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Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 5:54 pm
by saffer13
Dryer and RjvR leaving?

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:02 pm
by Jensrsa
saffer13 wrote:Dryer and RjvR leaving?
Nothing confirmed but rumours are strong that RJvR and Jaco Kriel are leaving with Dreyer now added to the list. I expect the Lions to lose quite a few players after SR and Swys will be developing some of the youngsters in the squad during the season

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:06 pm
by saffer13
Jensrsa wrote:
saffer13 wrote:Dryer and RjvR leaving?
Nothing confirmed but rumours are strong that RJvR and Jaco Kriel are leaving with Dreyer now added to the list. I expect the Lions to lose quite a few players after SR and Swys will be developing some of the youngsters in the squad during the season
So only after the season then. :thumbup:

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 6:40 pm
by Jensrsa
saffer13 wrote: So only after the season then. :thumbup:
Tighthead Ruan Dreyer and centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg are contracted to remain with the Lions this season‚ the franchise’s chief executive Rudolf Straeuli insisted on Tuesday.

Both players have been linked with moves to Gloucester‚ where former Lions coach Johan Ackermann took the reins at the completion of Super Rugby last year.

Straeuli though was firm and he said the players cannot enter into negotiations just yet.

“They are both contracted to the Lions for Super Rugby and the Currie Cup." he said.

"We are in negotiations with them to extend those contracts until next year.

“Besides‚ they cannot enter into negotiations with other clubs yet because of the 180-day period that precludes such activity.

Anyone wishing to negotiate with them must ask for the Lions for permission.

"At this stage there haven’t been enquiries. There certainly hasn’t been anything official.”
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby ... -straeuli/

The Lions killed Mostert's deal with Lyon with this

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 10:23 pm
by Jensrsa
Aphiwe Dyantyi - this doesn't happen anymore
After representing Eastern Province [Border actually] at U13 level in 2007, Aphiwe Dyantyi was touted as an exciting talent at school level. However, during his time at Dale College, he was told he was too small to play for the 1st XV during his matric year. Having missed out on his rugby goals, he eventually gave up on the sport after school and decided to pursue other interests.

He enrolled at University of Johannesburg to study BCom Marketing and played soccer. However, he quickly found his way back to his first love.

“I was living on res at campus. Some of my friends from school asked me if I could play for the Koshuis team as they needed players. They played on a Wednesday, so I was happy to help them out. After a few games, I was asked to train with the Varsity Cup team and that’s when things started happening,” Dyantyi.
In 2014, he played for UJ’s Young Guns and sevens. In 2015, he played for the senior side and was one of the star performers during the Varsity Cup. This saw him called up to the Golden Lions U21s.

In 2016, he continued his good form for UJ, which saw him earn his first professional contract with the Lions. This season, he made his senior provincial debut for the union during the SuperSport Rugby Challenge and played his first Currie Cup match last weekend.
http://fans.myplayers.co.za/aphiwe-dyan ... ecome-pro/

This week he was included in the Lions SR squad and with Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan out injured he has a good chance of making the match 23, if not the starting XV

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2018 5:58 pm
by saffer13
:thumbup:

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Fri Feb 02, 2018 6:40 pm
by Jensrsa
World Sports Betting, SA’s Leading Online Sportsbook have announced the signing of Lions Rugby Company as their official sports betting partner for the next 3 years.

This sponsorship will be for all international and local tournaments and comes shortly after their 2017 acquisition of the Headline Sponsor of the now World Sports Betting Cape Cobras.

Speaking about the newest sponsorship, Ryno du Plessis, National Marketing Manager of World Sports Betting pointed out the brand’s complete passion to support local teams and South African sport as a whole. “World Sports Betting, a renowned and house-hold brand throughout South Africa, offers national and global betting in all sporting events,” said Du Plessis. When looking for a partner on the Rugby stage, we looked no further than the Lions. Their commendable performance in recent years have made them a perfect match for our brand”. Du Plessis also expressed his and his team’s dedication to inject more excitement into the Lions supporters in-stadium and promises some amazing promotions and activations over the next three years.

Warren Tannous, finding CEO of World Sports Betting and more so a passionate supporter of Lions Rugby called the sponsorship a “highlight” to the company’s year and future.

“Growing up in a family who supported the franchise for as long as I can recall, made the decision to partner with the Lions was done without hesitation. In fact it is something I have been looking to do for several years. Today, rugby is a big part of our business and product offering. We offer hundreds of Live In-Play and Pre-match markets on all local and International rugby and for me, seeing our brand associated with a world-wide franchise such as the Lions is an absolute honour,” he commented.

Edgar Rathbone, Managing Director of EPS (Pty) Ltd, welcomed World Sports Betting on board as the latest sponsor to the Lions Rugby Company, to be sported on the back of the Vodacom Super Rugby shorts. “We are proud to be associated with World Sports Betting, a brand that has gone from strength to strength in the past few years. We know it will be a long and prosperous relationship”

World Sports Betting is also a major sponsor of South African Cricket, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts and Horse Racing and supporters over 18 are invited to find out more about them by visiting www.wsb.co.za or by following them on Social Media.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2018 8:30 pm
by Jensrsa
Lions 2017 Awards:

Currie Cup Forward Player of the Year Award - Marvin Orie
Currie Cup Backline Player of the Year - Ashlon Davids
Currie Cup Player of the Year - Kwagga Smith.

Super Rugby Forward Player of the Year - Franco Mostert
Super Rugby Backline Player of the Year - Ross Cronje
Super Rugby Player of the Year - Malcolm Marx

Supporters Player of the Year - Malcolm Marx
Players’ Player of the Year - Malcolm Marx
Most Valued Player of the Year - Malcolm Marx

Golden Lions Women’s Referee of the Year - Ashleigh Murray
Golden Lions Woman’s Backline Player of the Year - Kimico Manual

U19 Forward Player of the Year - PJ Botha
U19 Backline Player of the Year - Jack Hart
U19 Player of the Year - Dian Schoonees

U21 Backline Player of the Year - Eddie Fouche
U21 Forward Player of the Year - Jo-Hanko (Pikkie) de Villiers
U21 Player of the Year - Jo-Hanko (Pikkie) de Villiers

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:11 pm
by Jensrsa
Third time lucky for South Africa’s best team in the tournament the past three years? They amount of key players retained suggest so.

One of the first thoughts that come up when the “Lions” and “Super Rugby 2018” are mentioned in the same sentence is: third time lucky?

It’s not an outrageous thought.

For the fourth year in a row, the franchise is in the remarkably privileged position of having essentially kept all their key players.

As a result, it raises hopes that maybe, just maybe the Lions can finally break their curse in the past two finals of the tournament.

But do the stars still have the focus and will now that their stocks have soared?

Here’s our verdict.

FULLBACKS: Andries Coetzee, Sylvian Mahuza

Andries Coetzee shouldn’t be too worried about the criticism he received at Springbok level last year.

The reliable 27-year-old might not quite possess the star quality at international level but he’s a very good performer at Super Rugby level and knows his game inside out at his franchise.

He might even have to help out at flyhalf.

Sylvian Mahuza’s cameos previously also suggests he could flourish with more game-time … and trust.

VERDICT: As long as Coetzee recovers his confidence, all will be fine

WINGERS: Courtnall Skosan, Ruan Combrinck, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Madosh Tambwe

Like Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan should ignore the noises about his Bok career and focus on the fact that he’s a fine performer in the red and white.

Ruan Combrinck is one of the most gifted backs to emerge locally but it must be kept in mind that both are injured currently.

That leaves an inexperienced duo Aphiwe Dyantyi and Madosh Tambwe.

Dyanti’s rise has been particularly impressive after starring in the Currie Cup though it wouldn’t be a surprise if coach Swys de Bruin switches more experienced men like Lionel Mapoe or Rohan Janse van Rensburg to compensate for the knowledge gap.

VERDICT: Promise or plugging the gaps? Interesting choices await

CENTRES: Lionel Mapoe, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Harold Vorster, Howard Mnisi


Opposition could be forgiven for drooling over the players in this position.

Mapoe has been a stalwart for years, no midfielder in South Africa has Janse van Rensburg’s ability to randomly just punch a hole into the defence and Harold Vorster increasingly has the look of another Jan Serfontein about him.

If Howard Mnisi can finally build on an injury-stalled career, this group of men will single-handedly win games.

VERDICT: Oozing pace, power and skill

FLYHALVES: Elton Jantjies, Shaun Reynolds, Ashlon Davids


In some sides’ setup, flyhalf isn’t a be-all and end-all position.

But at the Lions they can’t pull off the all-action game-plan without a conductor.

Elton Jantjies does feel a bit man-alone in this position and if he can’t hit heights quickly, it will heap pressure on the inexperienced duo of Shaun Reynolds and Ashlon Davids.

VERDICT: Possibly wobbly

SCRUMHALVES: Ross Cronje, Marco Janse van Vuren, Dillon Smit, Christiaan Meyer

Of course there’ll be attention on Ross Cronje and whether he’ll recover his confidence after a chastening Springbok year.

But it might be young Marco Janse van Vuren who might have tongues wagging.

The 21-year-old halfback has everyone excited because he reminds so much of Joost van der Westhuizen.

In a scrumhalf drought, that could become a godsend.

“Muis” Meyer is on-loan from Griquas and has guts but where will the injury-ravaged Dillon Smit fit in?

VERDICT: Don’t be surprised if the apprentice takes over from the master

LOOSE FORWARDS: Warren Whiteley, Cyle Brink, Jaco Kriel, Kwagga Smith, Marnus Schoeman, Len Massyn, Hacjivah Dayimani, Willie Engelbrecht

A fit, refreshed Warren Whiteley could have a magical effect on a group of flankers that actually looks far more balanced than previous years.

Kwagga Smith and the on-loan Marnus Schoeman are nippy players who play to the ball, while Cyle Brink and Len Massyn – if he gains a few more kgs – could easily fill Ruan Ackermann’s void.

Hacjivah Dayimani is promising talent and Willie Engelbrecht, signed from the Pumas, screams Lions bargain buy.

He’s a man mountain.

VERDICT: Talented, classy and versatile. De Bruin could later easily rotate

LOCKS: Franco Mostert, Marvin Orie, Andries Ferreira, Rhyno Herbst, Robert Kruger, Lourens Erasmus

The effective duo of Franco Mostert and Andries Ferreira are still present but there’s a feeling that the time might be ripe to explore depth.

Former Junior Bok skipper Marvin Orie had an excellent Currie Cup and a lot has been invested in Lourens Erasmus.

VERDICT: Time to trust some of the deputies

HOOKERS: Malcolm Marx, Robbie Coetzee


An on-song Malcolm Marx, as everyone knows by now, is one of the biggest weapons in world rugby.

But the rest of the depth is actually rather manufactured.

Robbie Coetzee is a very useful backup but below him De Bruin has re-treated Corne Fourie (prop) and Schoeman (flank) in the No 2 jersey.

VERDICT: If injuries strike, the Lions could be hampered by lack of specialist skill

PROPS: Jacques van Rooyen, Sti Sithole, Jacobie Adriaanse, Ruan Dreyer, Johannes Jonker, Dylan Smith, Corne Fourie

There’s a retro feel to this group.

The premium on men like Jacques van Rooyen, Johannes Jonker, Jacobie Adriaanse and Ruan Dreyer seems to be scrumming ability.

And that tends to be forgotten.

To run the ball, you need solid set-pieces.

Surely the Lions will have that.

VERDICT: Scrum power galore but the youngsters will need to provide fresh legs later

https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-afric ... gby-squad/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 1:38 am
by WoodlandsRFC
What's the deal with Jaco Kriels injury Jens?

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 5:43 am
by Jensrsa
WoodlandsRFC wrote:What's the deal with Jaco Kriels injury Jens?
Last I saw (mid Jan) was that he'll miss the first two or three games

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 5:54 am
by WoodlandsRFC
Jensrsa wrote:
WoodlandsRFC wrote:What's the deal with Jaco Kriels injury Jens?
Last I saw (mid Jan) was that he'll miss the first two or three games
Cheers.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2018 1:09 pm
by Jensrsa
There’s been rumours the burly centre would switch to wing to offset the franchise’s loss of two Bok finishers for the start of Super Rugby.
The Lions are weighing up their wing options cautiously before the Super Rugby kick-off next weekend against the Sharks.

While they received the news that Courtnall Skosan might return earlier than the six months which was initially feared after injuring knee ligaments in training, they still have plenty wing options, said coach Swys de Bruin.

“Courtnall will see the specialist again on Thursday and then we will know more, but we are looking now at two and a half to three months.”

But De Bruin said he doesn’t want to speculate about moving centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg to the No 14 jersey.

“I see there has been a lot of talk over such a move but I’m not really feeling comfortable with such a change, but it always remains an option
,” he said.

With Skosan and fellow wing Ruan Combrinck out until April, that could see Lionel Mapoe, Madosh Tambwe and Sylvian Mahuza considered at 11 and 14.

De Bruin said shortly after their return from a short training camp in Secunda that he is happy with where they are with their preparations for the competition opener.

“I must say the camp was very enjoyable, we managed to achieve a lot and the guys are all pumped up for the season lying ahead,” he said.

The other injury concern the Lions have is the belated return of explosive flanker Jaco Kriel after shoulder surgery late last season.

Jaco is doing great with his rehab programme and at this stage we are targeting his return to come around the fourth game which will maybe come against the Blues or Sunwolves at home,” said De Bruin.
https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-afric ... ohan-move/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 4:00 pm
by Jensrsa
Straeuli backs Lions succession plan

After being led to back-to-back finals by Johan Ackermann a challenging Super Rugby season awaits the new Lions coaching team in 2018. Expectations are high for a repeat showing, but it is something that is certainly possible, according to franchise CEO Rudolf Straeuli.
Now leading the team in Ackermann’s absence is Swys de Bruin, the former assistant coach, and rookie assistants at this level Phillip Lemmer and Joey Mongalo.

The Lions are also minus a few key players from last season, when they dominated the competition and finished top of the points table only to lose at home to the Crusaders in the final, among them Faf de Klerk and Ruan Ackermann. Injuries have also laid low the likes of Jaco Kriel, Courtnall Skosan and Ruan Combrinck.

“We’ve still got a very strong group of players though; the core is still there,” said Straeuli this week when quizzed about his expectations this season.

“But what’s exciting is that there are a number of young players coming through the system who’ll be pushing for a chance later on. Just look at our juniors who’re already in the training squad and then there are all those promising players playing Varsity Cup rugby. Our system here at the Lions is really working for us.”

More pleasing for Straeuli is the fact the Lions have been able to reap the benefits of proper succession planning with regards to their Super Rugby coaching team.

“I like to think we’ve learned something from the New Zealanders, where the assistants eventually take over from the head coach, and there’s no break in continuity.

“Let’s be honest, Allister Coetzee should have taken over from Jake White in 2008, because they worked together for four years, and he know the system and the players it shouldn’t have happened all those years later,” said Straeuli about the now departed former Bok boss and his unsuccessful two year stint as national coach.

“Now with Swys we have a guy who worked with Ackers for five years, and he takes over this year it’s what the players wanted, what the fans wanted.

“This is not something that happens easily in South African rugby, but we’ve done it and we’ve also promoted young coaches from our juniors to the top. We hope it works for us, but it should. We all know how important continuity is in this game.”

Straeuli said an exciting Super Rugby season lay ahead for the fans. “It’s a new format again with it being 15 teams, so hopefully we’ll have closer and more evenly contested matches. Everyone wants more intensity, an increase in interest, and greater viewership numbers.

“That’s probably my biggest challenge getting people to the venue, and after that I have to try keep my players and coaches, that’s another challenge of mine.”

Indeed. Several Lions players are out of contract at the end of the competition and while a number of big-name stars are believed to be considering big money contracts abroad, Straeuli assured fans the union were doing their best to keep the players.

“Of course it’s a challenge, individuals will always be targeted,” said the Lions boss. “There are many threats out there for our players, but that’s the way of business in modern sport.

“There are coaches out there (like Ackermann, at Gloucester, and former defence coach JP Ferreira, now at Munster) who know our players; it’s normal. But I also know the Lions guys are happy here and most want to stay. We’ve got a great culture here, so we’ll do everything we can to keep them for as long as possible.”

Straeuli said he didn’t want to look too far ahead this season but felt quietly confident of another good showing in Super Rugby. “I’m excited. We’re in a good place as a team,” he said. “We’re good enough to compete well again and win regularly, but it’s important to take things one match at a time. All I want really is for the guys to play nice, attractive rugby and for the fans to come in and support the guys. Emirates Airline Park is a good place to be on a weekend.”
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super ... n-13195733

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:08 am
by Jensrsa
Getting a fast start is key for the Lions’ chances

If the Lions are to enjoy another successful run in the 2018 Super Rugby competition, as they did a year ago, a good start will be paramount, according to new head coach Swys de Bruin.

The Lions’ impressive run a year ago ended with Johan Ackermann’s team topping the overall log and playing at home in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

And according to De Bruin, who takes over as the head coach from Ackermann this year, the new format of the competition forces teams to be switched on every weekend. There are three fewer teams to contend with this year - the competition going back to 15 teams rather than 18 - with the Lions also facing a tough four-match tour of Australasia this time, something they haven’t had to deal with in years.

What this means for the Lions is that they need to make the most of the first few weeks of the competition, when certain teams could still be finding their feet and be somewhat “cold”.

“We’ve got four overseas games this year, which is different to last year and the year before, so it’s certainly tougher than what we’re used to,” admitted De Bruin in the build-up to the competition. His Lions open their challenge with a match against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

“But, having said that, it’s not too much of a big deal either ... we’ve travelled well recently and bagged a lot of points on the road so the players are used to it now. But starting well will be important and making the most of our home fixtures.”

The Lions’ four away games in Australasia are against the Waratahs and Reds, in Australia, and the Hurricanes and Highlanders, in New Zealand, all former champions - in the middle of the competition.

Being in a strong position before heading Down Under in mid-April will certainly benefit the team and boost the confidence, and therefore starting well will be key.

After this weekend’s clash against the Sharks - who’ve given the Lions a few jitters in recent times - the Lions welcome the Jaguares to Johannesburg and they will hope to bank the full five points on offer, before they travel to Loftus to face the Bulls, and then host the Blues and Sunwolves - again teams they’ll fancy their chances of picking up five points against.

Those are five potential swingers for the Lions early on because after that they have to travel to Buenos Aires to face the Jaguares, a place they haven’t had success at in two years, albeit with weakened teams, and then they host the team they lost to in the final last year, the impressive and dangerous Crusaders. Then it’s the Stormers, before they head abroad.

“On paper, it’s a tough ask,” admitted De Bruin about his team’s schedule. “But everyone has difficult games; it’s a tough competition.”

De Bruin will hope his gamble of playing just one competition warm-up game - three weeks ago and with a severely weakened side against the Bulls - pays off this week for the Sharks’ visit. He said he wanted to keep his players fresh and hungry, and injury-free, but it will mean nothing if they don’t get up and beat Robert du Preez’s side who’ve seen far more action in the pre-season.

De Bruin will name his first matchday line-up on Thursday, with fit-again Warren Whiteley set to captain the side from No 8.
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super ... s-13235349

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 7:28 am
by Wilson's Toffee
Eish. My team is playing Pro 14. And I just CANNOT support the Bulls.
Or teh Sharks or Stormers.

So I will add my little weight onto the Lions, here, For Super RUgby.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2018 9:35 am
by Jensrsa
Wilson's Toffee wrote:Eish. My team is playing Pro 14. And I just CANNOT support the Bulls.
Or teh Sharks or Stormers.

So I will add my little weight onto the Lions, here, For Super RUgby.
Welcome WT :thumbup:

Hopefully you won't be disappointed

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:51 am
by Jensrsa
Having been beaten Super Rugby finalists two years in a row‚ naturally distinct opinions will be formed around the Lions and their ability to go one better this year.

The attention‚ warranted or otherwise‚ doesn’t bother Elton Jantjies‚ a player quite accustomed to sailing headlong into the prevailing tide.

“I suppose there will be expectations from the outside for us to become the South African team to win Super Rugby‚” said Jantjies on Tuesday.

“People have their own expectations but for us as a group we need to stay in the moment.

"We can’t look too far ahead‚” he said in the build up to Saturday’s opener against the Sharks at Ellis Park.

Putting public opinion aside‚ what do the Lions believe they should do to go one better this year?

They topped the points table last year and may well have won the final had they not been reduced to 14-men for the bulk of the game.

“We need to do everything better. All aspects of the game‚” Jantjies said in a sobering tone.

“We are gonna have to do it better than we’ve done it before.

"Everybody is going to prepare for the Lions.

"Everybody is going to have a theory about how to beat the Lions.

"We have to prepare for every eventuality.

"We are going to be tested across the board.

"We need to know what our strengths are and stick to it.”

With Swys de Bruin being elevated to the position of head coach‚ Jantjies believes not much has and will change.

“It is the same feeling‚” he said about this build up compared to the previous two.

“As coaches Swys and Johan Ackermann (former coach) are very similar.

"Besides‚ as a team we have a way of how we play.

“Given the fact that we have the same group of senior players it will be easy for the coaches to slot in.

"They’ve been involved in the junior structures and the SuperSport Challenge.

"They’ve been doing things fairly similar to what we’ve been doing in the senior ranks.

"It is about them now finding their feet in the senior structures.”

With De Bruin in charge‚ not much changes for Jantjies either.

The flyhalf can be a finely strung player‚ with a susceptibility to minor adjustments of shifts around him.

If anything‚ De Bruin’s elevation is reassuring.

“Coach Swys has been a big part of it for me over the last three‚ fours years‚ in the way I want to play and how I do things.

"We are very familiar with each other.

“Nothing changes for me. Everything is similar.

"I always strive to become a better rugby player and make better decisions. I’ve been working on a lot of areas of my game.

"I’m by no means a complete player.”

He will certainly be in the combative Sharks’ crosshairs this weekend.

As the Lions’ backline ringmaster‚ Jantjies’ fortunes are inextricably linked to the momentum of the team.

He seems unfazed.

“The Sharks won’t be easy but the main message for us is to focus on us.”
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby ... the-lions/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 1:39 pm
by Jensrsa
IN THE SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: IT OFTEN HAPPENS THAT PROMISING RUGBY PLAYERS TAKE UP A CRICKET CAREER AFTER SCHOOL. JOEY MONGALO IS THE POLAR OPPOSITE.

Think of Peter Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers (to name but a few) as world class players who - for various reasons - took up cricket after school - despite showing enormous promise as rugby players.

The 'first love' for Joey Mongalo, by his own admission, was cricket. In fact he was once a teammate of AB de Villiers.

However, the former Blue Bulls scrumhalf and centre, Mongalo, will be the Lions' defence coach when they open their campaign against the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

He was first named as Breakdown and Backline coach in December last year. Subsequently long-time defence guru JP Ferreira moved to Irish province Munster and Mongalo took over that portfolio.

"Originally I am actually a cricketer," Mongalo told rugby365 in a one-on-one interview this week.

"I was fortunate in 2002 to play with [Protea stars] AB [de Villiers], Faf [du Plessis] and Heino Kuhn in the domestic schools provincial tournament.

"That [cricket] was my first love."

Things didn't quite work out for him at the Northerns cricket academy. He then got a bursary at the University of Pretoria and got into the Bulls rugby structures.

He was a member of three championship-winning junior teams in Pretoria.

Mongalo also played for the South African Under-21 team in 2006, when they lost to France in the Final.

After completing his studies, he started a marketing career and was temporarily lost to sport.

However, he was lured to the Lions by Nico Serfontein, who coached him as a junior in Pretoria.

"By that time I was itching," Mongalo told rugby365.

"I didn't enjoy the corporate thing and jumped at the opportunity [to join the Lions].

"Rugby offered me an opportunity to play and study, after school. I didn't have that opportunity with cricket."

Mongalo said he enjoyed his time working in the Lions structures - for eight years - with seasoned staff like Johan Ackermann and JP Ferreira.

"The Lions have a united coaching staff and whatever JP was coaching with the senior team, I was coaching with the juniors [Under-21 and Under-19] teams.

"We were running similar systems - similar calls, similar exits.

"The great thing, having taken over from him [Ferreira], a lot of the stuff has stayed the same.

"I would just add one- or two-percenters that are unique to the way I see the defence system working."

He said the Lions may "tweak" a few things when the season gets underway this weekend, but they will continue to play the well-established Lions' brand of rugby.

"The fundamentals are there," Mongalo said, adding: "This group cares about each other. The group will tackle for each other and work hard for each other.

"It is just about fine-tuning smaller things.

"The big machine is working,, it is running very well."

He may be diving in at the deep end, with his first season in Super Rugby, but Mongalo is as ready as a seasoned pro.

"I can't wait for 7pm [19.00] on Saturday, when the first game is done."

He said Ellis Park is a "special place" to make your Super Rugby debut/.
http://www.rugby365.com/tournaments/sup ... gby-s-gain
JOEY MONGALO

The former Blue Bulls rugby player (centre, scrum-half) started his formal career in rugby as marketing assistant for the Blue Bulls Rugby Company. He joined the Lions as a full-time coach in 2011 when he was appointed as the defence coach for the Under 19 team, the same year this team won the national league.

From 2012-2016 Mongalo was part of the coaching staff of the under 19, under 21 and Vodacom Cup teams at the Lions as defence coach. In between he coached the Wits University Varsity Shield (2012) and Varsity Cup teams as backline and defence coach.

In 2016 he was defence coach for the Junior Springboks at the Junior World Championships in France. The Lions under 19 side was crowned nationals champions in 2016 and 2017 with Mongalo as head coach. He also acted as Lions Currie Cup breakdown and skills coach. Another feather in his coaching cap was being Finalist of the Coach of the Year Gauteng Sports Awards.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2018 2:05 pm
by Jensrsa
On the surface, it looks to be the dawn of a new era for the Lions as they plot the way forward in Super Rugby.

Having finished as runners-ups for two straight years in 2016 and 2017, the Johannesburgers have since said goodbye to their coach and mentor Johan Ackermann.

A man who commanded respect from his players and peers, Ackermann transformed the once embattled Lions into the best Super Rugby side in the country.

Under Ackermann, the Lions went from Super Rugby whipping boys to a side that oozed attacking enterprise and produced some of the most attractive rugby in the competition.

With Ackermann now settling into his role at Gloucester, the Lions reins have been given to Swys de Bruin, who makes the step up from assistant coach to head coach.

Whenever a new coach comes in, the expectation is that he will put his own footprint on the side. But De Bruin, who was Ackermann's right-hand man throughout the metamorphosis of the Lions, is not looking to do anything of the sort.

Instead, he is looking to build on the work done under Ackermann.

"I don’t see it as a new cycle whatsoever," he told Sport24.

"I was here for five years with Ackers and so was the rest of our staff. Apart from the three young coaches that joined us (this season), it's exactly the same group of players.

"We lost Faf (De Klerk). He was a good player but never really a senior player and nor was Ruan Ackerman or Akker van der Merwe.

"Those are the three players we lost but the rest are all still here. All our Boks are still here and we’ve got a very good senior base of players."

Having pioneered an attacking style that the other South African sides have tried with little success to emulate over the past two seasons, De Bruin is expecting the Lions to be given stiffer competition from the Sharks, Stormers and Bulls this season.

Having done almost everything right over the past two years without the ultimate reward, the Lions must now find a way to go one better and become the first South African side to win a Super Rugby title since the Bulls in 2010.

"That’s the question, the big thing and the discussion we’ve been having with our senior players and Jannie Putter, our mental coach," De Bruin said.

"Those are the small margins we’ve got to get right now and that’s what we’re working on.

"In saying that, we’re going to do the same as the last two years and we are definitely still process driven, even more so than in the past.

"A few things have changed. The South African teams are much stronger and the competition is more strength versus strength. We’ve got some targets on our backs. Guys are coming for us now when they didn’t in the past. That’s a new challenge."

The Lions have added Niel de Bruin as their kicking and skills coach, Joey Mongalo as their backline coach and Philip Lemmer as their defence specialist.

All of those new additions come from existing Lions structures, and that all lends itself towards the consistency that De Bruin is looking to breed at the union.

"There is definitely continuity. If I arrived here new, then it would have been the start of a new system, but it’s not," he said.
https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRu ... s-20180214

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2018 8:07 am
by Jensrsa
Here rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen highlights the potential and talent of the men coach Swys de Bruin has to choose from in the coming weeks and months

The two Bok players

Lionel Mapoe: The 29-year-old, 12-cap Springbok became something of a mainstay in the Lions No 13 jersey under former coach Johan Ackermann and may well be De Bruin’s first outside man as well. Blessed with speed, an eye for the gap and loads of experience, Mapoe is one of the most under-rated outside centres in SA. Boosting his selection chances is the fact that he’s comfortable on the wing as well, but most fans will want to see a 13 on his back.


Rohan Janse van Rensburg: He was sensational throughout 2016 and in the early stages of last year until injury laid him low for much of the rest of the year. But the 23-year-old returns to the Lions set-up in fine form and ready to challenge for the Bok team again, desperate to add to the one Test appearance at the end of 2016.

Not only is the centre a powerful ball-carrier, but a man with a quick turn of speed who’s often in the past left defenders clutching at air. His preferred position is inside centre, but he can play outside, too, while there’s even a chance he may deputise on the wing until Ruan Combrinck and Courtnall Skosan return from injury.

The two Bok hopefuls

Howard Mnisi: At 28, Mnisi is a man with plenty of experience behind him and had it not been for long-term injuries in the last two to three years he may well have found his way into the Bok set-up. He missed the whole of last season, just when it looked like he was ready to take his game to the next level, but he gets another shot at it in 2018.

An intelligent and smart centre who reads the game better than most, the former SA A player prefers the inside centre role, but has played outside centre on occasion. He is highly rated by De Bruin and will be pushing hard for a starting role.

Harold Vorster: Tall, strong, fast and clever Vorster returned after a long injury layoff to dominate the midfield scene in SA rugby last year and the fact he was never considered for the Boks remains a mystery. He performed consistently well through the season and it is surely just a matter of time before he gets the recognition he deserves.

He scored some wonderful tries last year by running wonderful lines at the perfect times, an indication of how well he reads the game. Best suited at inside centre, but equally destructive at No 13, Vorster can hardly be left out of a starting team.

The one with the bright future

Manny Rass: He was still at school at Paarl Boys' High two years ago, but showed then, and for the Western Province Craven Week team as well as the SA Schools team that year, that he has bright future ahead of him.

So keen were the Lions to see what he could do that De Bruin handed him a Currie Cup debut last season and the youngster never disappointed. A strong man with great ball skills and the ability to power through the smallest of gaps, the specialist outside centre will probably struggle to break into the Lions team right now but he’ll train with the seniors and learn as much as he can. At 19-years-old he’s still very young, but keep an eye out for this hugely-talented centre.
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super ... y-13295544

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2018 10:38 am
by Jensrsa
The pre-season notion that the Lions had shot their bolt and will slide into decline didn't stand up well as they powered to a 26-19 Super Rugby opening win over the Sharks.

Sure‚ they weren't the slick operators that surged to the last two finals‚ but tellingly they again showed the character and wherewithal that proved the bedrock of their two most recent campaigns.

“We went into this game a little underdone‚” reminded coach Swys de Bruin.

“We asked for character and that came through.”

Captain Warren Whiteley nodded in agreement.

“The guys showed great character to keep them out. We scraped through but we know there is still a lot of hard work ahead.”

It is when bodies forcefully collide when character is most tested.

It was on the back of a dominant scrum and unremitting defence that the Lions eventually quelled the persistent‚ but error prone visitors.

“The boys scrummed well‚” said De Bruin.

“They planned hard in the week‚ especially when they realised the Sharks were going to come with a big scrum‚ with Beast (Mtawarira) on the bench.

"That was the plan and the guys did well.”

In the build up to his 50th Super Rugby match Lions loosehead prop Jacques van Rooyen talked about how he relished going up against Thomas du Toit who has reverted to tighthead.

Van Rooyen gave the Sharks tyro a working over.

The Lions displayed similar robustness in their defence.

“One thing about this team. When the chips are down they fight. I love the brotherhood. They showed they are brothers‚” noted De Bruin.

Whiteley however lamented the moments when the Lions invited pressure onto themselves. Routinely conceding line-out possession and dropping a kick-in almost on your own tryline can prove deflating.

“We knew it was going to be a high pressure game‚” said Whiteley.

“We put ourselves under pressure a lot of the time. We were our worst enemy. I'm proud of the guys‚ especially towards the end.”

If there were questions about the Lions' ability to transition into the new season with the same verve and vigour they displayed over the last two campaigns‚ part of the answer was always going to reveal itself in the players they now introduce to the big league.

Left wing Aphiwe Dyantyi didn't have a lot of opportunities‚ but when they came he grabbed it as if he had been waiting for the ball all his young life.

“Aphiwe is a guy you guys can watch. Unreal guy and a team player. He's the future‚” De Bruin said in almost understated tone.

Ultimately‚ when under the cosh the Lions found a way of rolling with the punches.

They were also a little sharper when presented with opportunity.

“The attack was lovely‚ the backs ran well‚” said the coach.

“When Hacjivah (Dayimani) came on and stole that ball‚ he doesn't know how big that was. The same with Marnus Schoeman under our poles.

"If you can win those small margin calls you're happy‚” beamed the coach.

He was particularly pleased about putting one over a franchise where he once was a long serving coach.

“Warren is from the Bluff‚ I lived there for 12 years and I think Rudolf Straeuli (Lions chief executive) still owns half of Durban.

"It is very sweet to beat the Sharks‚ I must admit.”
https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/rugby ... for-lions/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 9:22 am
by Jensrsa
The 20-year-old Lions loose forward provided one of the highlights of the opening round of Super Rugby with a superb cameo.
In a couple of telling seconds, promising young flank Hacjivah Dayimani emerged as one of the Lions’ heroes in their narrow Super Rugby win over the Sharks at Ellis Park last weekend.

One of the finds of last year’s Currie Cup, it was Dayimani’s great steal on the ground late in the game in his Super Rugby debut from the bench which denied the surging Sharks in their push for a draw.

Afterwards Lions coach Swys de Bruin said Dayimani – his name is pronounced “achiever” which quickly became his Lions nickname – probably didn’t realise himself “what a big moment in the game it was”.

“It all happened so quickly. I actually just wanted to slow the ball down and the next moment there was a chance to steal the ball so I went for it,” said the 20-year-old former Jeppe pupil.

“And then all the guys just swamped over to congratulate me, it was a great moment and feeling.” Dayimani said they knew it was going to be tough against the Sharks with quality players like Beast Mtawarira and Curwin Bosch on the bench.

“But this weekend is another challenge against the Jaguares. They have a lot of international players,” he said.

Daymani said while they are all brothers at the Lions, players like lock Marvin Orie, wings Aphiwe Dyantyi and Madosh Tambwe are probably the closest to him.

“With Marvin I am learning all the little details of forward play, while me, Aphiwe and Madosh count among the youngsters in the side so we all have something in common and we learn a lot from each other,” he said.

“I was extremely thrilled with the great try Aphiwe scored last weekend.”

At 1.88m and 98kg Dayimani can play 6, 7 and 8 and is being groomed as forming the back-up to players like Jaco Kriel, Kwagga Smith and captain Warren Whiteley.

“I learn a lot from players like that and I must say at this stage coach Swys de Bruin is also keen to use me out on the wing,” said the bundle of energy.
https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-afric ... n-seconds/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:50 am
by WoodlandsRFC
How many minutes are Whitely and Kwagga likely to get this weekend? And Dyantyi?

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 5:55 am
by Jensrsa
WoodlandsRFC wrote:How many minutes are Whitely and Kwagga likely to get this weekend? And Dyantyi?
We'll have to see whether the Lions again go with two loosies on the bench. If not Warren will probably get another 80 while Cyle Brink and/or Kwagga Smith will get around 60

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:09 am
by WoodlandsRFC
Jensrsa wrote:
WoodlandsRFC wrote:How many minutes are Whitely and Kwagga likely to get this weekend? And Dyantyi?
We'll have to see whether the Lions again go with two loosies on the bench. If not Warren will probably get another 80 while Cyle Brink and/or Kwagga Smith will get around 60
Got some excellent back row stocks. And Dyantyi?

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 6:19 am
by Jensrsa
WoodlandsRFC wrote:
Jensrsa wrote:
WoodlandsRFC wrote:How many minutes are Whitely and Kwagga likely to get this weekend? And Dyantyi?
We'll have to see whether the Lions again go with two loosies on the bench. If not Warren will probably get another 80 while Cyle Brink and/or Kwagga Smith will get around 60
Got some excellent back row stocks. And Dyantyi?
Dyantyi started last week and should get another 70-80 minutes, he might give another youngster Madosh Tambwe some time from the bench. Swys selected a weird bench last week, we'll find out later today if he goes a similar route this week

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:15 am
by Jensrsa
Lions to blood youngsters from bench

Lions coach Swys de Bruin plans to give youngsters game time as substitutes without disrupting his starting XV.

De Bruin named scrumhalf Marco Jansen van Vuren on the bench for their match against the Jaguares in Johannesburg on Saturday.

The 21-year-old will make his Super Rugby debut should he replace incumbent Ross Cronjé.

'Ross has been playing a lot lately and needs a bit of backup,' explained De Bruin. 'He is tough, so sometimes we don't need the backup and [fullback] Andries Coetzee can also play scrumhalf.

'Marco has trained very well and as we carry on, hopefully we can blood some of the youngsters, especially off the bench.

'For me, it is a very good system if you can blood them that way, with not too much disruption in the starting XV but maybe a change or two on the bench.'

Jansen van Vuren is the latest Lions youngster to get an opportunity in Super Rugby, after wing Aphiwe Dyantyi and flank Hacjivah Dayimani made their debuts in the 26-19 win against the Sharks last week.

'Sometimes you want to blood the youngsters and sometimes you need to keep continuity. So the whole trick is how to manage it to make sure that you do expose every guy in the squad maximum game time as possible,' De Bruin added.

'There is no definitive answer for that. I like continuity, especially with the starting XV as the guys settle easier and if they win then I try not to fool around too much with the lineup.

'But I have to give the guys a chance like I have done with Marco. He has just trained too well, so it is his chance to be on the bench.'
http://www.sarugbymag.co.za/blog/detail ... from-bench

Rookies still to come:
Rhyno Herbst (21) Lock
Willie Engelbrecht (25) Loosie
Len Massyn (20) Loosie
Christiaan Meyer (23) Scrumhalf
Shaun Reynolds (22) Flyhalf (1 SR cap)
Ashlon Davids (24) Flyhalf
Madosh Tambwe (20) Wing (6 SR caps)

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 6:39 pm
by Jensrsa
Grant Griffith, the director of rugby at Dale College in the Eastern Cape, laughs when it is suggested he made a mistake by not picking Aphiwe Dyantyi for the first team in his matric year.

“It’s funny how I’m now hearing stories that I never selected him because he was too small at school,” says Griffith with a hearty chuckle. “He was certainly smaller than the guys around him but that’s because he was a year younger than all of them he was always a year young for his group. And, besides that, we had a great flyhalf who played first team for two years running. <b>Aphiwe didn’t make first team in matric because there was a better player ahead of him in the queue, that’s all.</b>”

Dyantyi might not have cracked it at schoolboy level - he actually ended up playing for the third team in his matric year in 2011 - but he’s now making a name for himself at the Lions, on the wing.

The 23-year-old has been Man-of-the-Match in both the Lions' Super Rugby games so far this season, grabbing a brace of tries in both outings against the Sharks and Jaguares.

“He’s got a massive future ahead of him,” says Griffith. “He’s got everything to take the big step up that’s required to succeed at the highest level, and that’s discipline, hard work and dedication.

“I’m thrilled for him. It just shows that even if you don’t crack it at school level, if you want something and you’re prepared to work for it, you can achieve your goal. Aphiwe is the perfect example of grabbing your chance when it comes.”

It helped that Dyantyi “opened his mind”, in his own words, to the idea of changing positions. He was, at school and even afterwards, intent on playing flyhalf only, and at a push fullback until a meeting with University of Johannesburg U-19 coach Mac Masina some years back convinced him to swap to the wing, and consider other positions.

“Mac was coaching the UJ Young Guns and I was just playing touch rugby for Wits at the time. He offered me a chance to play for UJ, but I told him I didn’t like wing. I’ve never liked wing because it’s not where you can make the decisions, like at flyhalf,” Dyantyi recently told GritSports TV in an interview.

“But I got together with Mac, we had some coffee, and at the end of the meeting I signed up for UJ. I played fullback, I played Sevens, I played Young Guns and then I decided to give wing a shot. I’ve learned to open up the mind to other options.”

The rest is history. Dyantyi starred for UJ in the Varsity Cup competition, at centre mainly, and debuted for the Lions in the Currie Cup last year. He is now starring on the wing in Super Rugby and after last weekend’s showing against the Jaguares his coach Swys de Bruin said he could become a legend of the game.

Big things lie ahead for the speedy winger with the big side-step and jet-fuelled pace, but so disappointed was he at missing out on first team action at school he gave up the game for some time.

“It was Dale’s 150th celebrations in my matric year and I wanted to play first team and I thought I would after going through the system in the A teams in junior rugby. It’s a big boys school and pride was at stake,” he told Grit Sports. “I assumed I’d move into the first team, but it never happened and I took it hard I was embarrassed. After school I quit rugby, and accepted it wasn’t going to happen.”

He moved to Joburg and started studying, having enrolled for a B Com Marketing degree (which he now has an honours in), “to make a fresh start”. He turned to soccer and social rugby, helping out his “koshuis” (residence) from time to time, before being convinced by former Lions centre Masina to change his thinking and give rugby a go again, even it if meant playing wing.

“My family always said I was destined to play Super Rugby and for the Springboks,” he told GritSports. “Now I am playing in Super Rugby and am fully focused on that, to make the most of the opportunity I have. Of course I want to play Test rugby but one shouldn’t look too far ahead otherwise you can miss out on the now. I know that if I do the little things right, the big picture will look after itself.”
https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super ... m-13518313

Seems he was flyhalf at school

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:23 pm
by WoodlandsRFC
Dyantyi has been a revelation I suppose. Likely to be elevated into the Bok squad at all? (Has been great for my fantasy team)

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:30 pm
by Jensrsa
WoodlandsRFC wrote:Dyantyi has been a revelation I suppose. Likely to be elevated into the Bok squad at all? (Has been great for my fantasy team)
I'm worried that he might not maintain his start, in the eyes of the fans and the media. He has a great opportunity with Combrinck and Skosan out injured but he has been playing first class senior rugby for less than a year.

I watched him a bit during the Currie Cup last year and I saw then that he's a special talent but his start in SR will be difficult to maintain

Aphiwe Dyantyi ● The New FERRARI (Including Currie Cup

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:42 pm
by saffer13
Jensrsa wrote:
WoodlandsRFC wrote:Dyantyi has been a revelation I suppose. Likely to be elevated into the Bok squad at all? (Has been great for my fantasy team)
I'm worried that he might not maintain his start, in the eyes of the fans and the media. He has a great opportunity with Combrinck and Skosan out injured but he has been playing first class senior rugby for less than a year.

I watched him a bit during the Currie Cup last year and I saw then that he's a special talent but his start in SR will be difficult to maintain

Aphiwe Dyantyi ● The New FERRARI (Including Currie Cup
No way should Skosan replace him.

Interesting that he played and considered his first choice position flyhalf.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:50 pm
by Jensrsa
saffer13 wrote:
Jensrsa wrote:
WoodlandsRFC wrote:Dyantyi has been a revelation I suppose. Likely to be elevated into the Bok squad at all? (Has been great for my fantasy team)
I'm worried that he might not maintain his start, in the eyes of the fans and the media. He has a great opportunity with Combrinck and Skosan out injured but he has been playing first class senior rugby for less than a year.

I watched him a bit during the Currie Cup last year and I saw then that he's a special talent but his start in SR will be difficult to maintain

Aphiwe Dyantyi ● The New FERRARI (Including Currie Cup
No way should Skosan replace him.

Interesting that he played and considered his first choice position flyhalf.
Skosan has done well at and for the Lions. He has sheer pace, and he can also step at pace. It will be good for the Lions to have both available at 11

Image

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 8:18 pm
by Jensrsa
Meet the wrestler who’s inspiring the roaring Lions pack

Phillip Lemmer was unknown when he was appointed the men from Johannesburg’s forwards coach. It hasn’t taken long for him to make his mark.
It took just three games for Lions forward coach Philip Lemmer to stamp his authority, something that was obvious after last year’s Super Rugby runners-up hammered the Bulls up front at the weekend.

However, the 34-year-old former Emerging Springbok prop and national representative in wrestling might have an ace up his sleeve: there’s a bit of a psychologist hiding inside of him.

Lemmer, in a chat with The Citizen, revealed he has a secret message for the pack of forwards ahead of every game.

Even though the Lions’ pack were superb at Loftus, they’ll receive a different message ahead of this weekend’s meeting with the Blues at Ellis Park.

“I choose a weekly theme to concentrate on. Against the Bulls it was ‘hunt as a pack’,” said Lemmer.

“So I showed the guys a nice video clip of how a Lion’s real strength is when he operates as part of a pack, as a unit.”

Before their campaign opener against the Sharks, the tune was different.

“The first week was about ‘detail and respect’,” said Lemmer.

“It’s important. The manner in which I greet a guy, the manner in which I treat the media, the way I treat my wife at home, it all boils over to the game and what type of person I am.”

Before the Jaguares, for instance, it was about completing the job that was started.

“That was about ‘finishing the race,” said Lemmer.

“If we scrum, finish the race. If we do a lineout, finish the race. When we train and I see the heads drop a bit, I say: ‘Remember boys to finish the race’.

“I believe the more we share other dimensions of each other’s lives, the more value we add.”

Ironically, the Bulls bore the brunt of the Lions’ inaccuracy against the Jaguares.

Lemmer felt his players probably tried to force a few things and weren’t so clinical.

The Lions could’ve controlled the game better and maybe be a bit more relaxed.

“The guys are always so excited to express themselves because that’s what we want to do. We want to score tries, so maybe we should have waited more patiently for a proper scoring opportunity.

“But after 20 minutes it was all sorted out.”

And how…
https://citizen.co.za/sport/south-afric ... ions-pack/

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 11:57 am
by Jensrsa
Emirates Lions Injury Report:

Cyle Brink has a nerve entrapment in the right shoulder. He should be available for the next Vodacom Super Rugby game.

Dillon Smit injured rib cartilage but should be ready for the next game.

Old injuries:

Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronje, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Aphiwe Dyantyi should all be cleared for the tour. The Emirates Lions will leave for their Australasia tour on Tuesday 17 April.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:02 pm
by Chilli
Jensrsa wrote:Emirates Lions Injury Report:

Cyle Brink has a nerve entrapment in the right shoulder. He should be available for the next Vodacom Super Rugby game.

Dillon Smit injured rib cartilage but should be ready for the next game.

Old injuries:

Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronje, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Aphiwe Dyantyi should all be cleared for the tour. The Emirates Lions will leave for their Australasia tour on Tuesday 17 April.
Good luck on tour.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:14 pm
by Wilson's Toffee
Jaco Kriel ? Still out ?

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:15 pm
by Jensrsa
Wilson's Toffee wrote:Jaco Kriel ? Still out ?
Out for the year probably. Had another operation on his shoulder

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:17 pm
by Wilson's Toffee
Jensrsa wrote:
Wilson's Toffee wrote:Jaco Kriel ? Still out ?
Out for the year probably. Had another operation on his shoulder

Eish. This should have been his year, to cement his place for 2019 RWC.

Re: Lions SR thread 2018

Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2018 12:19 pm
by Wilson's Toffee
Was it Mostert who played flank (openside) the other day ? Did bloody well, too...

Suddenly we are all looking for the next Juan Smith ... but Kwagga can inherit the openside, to my mind.