As ons teruggaan sal jy sien ek het ook al vir Peter aangevat, veral die tyd toe hy die klomp WP spelers beloon het en helter skelter rugby wou speel.
Die jaar se 3N het my ook seer gemaak, baie. Maar ons se in een asem dat BAIE van die belangriste spelers in ons patroon beseer is maar dan gee ons hom gas omdat hy nie kan wen sonder hulle nie.
Ek verstaan hoe hy dink, hy wil nie nou al sy game plans verander en dan weer terug waneer die manne reg is nie. Hy het ook gehoop dat die wat daai main spelers vervang het die fort kon hou en demmit hulle het amper. Die manne het maar net bietjie kop verloor met tye. Maar die terugveg pogings van die verswakte Bokspan was in my oe baie bemoedigend. Daarom voel ek ook soos Peter wag net julle bliksems laat FduP, Brussow, Bakkies, Habana …..weer terug is dan sal ons sien.
5@ superBul:
Ek verstaan NIE hoe Snorrie dink nie en ek wonder of hyself soms verstaan hoe hy dink.
Daar was darem ooglopende foute in die opbou voor die Tri-Nations en ‘n hardnekkige hardkoppigheid om by spelers soos Ricky en Habana te hou vir heeltemal te lank.
Maar dit tersyde, wat my meer pla is die persentasie onder 50% balbesit, swak verdediging, en onfiksheid in die laaste klomp minute sowel as sy wegloop-bek..
Maar ons praat nou van die punt af…
Mitchell het darem jouwragtiewaar die Leeus al verander jong en dit behoort blerrie interessant te wees hoe hulle doen in die Super Rugby reeks volgende jaar, veral noudat so paar senior spelers bereid is om daar aan te sluit, soos JP Pietersen nou te kenne gegee het hy kan moontlik doen. Dit beteken hulle kan bou rondom ‘n gesonde kern en dalk verbaas met hulle vordering.
Meeste beindruk met die verbetering in verdediging van die Lions en die gees te bespeur tussen die speler-javels.
Wel dit is so ek erken hy is tans hul beste hoop, maar kyk by wie hy daardie span van hom verby moet kry in SA. Bulle, Stormers en Sharks almal goed geoliede en gelaaide spanne. Ek sal se hy moet n realistiese doelwit stel van hoeveel wedstryde hy gaan wen volgende jaar. Ek sal dit as uiters suksesvol ag as hy 5 wenne kry, indien meer dan moet ons werklik worry.
7@ superBul:
Wel, in die Currie Cup staan hy reeds met wenne teen almal behalwe die Bulls…. dis miskien ‘n vroeë waarskuwing…
@ grootblousmile:
Ja , OK dit moet notisie van geneem word. Maar my broek bewe nie.
Ek hoop eintlik hulle maak die semi’s sodat ons kan sien hoe hulle vertoon teen heelwat sterker spanne. So vroee voorskou. Maar nog steeds al speel die Bulle met al hul Bokke gaan ons beswaarlik n goed geoliede span in aksie sien. Die samespel kan onmoontlik wonderlik wees.
Hierdie naweek is maar MOER belangrik….
@ grootblousmile:
Ja die Bulle Vrystaat en Leeus fight vir 2 spots. Ek dink die WP gaan weer n tweede span op Nuweland sien die jaar. As die Sharks 5 kry teen die Luiperde gaan hulle geen nodigheid he om teen WP te wen nie en kan hulle hul hele span rus, nes die Bulls.
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