Ackermann aware of a weight of expectation

‘We’re not going to get away with the same style of rugby we played last year’

THE problem with performing well – and possibly better than expected – is that everyone expects you to do the same every time. That’s the fate of the Lions this season after Johan Ackermann’s men went all the way to the final of Super Rugby last year.

Ackermann’s men shocked and surprised their fans, their opponents and those doing predictions, but what will they dish up this year? And how will all those individual stars of a year ago perform under pressure, with the weight of expectation on their shoulders?

It’s something Ackermann is acutely aware of, but he says his players must forget about what happened a year ago and focus only on what they’re going to face from one week to the next.

“If we want to be there again (playing in the final), we’re going to have to forget about the expectations,” said Ackermann ahead of his team’s final dress-rehearsal before Super Rugby kicks off in just over two weeks’ time.

“This is a new season and we simply have to go back to scratch. We’ve got to start at zero again,” said the coach.

The fact is the Lions are not an unknown quantity anymore and unlike seasons past, they’ll be taken very seriously by everyone coming up against them.

“Our opponents will now be analysing us, they’ll want to knock us off our perch,” said Ackermann.

“The reality is we’re going to have to be better than we were last year and improve in all areas … because all the teams will be better off this year.

“And we’re not going to get away with the same style of rugby we played a year ago … we’re going to have to bring new innovations to our game this season.”

Indeed, and Ackermann will no doubt want to test a few of those new ideas when his Lions team face off with the Stormers in their final warm-up game in Cape Town on Saturday. Ackermann is set to name that team today and it’s expected he’ ll play a strong, Springbok-laden side.

“It’s going to be important to not look too far ahead,” said the wily Ackermann.

“The focus now is on the warm-ups and we need to perform well there first.

“Also, I don’t want the players to be putting unnecessary pressure on themselves and think they have to do this and do that.”

Captain and No 8 Warren Whiteley, said he was excited about the challenges that lie ahead for his team.

“I think we must use what happened last year, us getting to the final, as motivation this year. We got so close and learnt so much as a group, and we can draw on that, but the reality is that result is last year’s news.

“We’re starting fresh now and there’s a heck of a lot to look forward to.

“There are new and exciting challenges, and opportunities each weekend. The key for us is to not get ahead of ourselves, but to keep everything we’re doing simple and to play for each other, like we’ve always done.”