LIONS

RECRUITMENT BALANCE

There has been next to no player movement – nothing meaningful anyway – but the Lions of course have bid farewell to coach Johan Ackermann.

Smart and resourceful, Ackermann will be missed and the fact he’s taken his son, Ruan, with him to Gloucester means the Lions are well down on last year.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TACTICALLY?

These guys play good football. They shift the ball to space and have the pace to run teams off their feet. Their basics skills are high and their set piece work good.

Ackermann has gone but his blueprint of how they play is likely to stay. And we love Kwagga Smith as one of the most determined opensides in the competition.

GUT FEEL – RISERS OR FALLERS?

We see the Lion as fallers. More because of the format where they are going to have to front against the best New Zealand sides.

WHERE WILL THEY FINISH?

Will probably win the South African Conference but may not be so high up the overall table.