Inspirational Lions captain, Warren Whiteley
The Lions exceeded expectations in their comeback season, while the Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers all regressed, writes JON CARDINELLI. Take a bow, Johan Ackermann. The Lions came into this year’s competition with a public ambition to be competitive and a private ambition to avoid the wooden spoon. They exceeded expectations on every front, finishing the league stage with seven wins and in 12th place. That win total alone will ensure that the class of 2014 goes down in history. Their 34-10 hammering of the Stormers shouldn’t be forgotten, nor their two victories against the Cheetahs, nor that resounding win against the Bulls.
It’s important to remember where the Lions were at this point last year. When I visited their HQ at Ellis Park in June 2013 to chat to Ackermann and Lions president Kevin de Klerk, I encountered two men who were more hopeful than certain of a brighter future. They desperately needed the Lions to beat the Kings in the qualifying play-off series, and return to Super Rugby.
And as Ackermann was at pains to stress, they needed to show why they belonged at the elite level. The odds be damned. A year on, and the Lions have proved their point. There have been significant challenges, such as a number of injury setbacks – none more so than the one suffered by their inspirational captain and lone Springbok (at the time), Franco van der Merwe – and a first tour to Australasia for many of the players. They were forced to take those injuries in their stride, and predictably, they lost all four games Down Under. They have had some luck if you remember the shocking refereeing decisions that helped them to big wins over the Blues and Reds. But more often than not, they have made their own luck. It’s been patent throughout their campaign that they are a well coached side, as well as a tight family unit. This has allowed them to prevail against more fancied teams stacked with Test players. It’s a brilliant lesson for some of the more established teams, especially those in South Africa.
The Bulls and Stormers finished the season with same number of wins as the Lions. All three of these teams, as well as the Cheetahs, lost every one of their matches Down Under. And yet, the Lions’ seven from 16 record should be viewed in an encouraging light, considering they have comparatively few resources. The Bulls qualified for the semi-finals in 2013, and would have progressed to the final if not for some poor decision-making in the penultimate game against the Brumbies. They too suffered some injury setbacks in 2014, but would have expected a better return than seven from 16. Handré Pollard’s emergence has been a beacon of light in an otherwise dull and forgettable campaign. Victor Matfield’s leadership and unmatched lineout abilities has kept them competitive, but there is a lot that needs to change in that team and system if they are going to be a force in 2015.
As for the Stormers, it seems fitting that their campaign was bookended by two 34-10 defeats. In their first game of the year, a team boasting seven Springboks as well as an Argentinian international in their match 23, went down to the Lions at Ellis Park. It was their biggest defeat since 2007, and would set the tone for one of their worst seasons ever. Coach Allister Coetzee has blamed injuries at every opportunity. It is a weak excuse considering every team in the competition has had to contend with injuries. And it is also no excuse for a loss to the Super Rugby newcomers at Ellis Park, nor a zero from four return Down Under. It’s been obvious that the Stormers have other issues aside from injuries. The weakness of the Stormers coaching staff and administration has been well-documented on this website. The team stagnated in 2011 and 2012, and their regression in 2013 saw them missing out on the play-offs for the first time in three seasons. In 2014, the Stormers finished 11th on the overall log.
Not since 2006 has the Cape side sunk this low in the standings. Gert Smal was brought in as the new Western Province director of rugby at the end of March, and set about implementing some necessary changes. The Stormers have played with more balance since Smal joined the union, and his recent appointment of Vlok Cilliers as the team’s kicking coach should see the Cape side making an overdue improvement to their line kicking in 2015.
The Cheetahs played with balance in 2013, but have been all over the place in 2014. They will remember the historic win over the Bulls in which Johan Goosen and Willie le Roux starred with some atypically tactical displays. These performances have been too few and far between, however, and their defence and discipline has been shocking. In 16 games, they conceded 527 points, 30 points more than the next worst team, the Reds. The regression of the Bulls, Cheetahs and Stormers have been depressing to witness. The performances of the plucky Lions, however, has provided South African rugby supporters with a reason to smile, as has the Sharks’ progression to the play-offs.
whitely would not be out of place in the bok team, depending on the gameplan the coach adopts.
@ Charo:
HM would NEVER pick a player like WW.
He’s (WW) not your typical “bash it up” type of 8th man that HM likes. Plays with insight and skill, and deceptively quick across the park.
A good captain IMO.
@ Charo:
Agree, I enjoy watching players like him, no fuss, no fanfare, just looks like he is loving every minute.
He had an excellent year
@ Scrumdown:
Heyneke tried picking a 8th man that is not your typical “bash it up” 8th and keegan cullen was found wanting embarrassingly so in test rugby.
Lets give Warren another season.
Keiran Read might have a huge arsenal, one truth is that “bashing it up” is one of his huge strengths.
and Read sets the benchmark
Im happy with how the Lions played this year and they could have had one or two wins overseas. So the good luck they had at home was evened out by extreme bad lucm that waited in australasia.
I remember listening to the Kiwi commentators during the tour, not sure which match, raving about WW, and how shocked they were that the Lions coaching staff had said that WW will not earn higher honours with HM as coach, because HM considers him too “small”.
But well done to my boytjies. Had you told me that we would have won 7 games from 16, and end 12th on the log and not being the wooden spoonists in the SA conference I would have taken it.
I would have liked a few more bonus points, though. Only 2 from scoring 4 tries or more, and I think 1 losing bonus point is just not enough, and that hurt us. With just 3 more, we would have finished higher than the Stormers. But I am still very happy the performance of a team that many had written off before the season had even started.
If the Lions can keep the majority of the players in this squad, they could push for a better place, possibly even a play off berth. I think Ackers will have grown as a coach, and if he can increase his support staff, we will see a very strong Lions side.
@ Lion4ever:
But is that to assume the kiwi’s would pick him?
Look at all black 8th men this year
Jerome Kaino (1.96@113kg)
Keiran Read (1.92@112kg)
South african
Duane Vermeulen (1.93@116kg)
Australians
Wycliff Palu (1.94@120kg)
Ben mcculman (1.92@108kg)
Then you say south africa wont pick Whitely because he is 1.92@98kg? while the other 8th man picked around the southern hemisphere are bigger?
or are you assuming the other coaches would suddenly pick smaller players just because we dont?
The players the all blacks picks are huge. They would crush us like a bug if we did not have size on our side.
@ MacroBull:
Not my words, but the words of the Kiwi commentators.
While size is important in rugby, I would rather pick a brilliant, smaller player, than an ok bigger player. Heinrich Brussow is a case in point. Absolutely brilliant on the ground, as good if not better than Flo, but because he is not as big, loses out to Flo. Yet he can knock bigger players back in the tackle, is a decent if not brilliant ball carrier, but is difficult stop because of his low centre of gravity.
A player like WW would be brilliant for the Boks as an impact player, where the likes of Vermuelen and Alberts can tire the opposition out with their physicality, and then an agile, quick player like WW, can come in and use skill set.
One of the best props we had in South Africa till last JC Janse van Rensburg is relatively short, and definitely not as big as props like Beast, Jannie, Coenie, Trevor etc, but when he scrummed against players like them, gave them a good working over. Because he is smaller, he developed a better scrumming technique. Pat Cilliers is another smallish prop, but is a brilliant scrummager. BJ Botha is another one that springs to mind.
Then we can also look at the Stormers “midgets” like Aplon, Kolbe et al. They may be slightly vulnerable under the high ball, but run brilliant lines that will leave bigger players flat footed, and have learnt to tackle like demons because of their lack of bulk. I have seen Aplon hit bigger players pretty hard, because again, he has had to learn to tackle properly because of his lack of size. Shane Williams was another great international, but was rather lacking in bulk, but was able to score some great tries for Wales.
Yes some bigger players are freaks of nature, players like Lomu (was), and that new wing for the Crusaders, give them the ball in enough space to get a head of steam going and they will be hard to stop. But often these big guys do have some deficiencies in their play that they can hide because of size.
The Bulls blue print has always been to have a big, heavy pack and some big strike runners in the back, and have largely been successful, but when matched in the physical stakes, and with some clever running, tend to come unstuck.
@ Lion4ever:
I bet you if the all blacks were matchwd physically they will also be very vulnerable.
Assuming that WW isnt considered for the boks because of his size is very accurate.
But I will see you and raise you that neither the all blacks or wallabies would consider him because of the same reasons.
@ MacroBull:
But he is highly rated down under. One cannot dispute that. McCaw isn’t the biggest physical specimen around, @ 106kg, and 1.88m yet he has become a legend, one of the best players in recent years. George Smith is 97kg and 1.8m. Higginbotham, Hooper and Hodgson are not the biggest loosies around, yet they are picked. If you have an Alberts and a Flo or Burger, then there is definitely place for a WW.
@ Lion4ever:
Add in an abrasive lock like Bakkies and a very physical hooker like Bismark, and then a rangy, skilful no 8 like WW would be an asset.
@ Lion4ever:
we are talking about 8th man though. When was the last time you saw a player in his size playing for new zealand at 8? who was not a “bash it up” type of player?
zinzan brooke 17 years ago?
(im sure there is a player more recently though)
ok luke whitelock only has 5kg on WW
victor vito was the other recent all black at 1.92@112kg. So 3 8th men that are 110kg+
im not saying WW does not deserve a shot.
I disagree though that only Heyneke Meyer is obsessed with size, because it does matter.
@ MacroBull:
Zinzan could bash it up with the very best of them.
He had the heart of a Lion. (And the head of a Sphinx.)
As does WW.
😉
@ cane:
All black 8th men fit a certain mould in recent times. WW is just far removed from that.
Thus the statement that… ” WW will not
earn higher honours with HM as coach, because HM considers him too “small”.” and ” HM would NEVER pick a player like WW.
He’s (WW) not your typical “bash it up” type of 8th man that HM likes. Plays with insight and
skill, and deceptively quick across the park.”
Is just showmanship propaganda for two reasons.
1. HM already picked an even smaller player in Keegan Daniel thus breaking the implied critereria so easily thrown around that size is the first thing looked at.
2. Who says Hansen would pick WW? why is it implied that everyone else would pick WW except HM because WW is too “small”
I too like WW but…settle down…
Heyneke doesn’t just judge on bulk and weight, he prefers his loose forwards to be an extra option in the line out, hence Flo over Brussouw, but Whiteley is an option at the back of the line out, so I wouldn’t discount his chances completely.
The problem is that WW gets it in his head that all his fans believes that he is a victim… he will then just go to europe.
I believe he can still make the team if he keeps his form. then he simply cant be ignored. Lood de jager waited two years and look at him now? What would have happened if he looked at eben, psdt, kruger, bakkie, matfield, franco, flip, alberts all ahead of him and had given up?
Rather support our players than be negative “oh well he will never make the team anyway ;'(”
Rather say “he was fantastic this year, I hope he can grow with the lions next year and improve their position on the log!”
@ nortierd:
not to mention we have a hole at 8th man behind vermeulen.
@ MacroBull:
Yep, Whiteley just acts and sounds like a guy who has integrity. He obviously has very good leadership traits and looks like he will repay Ackerman’s faith in him.
Heyneke looks for character in his players, and Whiteley should tick those boxes as well
@ nortierd:
yep I like him. the captaincy role has really brought him out of Minnies shadows where Whitely was part of the background cast for a few seasons.
I was just saying what I heard some NZ commentators saying, and the discussion went on about big vs small. If DV gets injured, who would HM pick at no 8. Would it be Kanko, or would he bring in someone like Jono Ross, who is more suited to play no 7 or Phillip Van Der Walt, or Whiteley? Or will he take a bean pole like Grant Hattingh and make him play 8?
@ Lion4ever:
Oh yes of course. he only selects blue bulls. excellent point. 🙄
26 @ MacroBull:
That’s a perception.
Cheetahs recently had 7 returning National players.
HOWEVER…………. Why did HM pick (debutants) Callie Visagie and Marcel vd Merwe as potential front row players to the recent squad given the Bulls (relatively) poor scrummaging performances in SR this season?
Lions had the best scrum stats of the competition, but in reality, would ANY other SR coach have picked the Lions’ “unknown” front row ahead of their own players.
Laat n mens dink ne?
@ Scrumdown:
I thought marcel had a pretty good year… its rather a question of why does Ludeke insist on picking Greyling and Kruger who have been a weakness for three years now instead of Marcel more regularly?
It is the lions first year back from relegation. and while even I was surprised by the callie selection behind bissie and strauss behind scarra who got selected last year behind chilliboi who was injured at that stage behind schalk brits who eventually got picked (who surprisingly isnt a bull… I assume callies call up was more about the fact that he had played with matfield and flip most of the season and would have flowed better in training than a new hooker?
so apart from the first year where Heyneke had very little time to prepare I think Meyers selections has been pretty spread out and fair.
@ Scrumdown:
M.A.W. dit laat mense wat paranoid is dink… ander mense wat mooi daaroor dink kan logika daarin sien. Die leeutjies moet net geduldig wees. Daar is geen nag van die blou messe nie.
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