Planet Rugby Forum

Jensrsa wrote:

Winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has put pen to paper and committed to the Lions until 2021.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRu ... y-20190606

OomPB wrote:Do we have a match thread?

Jensrsa wrote:

OomPB wrote:Do we have a match thread?

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=90424

OomPB wrote:

Jensrsa wrote:

OomPB wrote:Do we have a match thread?

http://forum.planetrugby.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=90424

The titles of Chilli match threads get wearder by the day.

Jensrsa wrote:Confirmed contracted players 2020 and beyond
(Others, juniors and seniors, were contracted last year after SR but without giving their contract expiry dates therefore not listed yet)

Aphiwe Dyantyi: Wing --> 2021
Andries Coetzee: Fullback -->2020
Reinhard Nothnagel: Lock -->2021
Dylan Smith: Prop -->2021
Vincent Tshituka: Flank -->2021
Ross Cronje: Scrumhalf -->2021
Malcolm Marx: Hooker -->2021 (2020 only from June)

jdogscoop wrote:Unfortunately the Lions suffered by not having an exclusive, unfettered stream of penalties in their favour late in the season.

Better luck next year.

jdogscoop wrote:Unfortunately the Lions suffered by not having an exclusive, unfettered stream of penalties in their favour late in the season.

Better luck next year.

The Lions have put contract negotiations with Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies on hold, a report indicates.

According to Rapport, this was after Jantjies was involved in an early morning incident in a Durban hotel three weeks ago.

Following the Lions' 27-17 defeat to the Sharks at Kings Park on May 25, Jantjies is believed to have left their hotel for an unauthorised night out.

According to the report in the Afrikaans newspaper, Jantjies only returned back to the hotel between 04:00 and 04:30 the Sunday morning, and upon his return bumped into Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli in the foyer.
In response to the incident - and rumours that Jantjies had disregarded captain Kwagga Smith's calls on the field - the Lions retracted their new contract offer to Jantjies.

In the following weeks, Jantjies was dropped and then benched for games against the Stormers and Hurricanes, with the Lions citing a breach of team protocol as reason for his omission.
Straeuli declined to confirm or deny the incident and refused to comment on contract negotiations between the Lions and Jantjies.

handyman wrote:

Jensrsa wrote:

Winger Aphiwe Dyantyi has put pen to paper and committed to the Lions until 2021.

https://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/SuperRu ... y-20190606

Lions and Stormers players staying, Sharks and Bulls leaving. At least half of our unions are doing things right.

What a stuttering campaign for Swys' Lions

The three-time runners-up from 2016, 2017 and 2018, the Lions, have failed to reach the Super Rugby quarter-finals this year. They finished ninth overall and fourth in the SA Conference, having won just eight of their 16 games. Here we take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of their 2019 campaign.

When they roared...

Unfortunately in a season where the team never got on a roll and seemed to be hanging on by a thread throughout, there is not too much to get excited about. Individually, the performances of tighthead prop Carlu Sadie, lock Marvin Orie, loose-forward Kwagga Smith and fullback Andries Coetzee stood out, while wings Courtnall Skosan, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Dylan Smith and Malcolm Marx had good moments.

The other big positive and the highlight of a disappointing season was the emergence of a number of exciting young stars, who are the future of Lions rugby. Here one thinks of prop Sti Sithole, locks Ruan Vermaak, Rhyno Herbst and Reinhard Nothnagel, loose-forwards Hacjivah Dayimani and Vincent Tshituka, and backs, Gianni Lombard, Wandisile Simelane and Tyrone Green.

When they miaowed...

There were several “lows” during their campaign and the fact the Lions managed to win just one of six derbies hurt, and cost them dearly.

They beat the Stormers at Ellis Park in the latter stages of the competition, but they lost to them in round two and also went down to the Bulls and Sharks, home and away.

In recent years the Lions have challenged for top honours in the try-scoring stats, but this year they managed to score just 53 for eighth place in the rankings. Also, the Lions let in a whopping 64 tries, an indication their defence is in dire need of attention before next year’s campaign.

Coughing up Hairballs...

It was concerning and sad that head coach Swys de Bruin had to leave his team in New Zealand after allegedly suffering a breakdown due to stress.

One can only guess as to how his condition - for which he received and is believed to still be receiving treatment - affected the players and team, generally, this year.

Also, defence coach Joey Mongalo found himself facing indecent assault charges in Australia, stemming from an incident in a hotel while the Lions were on tour last year, and he, too, was forced to quit the team temporarily at one stage. He has appealed the guilty finding by a Sydney Court, but again, how did this impact on the team?

Lastly, the Lions were dealt a few heavy injury blows, most particularly to captain Warren Whiteley, who only started and played in four of the 16 games. Several other players were also regularly struck down by the injury bug.

Final verdict…

It was a campaign that promised so much after the winning start in Beunos Aires - a first for the Lions in Argentina - but from the moment Marx was incorrectly penalised at a ruck in the game at Newlands which allowed the Stormers to sneak a win after the hooter had sounded things went pear-shaped for the Lions. It was the same game Whiteley picked up his chest injury, which caused all sorts of problems for the player and the team for the rest of the season.

A lack of continuity in selection cost the side fluency and momentum and they never were able to fully plug the gaps left by the departure of several high profile men in the last two years.

Jensrsa wrote:Confirmed contracted players 2020 and beyond
(Others, juniors and seniors, were contracted last year after SR but without giving their contract expiry dates therefore not listed yet)

Aphiwe Dyantyi: Wing --> 2021
Andries Coetzee: Fullback -->2020
Reinhard Nothnagel: Lock -->2021
Dylan Smith: Prop -->2021
Vincent Tshituka: Flank -->2021
Ross Cronje: Scrumhalf -->2021
Malcolm Marx: Hooker -->2021 (2020 only from June)
Courtnall Skosan -->2021

The Lions revealed that there will be 10 players heading for the exit door as the franchise look to rebuild.

The players on the list to leave the Johannesburg side include Springbok duo Ruan Combrink and Lionel Mapoe.

The pair have not been named in the Springboks squad and are rumoured to head abroad.

Scrumhalf Nic Groom has already revealed that he will join Pro14 side Edinburgh.

While lock Stephan Lewies has signed for Premiership side Harlequins.

The rest of the names on the list includes wing Sylvian Mahuza, hooker Robbie Coetzee, prop Danie Mienie, loose forward Robert Kruger and centre pair Harold Vorster and Franco Naude.

Jensrsa wrote:

The Lions revealed that there will be 10 players heading for the exit door as the franchise look to rebuild.

The players on the list to leave the Johannesburg side include Springbok duo Ruan Combrink and Lionel Mapoe.

The pair have not been named in the Springboks squad and are rumoured to head abroad.

Scrumhalf Nic Groom has already revealed that he will join Pro14 side Edinburgh.

While lock Stephan Lewies has signed for Premiership side Harlequins.

The rest of the names on the list includes wing Sylvian Mahuza, hooker Robbie Coetzee, prop Danie Mienie, loose forward Robert Kruger and centre pair Harold Vorster and Franco Naude.

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/super- ... s-at-lions

No real surprises

Combrinck, Coetzee, Kruger, Mienie and Naude hardly got game time this year. Mapoe had a good season but it was always expected that he and Vorster would be leaving. Mahuza is a bit of a surprise but he was essentially a bench player and was replaced by Tyrone Green for most of the season. Maybe he can get a starting spot elsewhere

Chilli wrote: Is there a replacement hooker now?

handyman wrote:Where is Harold Vorster going? To my mind the biggest loss for the Lions.

Jensrsa wrote:

Chilli wrote: Is there a replacement hooker now?

Pieter Jansen and Jan Henningh Campher has been the back-up hookers this year while Tiaan van der Merwe (2018 Junior Bok) is coming through from the juniors. None of them are Marx's quality of course

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

Average Joe wrote:Everyone is bleeding players every year now oom and it's only going to get worse now that the wound has opened up.

he Emirates Lions have bid farewell to no less than 10 players as a new era is set to begin in this year’s Currie Cup tournament.

While no final decision has been taken with regards to Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, who is still negotiating with the franchise, the Lions finally named their Currie Cup and under-21 management teams on Tuesday and confirmed the departure of 10 players.

Springboks Ruan Combrinck and Lionel Mapoe will move to Heyneke Meyer’s Stade Francais club in Paris, while another Bok Robbie Coetzee and prop Danie Mienie are finishing their contracts, with no word currently where they will end up next.

Franco Naude was on loan from the Bulls and returns to bolster them after they lost Jesse Kriel to Japan while Harold Vorster, Sylvian Mahuza and Robert Kruger have all taken up contracts in Japan.

Nic Groom has joined Edinburgh from next season while Stephan Lewies has been signed by Harlequins in England.

Ivan “Cash” van Rooyen, who coached the side in the Currie Cup last year and is also the strength and conditioning coach for the Super Rugby side, will take charge of the team in the Currie Cup.

Interestingly Joey Mongalo will take charge of the under-21 team for the age group competition. Mongalo was convicted of a sexual assault charge in Australia earlier this year and is appealing the verdict in the Australian courts.

Management Team for the Xerox Golden Lions is as follows:

Head Coach: Ivan van Rooyen
Forwards: Philip Lemmer
Breakdown and Defence: Sean Erasmus
Attack: Neil de Bruin
Scrum Consultant: Julian Redelinghuys
Strength and Conditioning: Rupert Oberholster
Manager: Mustapha Boomgaard
Team Physician: Dr Rob Collins
Physiotherapist: Preven Appalsamy
Massage Therapist: Ram Mpila & Carol Dickson
Kit: Johane Singwane

Management Team for the Xerox Golden Lions Under 21 team is as follows:

Head Coach: Joey Mongalo
Forwards: Wessel Roux
Attack: Mziwakhe Nkosi
Strength and Conditioning: Stefan van Deventer
Manager: MJ Rabodiba
Team Physician: Dr Anri van Tonder
Physiotherapist: Pam Watts
Kit: Bestall Mondo

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

handyman wrote:

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

Seems you completely forgot about Ackerman.

handyman wrote:

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

Seems you completely forgot about Ackerman.

Jensrsa wrote:

handyman wrote:

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

Seems you completely forgot about Ackerman.

Yep, he did.

JM left in 2012 after winning only 5 games in two years and getting the Lions kicked out of SR. Good riddance

Anyway, this year was already the start of a Lions "rebuild", for the want of a better word. 13 rookies blooded, a number of different combinations tested, and this will continue in the Currie Cup.

Next year players like Simelane, Green, Lombard, Herbst, Nothnagel, Campher, Jansen, Reynolds, Dayimani, Venter and others will play a larger role than this year. Players who were blooded, or given more game time, this year.

Of the players listed today as leaving only Mapoe, Vorster and Lewies had significant starting game time this year and only Mapoe really played well although Vorster came to the party late in the season.

I believe the Lions will be better next year. This year was a year of experimentation with new players, new combinations and new game strategies

Jensrsa wrote:

handyman wrote:

Chilli wrote:I wonder if the Lions performance this year is as a result of the JM influence finally waning? After he left they were on the up, made the finals 3 years on the trot..............and this year they were pretty mediocre. And yet the Bulls did pretty ok, you can still see his positive influence.

Jens your valuable input will be appreciated.

Seems you completely forgot about Ackerman.

Yep, he did.

JM left in 2012 after winning only 5 games in two years and getting the Lions kicked out of SR. Good riddance

Anyway, this year was already the start of a Lions "rebuild", for the want of a better word. 13 rookies blooded, a number of different combinations tested, and this will continue in the Currie Cup.

Next year players like Simelane, Green, Lombard, Herbst, Nothnagel, Campher, Jansen, Reynolds, Dayimani, Venter and others will play a larger role than this year. Players who were blooded, or given more game time, this year.

Of the players listed today as leaving only Mapoe, Vorster and Lewies had significant starting game time this year and only Mapoe really played well although Vorster came to the party late in the season.

I believe the Lions will be better next year. This year was a year of experimentation with new players, new combinations and new game strategies

Jensrsa wrote:Confirmed contracted players 2020 and beyond
(Others, juniors and seniors, were contracted last year after SR but without giving their contract expiry dates therefore not listed yet)

Aphiwe Dyantyi: Wing --> 2021
Andries Coetzee: Fullback -->2020
Reinhard Nothnagel: Lock -->2021
Dylan Smith: Prop -->2021
Vincent Tshituka: Flank -->2021
Ross Cronje: Scrumhalf -->2021
Malcolm Marx: Hooker -->2021 (2020 only from June)
Courtnall Skosan: Wing -->2021
Johannes Jonker: Prop --> 2021

The Sharks have snatched one of the Lions’ brightest talents in wing Madosh Tambwe, who last year famously scored four tries against the Stormers, with his hat-trick nailed with 13 minutes of the start of the game.

The Zaire-born 22 year-old joins the Sharks on a two-year deal and will train with the squad on Monday ahead of Friday night’s Currie Cup opener against Griquas in Durban.