Baptism of fire awaits Lions
SUPER RUGBY: TOUGH SHARKS FIRST ON THE AGENDA
Neither Combrinck nor Kriel likely to be fit from the start.
Tipped as the top local side, the Lions are set to face their sternest challenge in three years of Super Rugby when the competition kicks off next month. The Lions open their campaign on February 17 against the Sharks, a team who ran them agonisingly close on three occasions last year, which is followed by a fixture against the difficult Jaguares with both games scheduled at home.
There has been an overhaul in the coaching structures, while the Lions have lost a number of stars, notably scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, hooker Akker van der Merwe and dynamic No 8 Ruan Ackermann.
There could also be delayed returns for Springboks like wing Ruan Combrinck and flank Jaco Kriel who both underwent shoulder operations late last year and could miss out on the first few weeks of the new 15-team, three-conference competition.
While the Lions have made the final for the past two years, they lost both – first away to the Hurricanes and then at home to the Crusaders – and they will have their work cut out to make it to the top again.
The Lions resumed their pre-season preparations this week under the watchful eye of coach Swys de Bruin who has taken over from Johan Ackermann who is now at Gloucester.
Other movements include the appointment of forward coach Philip Lemmer who effectively takes over from Victor Matfield who was only used in a consultancy role during last season’s Currie Cup campaign which ended in a defeat in the semifinal against Western Province at Newlands.
With long-time defence coach JP Ferreira’s departure to Munster, Joey Mongalo has taken over the duties after he was also named earlier as breakdown and backline coach.
The Lions have thus far only confirmed one warm-up game against the Bulls at home on January 27 but a few run-outs against invitational make-ups are also on the cards.