Mitchell is the man to turn pussycats into Lions. This article is the red flag the Lions needed.

With the Super Rugby season around the corner we will preview each team, starting with the outfit we predict to be the worst performing in 2011, the Lions.

Team: Lions

Homeground: Coca-Cola Park (Ellis Park)

Coach: John Mitchell

Season 2010: 14th (P13, W0, L13, BP5, 5Pts)

Best finish: Third (2001)

2011 squad: Jacobie Adriaanse, Martin Bezuidenhout, Michael Bondesio, Jannie Boshoff, David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Tonderai Chavhanga, Patric Cilliers, David de Villiers, George Earle, Joubert Engelbrecht, Burton Francis, Ross Geldenhuys, Cobus Grobbelaar, Elton Jantjies, James Kamana, Michael Killian, Rory Kockott, Doppies la Grange, Bandise Maku, Lionel Mapoe, Edgar Marutlulle, Derick Minnie, Waylon Murray, Andre Pretorius, Michael Rhodes, Josh Strauss, Wayne Swart, Franco van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, JC Janse van Rensburg, Deon van Rensburg, Dries van Schalkwyk, Jaco Taute, Jano Vermaak, Warren Whiteley

Season preview: They may be kings on the savannah, but when it comes to Super Rugby these Lions are pussycats. Last season they couldn’t even notch up a win at home in the Jo’burg clouds, finishing an embarrassing last with no wins from 13 starts and less points than a hexagon – the worst team performance in Super Rugby history. Cellar dwelling has become a habit for the Lions (formerly the Cats). They have been in the bottom three a staggering 12 times in the 15-year history of the comp and making headway is such a daunting and difficult issue they are now on to their 11th coach. Until the signing of Butch James two days ago there was only one Springbok of recent vintage in their squad. But Bandise Maku, a newbie from the Bulls, hasn’t even played in red and black yet and the only international experience he can bring to his adopted team is one Test against Italy in June of last year. New Lions shareholder Ivor Ichikowitz, a billionaire owner of an arms and defence company, has vowed to transform the former provincial giant and snaring more Springboks is on his agenda, specifically front rowers Tendai Mtawarira and BJ Botha.

X-Factor: The current alpha Lion is Andre Pretorius, back on the field after tearing his left hamstrung from the bone a year ago in pre-season training with the Western Force. The 32-year-old, capped 30 times for South Africa, is primed to add to his 69 matches for his home region. But he may not have the pivot’s role to himself – former Springbok first-five Butch James has become a late signing and will provide a Simon Cowell-esque X-Factor in returning from Europe to press for World Cup selection. The tough tackling James has 40 Springbok caps but hasn’t played Super Rugby for three seasons after notching up 53 appearances for the Sharks.

Main man: Hard to go past the coach. John Mitchell, forced on from Western Australia, is going to have more impact than any one player in restoring pride in the Lions. Another former All Black coach, Laurie Mains, was in charge of the Cats in their best seasons – reaching the semi-finals in 2000 and 2001 – and Mitchell has already impressed locals with his focus on discipline and on-field structure. He’s also impressed with his courage, staying with the toughest job in the competition despite having been stabbed by an intruder in his apartment last October!

Predicted 2011 finish: 15th

By – onehd. australia