JC Janse van Rensburg will ‘ride off’ into the proverbial sunset soon, but the long-standing captain is determined to leave the Lions with a perfect parting gift.
The 27-year-old uncapped Springbok prop wants to ensure he plays part in the Johannesburg-based franchise regaining their Super Rugby status.
Having captained the Lions to a 26-19 win over the Southern Kings in the first of the two promotion-relegation matches in Port Elizabeth last week, Janse van Rensburg will run out in front for the last time in the return match at Ellis Park on Saturday – before heading to French team Bayonne, where he signed a to-year deal.
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JC said he deliberately delayed his departure to France to help the Lions regain their Super Rugby status.
Describing himself as “calm and relaxed”, the prop said he can’t allow the emotions of his imminent departure to get the better of him.
“I still have a job to do,” Janse van Rensburg told this website in an exclusive interview after one of his last training sessions in Johannesburg.
“Only once we’ve won the game [against the Kings on Saturday], secured our place in Super Rugby, then the emotions will probably kick in.
“At the moment my focus is on this game only.
“I want to play my part to ensure we get this union back in Super Rugby.”
He confirmed that he had promised the Lions to see their campaign to regain promotion – after being stripped of their Super Rugby status in controversial circumstances by the South African Rugby Union – through to the bitter end.
“From the outset, when I decided to go abroad, I told coach Ackers, I will first complete the promotion-relegation series,” he told this website.
“The French [pre-season] start on July 1, so I negotiated with the club that I can stay on for the promotion-relegation series.
“Hopefully we win and have a good game on Saturday, to ensure I can leave for France at peace, knowing I have done my part to help ensure the team gets back [into Super Rugby].”
Another stalwart heading to France after Saturday is lock Hendrik Roodt, who joined French Top 14 side Grenoble.
However, Janse van Rensburg feels in the past seven months the coaching staff, under the expert guidance of Ackermann, have built a solid foundation for the future.
“Coach Ackers [Johan Ackermann] and his team have done a great job to give these young players some experience through the Lions Challenge [games] and be a great mentor to the players,” the prop said, adding: “Take a player like Jacques van Rooyen, who will step into my position at loosehead [prop] – he is a very good young player that will come through.
“There are also some good locks coming through [the system],” he said of players like Gavin Annandale, JJ Breet, Stephan Greeff, Hugo Kloppers, Franco Mostert – who can all back up Springbok Franco van der Merwe.
“I’m sure the coach won’t mind getting one or two additional players, but he has done a great job so far with the bulk of the squad at his disposal.
“For most part they are all young guys and he can build a very competitive team.”
Ackermann said he is not worried that the departure of some key players could be a distraction in the build-up to Saturday’s big game against the Kings.
“They have been part of the team for so long and they are so professional that I don’t have to question their commitment to the cause,” Ackermann told this website.
“There is no doubt they will give their all for the Lions and will then move to their clubs abroad. I have no doubt they will put their bodies on the line on Saturday, before taking on their new ventures.
“I doubt very much it will be a distraction, they will fulfill their roles as always.”
Janse van Rensburg, born in the village of Prince Albert and educated at Oakdale Agricultural College, has played more than 100 games for the Lions – in the Super Rugby and Currie Cup competitions – while he also featured in a number of games for the Sharks this year while he was on loan to them.
He first joined the Lions in 2006 and established himself as a hard-working and powerful scrummager – so much so that he earned a call-up to the Springboks’ 2012 year-end tour.
However, he never got to take to the field and as a result is a member of the Bok squad that must still wear his blazer over his arm, till he gets that deserved first full cap.
Eish. I’m FAR more worried about this game than the last one against the Kings.
Virtually the VERY EXISTENCE of these two teams is dependant on 80 minutes of football on Saturday.
To say that it’ll be nerve wracking is an understatement of note.
I really feel sorry for BOTH organisations.
SARU have failed both the PE and JHB Rugby communities on a MASSIVE SCALE.
On the positive front, news on ticket sales for Saturday are very good, with reports stating that the bottom tiers of the stadium are just about sold out, and the top tiers selling well.
All told there should be well over 50 000 at the game with by far the majority wearing RED.
OK more news concerning the game on Sat.
Computicket is SOLD OUT of tickets for the game, there are 1000 tickets available from Ellis Park ticket office available from 08h00 this morning.
Looks like JHB realises what they missed this season and are coming out in force.
The “red mist” is going to descend on the Kings come Saturday pm.
VERY FEW stadia have the same intense atmosphere as a full to the roof Ellis Park.
“JC said he deliberately delayed his departure to France to help the Lions regain their Super Rugby status.”
Kruger from the Bulls could take a leaf out of his books about sticking with your team to the end.
Ellis Park has put up the SOLD OUT sign for the game.
60 000 Lions fans should help lift the team a little.
I picked up this little tit-bit on another website with a thread of messages for the Lions and would like to share it here.
“Message is to the kings:
This Saturday, you will witness the awe inspiring sight that is a sold out Ellis Park.
Experience why even the mighty All Blacks start to get nervous when they have to play here.
This game is not your fault, but this weekend it will be your problem!
You are going to play against a team fuelled by 124 years of history and excellence. You will feel the spirit of the greats that called this stadium home breathing down your neck.
Maybe it is fate that your kit is all black, because as in 1995, the invaders in black coming to take what rightfully belongs here, will once again be vanquished.
This Saturday you will remember FOREVER, the night you played the Lions!”
I believe that the sleeping giant that is Rugby support in JHB has been awakened after a year in the wilderness.
Now we just need or team to do what we hope they are capable of, and then build on that for the upcoming Currie Cup, and hopefully have a decent Super Rugby 2014.
4 @ Scrumdown:
Impressive, the sold out thingy!
5 @ grootblousmile:
Tickets cost next to F All (R20), but that’s perhaps the best marketing ploy by the GLRU of the last 10 years.
At 60 000 spectators, the income may only be R1.2 M, but the goodwill generated FAR outweighs any negatives.
It may be a decent concept to get the spectators back to Ellis Park on a more regular basis.
In reality, the Ellis Park Precinct is a far cry from 10 years ago, it’s clean and tidy,(as is the majority of the CBD) and my personal experience tells me that it’s easier to get into than Kings Park and Newlands, and actually has MORE parking than the majority of Rugby Stadia in SA.
The biggest problem with Ellis Park is the total lack of PR done by the GLRU / Lions over the last 10 – 15 years to change the public’s perceptions.
5 @ grootblousmile:
Oh and a little birdie told me that one of the reasons the Kings had such good attendances throughout the season in an area that is basically the worst affected by unemployment in the country is also by making the ticket prices attractive to all who would like to get to the game and watch.
One more showdown, JC and Ackers, kick the Kings’ and Cheeky’s arse and you boys can look back on a job well done, despite the odds.
Moer hulle manne, vir n six!!!
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