Johannesburg: The Golden Lions “rejects” will stick to their running game when they take on Western Province in the Currie Cup final at Newlands on Saturday.
Having run in six scintillating tries in easily dispatching of the Sharks (50-20) in Saturday’s semi-final at Ellis Park, coach Johan Ackermann says it would be “dumb” to expect his team to play any other way; even though the Currie Cup is now at stake.
“We won’t change anything,” said a relieved Ackermann after guiding the Lions into the final after losing in the semis in the last two years – both times to Western Province.
“(Running with the ball) is the way these guys want to play their rugby. We’ve built our team around certain characters and it would be dumb to change anything now.”
Captain Warren Whiteley agreed. “We can’t go into a box. We’re a team who want to express ourselves and to change things now, because it’s a final, would be very dangerous. Sure, we force things a bit sometimes, we get over-excited, but it’s the way we want to play.”
The Lions have been a free-running team all season, preferring to keep ball-in-hand rather that put foot to ball, and they’re now just one win away from doing what they did in 2011 when they last won the Currie Cup. Opposing them on Saturday will be Western Province who swept past the Blue Bulls; Allister Coetzee’s side also willing to play an expansive style so a thriller is in the offing.
The Lions getting to the final with a bunch of players who started their careers elsewhere but weren’t wanted is testament to the hard work put in by Ackermann and his coaching team. Ruan Combrinck, Courtnall Skosan, Lionel Mapoe, Howard Mnisi, Marnitz Boshoff, Ross Cronjé, Whiteley, Martin Muller, Franco Mostert, Robbie Coetzee, Schalk van der Merwe, Julian Redelinghuys ... the list goes on and on – all players who started out at other unions, written off as not good enough or surplus to requirements, but they’ve all found a home at the Lions and shone.
“Rugby is a strange thing. It’s all about opportunities and grabbing your chance when the opportunity is there,” said Ackermann about many of his players who once would have been labelled “rejects” or “journeymen”.
“We’re fortunate that a lot of these players weren’t wanted by the other unions. We saw something in them and snapped them up, but a lot of credit must also go to the players; they’re the ones who still have to make the most of the opportunity.
“Just look at a guy like Howard (Mnisi). He produced an awesome performance (on Saturday); he grabbed his opportunity and all credit to him. He showed just what a quality player he is. He wasn’t acknowledged at the Sharks, ended up at Griquas and when they didn’t want him we were happy to take him. He’s a case of an individual grabbing his chance.”
Whiteley added the team culture at the Lions is one of acceptance and that has played a major role in the team’s success so far.
“The coach said a long time ago we would accept everyone into our team and that’s what we’ve done. We welcome everyone into our unique culture with open arms. The guys are humble and they’re good friends. What we’ve created here is a culture of excellence, but it’s also an environment of enjoyment.”
Said Ackermann: “We’ve all been through tough times and the players all bought into the culture of accepting everyone. There are no egos here, we all work hard and play for each other. We’re a family.”
It is this family bond that Western Province will have to try to tear apart if they’re to stop Ackermann’s team this Saturday.
Ackermann, though will be praying Jaco Kriel – a standout performer in the 40 minutes he was on the field in the semi-final – will be okay to travel to Cape Town. The tearaway flanker hurt his hamstring against the Sharks and is a doubtful starter this weekend. “We’re not sure at this stage,” said Ackermann. “We’ll test him and take it from there but we’ll do everything we can to have him available.
“Jaco has been immense for us this year and it’ll be a real pity if he can’t play on Saturday. Higher honours are certainly awaiting him.” - Cape Times