Two games, two defeats. And tomorrow the table-topping Stormers visit the Lions; and then it’s off to Australasia for a four week tour.
It’s not been the brightest of starts to their Super Rugby challenge and already there are mumblings about another miserable campaign by the Joburg-based outfit. The Lions themselves though aren’t too concerned about their back-to-back loses at this early stage of the 2015 season.
“The first two games didn’t go our way, but the guys aren’t down and out,” said recalled flyhalf Elton Jantjies. “It’s way too early in this competition to feel like that.
“Just last year the Crusaders lost four or five games and came back (they lost three in their first five). We need to put the past behind us and look to the Stormers.”
Captain Warren Whiteley, too, said it is now crucial for the side to look ahead and register a win. “We have high expectations and we’ve got our standards, so suffering two loses is never easy, but that’s the nature of the competition,” he said.
“In the last two weeks we were probably our own biggest enemy, but it’s important to bounce back now.”
In an effort to achieve this, coach Johan Ackermann has made eight changes to his starting team from the one that lost in Durban last Saturday for the visit by the Stormers.
The most significant of these are at the back where Jantjies takes over from Marnitz Boshoff, who’s been booted out of the match-23 altogether and joining the new No10 is scrumhalf Faf de Klerk.
“It’s time for Elton to get his share (of the action),” explained Ackermann. “He and Faf have great attacking abilities, but I also need to have a look at them before we go on tour.
“It’s also why Jaco van der Walt comes in on the bench and so, too, Sampie Mastriet and Harold Vorster. I’ve put them out there now and it’s an opportunity for them to stake a claim for the tour.” The Lions leave on Sunday night, with that touring group set to be named only hours before their departure.
There is also a completely new-look front row, while Jaco Kriel returns to the side at flank after missing the trip to Durban because of injury. Besides Boshoff, hooker Malcolm Marx is also out of the matchday squad, with Armand van der Merwe and Robert Kruger in line to make their first appearances this season.
Ackermann said he and his charges had spent a great deal of time this week working on rectifying the mistakes that have cost the Lions in the last fortnight. “We’ve let ourselves down ... and everyone knows we haven’t performed well. We have to trust the things we’ve put in place and stick to our systems. We’ve been a bit too individualistic in recent times.”
Despite all the changes to the side this week, Whiteley said he had full faith in the squad. “I back the players who’ve been selected, they’ve all got the ability and I’m really excited for the weekend. There’s going to be some great talent on show.”
Some would say making eight changes smacks of panic; others would argue it’s high time after two stuttering performances. We’ll know the truth come 9pm tomorrow.
TEAMS
Lions STARTING XV: Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Lionel Mapoe, Harold Vorster, Sampie Mastriet, Elton Jantjies, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley (capt), Warwick Tecklenburg, Jaco Kriel, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe; Replacements: Armand van der Merwe, Corné Fourie, Ruan Dreyer, Robert Kruger, Derick Minnie, Ross Cronjé, Jaco van der Walt, Howard Mnisi.
Stormers STARTING XV: Cheslin Kolbe, Johnny Kotze, Juan de Jongh, Damian de Allende, Dillyn Leyds, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, (capt), Michael Rhodes, Nizaam Carr, Ruan Botha, Jurie van Vuuren, Vincent Koch, Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff; Replacements: Scarra Ntubeni, Oli Kebble, Frans Malherbe, Manuel Carizza, Siya Kolisi, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Huw Jones. - The Star