'Reds-faced' Johan working on Jaguares slip up

Rohan Janse van Rensburg (left) and Lionel Mapoe are just two of the first choice players who will return for the Lions this week. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Rohan Janse van Rensburg (left) and Lionel Mapoe are just two of the first choice players who will return for the Lions this week. Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix

Published Mar 15, 2017

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JOHANNESBURG - Johan Ackermann was not the most popular man when he sent a second-string team to Buenos Aires at the end of the round-robin phase at the conclusion of last year's competition.

His team lost to the Jaguares and the Lions gave up the chance of finishing top of the log.

But while a fresh and rested full-strength Lions team went on to win their home quarter-final and semi-final - against the Crusaders and Highlanders mind you - they had to travel to the top-placed Hurricanes to contest their first final. Of course, the Lions lost in atrocious conditions in Wellington.

While we will never know how differently things might have turned out - for the better of worse - had the full strength side gone to Buenos Aires, what we do know is that the Lions did the same thing this season. Only, it was in round three last week, but the outcome of Ackermann sending a weakened side to Argentina was the same - the Lions lost.

Just over a year ago, the first choice side, being rested and being fresh, hit back in style. Ackermann will now expect the same of this season’s Lions team when they come up against the Reds at Ellis Park this weekend.

The only player in doubt for the match this weekend is prop Dylan Smith (shoulder), who’ll be assessed in the coming days, while flank Cyle Brink has been ruled out of action, also because of a shoulder problem, but he would possibly not have made the matchday squad anyway.

For the rest, the Lions are healthy and well - just what Ackermann would have wished for ahead of this weekend’s match and the rest of the competition.

The decision to “give up” the match in Buenos Aires will be forgiven somewhat if the Lions hammer the Reds this weekend and produce quality showings down the line. But, only if that is what transpires; if it doesn’t, then Ackermann may again, later on, find himself having to answer questions about his selections for the Jaguares trip.

Anyway, for now he’ll be happy to have a fit and rested team at his disposal for this weekend’s match, and that means Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Lionel Mapoe and Franco Mostert will all potentially return to the starting team.

Also, bench-sitters last weekend like Ruan Dreyer, Jacques van Rooyen, Malcolm Marx, Jaco Kriel and Faf de Klerk and Ruan Ackermann, who wasn’t even in the matchday squad, will all return hungry for action.

Perhaps Ackermann knows exactly what he is doing. He’ll want his team to find some momentum against the Reds on Saturday and against the Kings next week before the Lions take on the Sharks on April 1.

Meanwhile, Reds coach Nick Stiles is keen to see his side cause a few upsets in the coming weeks. After their match with the Lions, the Reds head to Buenos Aires for a date with the Jaguares.

“There was enough in our performance (against the Crusaders last weekend) to be excited about what’s to come from this group. We’re not happy with being thereabouts,” said Stiles.

“The next two weeks are an important time in the development of this side. We’ve faced some adversity in the first few weeks of the competition, but we’ve also shown some growth. It’s a great opportunity to get away together as a group and really challenge each other to get the best out of ourselves.

“The Reds have struggled on this tour in recent years, but there is a genuine hunger and desire within this group to return home with something to show for our hard work.”

The men from Queensland lost narrowly, 20-22, to the Crusaders last week and also came unstuck against the Western Force (26-19). Their only win so far came against the Sharks in week one, a 28-26 victory.

In other news, centre William Small-Smith has joined his Cheetahs teammates for their match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires this weekend. Small-Smith broke his hand in a pre-season game and has yet to turn out for the Cheetahs. Another midfielder, Michael van der Spuy, is also in the tour party, as is Carl Wegner. Raymond Rhule (knee), however, as well as Ox Nche have stayed behind in Bloemfontein.

Cheetahs squad:

Rayno

Benjamin, Clayton Blommetjies, Tom Botha, Aranos Coetzee, Joseph Dweba, Elandré Huggett, Niell Jordaan, Armandt Koster, Charles Marais, Niel Marais, Tian Meyer, Danie Mienie, Oupa Mohoje, Boom Prinsloo, Tier Schoeman, William Small-Smith, Clinton Swart, Francois Uys, Michael van der Spuy, Torsten van Jaarsveld (capt), Ruan van

Rensburg, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Carl Wegner, Fred Zeilinga

The Star

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