New season and new challenge for Lions
WHITELEY: NEW SEASON, NEW CHALLENGE FOR LIONS Swys de Bruin is relishing his debut in Super Rugby.
Lions captain Whiteley says past two seasons will count for nothing as the Super Rugby opener against Sharks looms.
The previous two seasons will count for nothing tomorrow against the Sharks at Ellis Park, said an excited returning Lions captain Warren Whiteley. The Lions open their Super Rugby campaign against the Durbanites, a welcome return for Whiteley after spending six months on the sidelines last season with a groin injury.
“It’s very nice to be back and I must say it’s been quite a while,” enthused Whiteley yesterday as coach Swys de Bruin included eight Boks in his starting line-up.
“But it’s a new season and a new challenge and we haven’t achieved anything yet. It starts all over again, it’s a long competition and we will be breaking up our challenge into weeks.”
De Bruin surprised by naming centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg on the bench, but said he is happy to start with the settled combo of Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe.
“We were looking at combinations and horses for courses, with Rohan to play an important role later in the game,” he said.
On the left wing the sturdy Aphiwe Dyantyi, who has pace to burn, will get his first start and De Bruin said he for one is upbeat about what the youngster could bring to the team.
“Aphiwe had an excellent Currie Cup, he trained extremely hard and eventually the selection was easy. I’m very happy for him and he is an excellent team man,” said De Bruin.
He added while they are all too aware of what a massive challenge the Sharks will bring, he is looking forward to his debut as the Lions head coach.
“I must say I’m very excited and very privileged to be still in the Lions systems after five years,” said De Bruin.
“We are definitely not taking anything for granted and expect a massive game from the Sharks.”
Prop Jacques van Rooyen will play his 50th game, there’s a return for Sevens star Kwagga Smith, while potential debutants – loose forwards Hacjicah Dayimani and Marnus Schoeman – have been named on the bench.
The selection of Springboks Beast Mtawarira, Daniel du Preez and Curwin Bosch on the bench were the obvious talking points after the Sharks announced their team yesterday for their Super Rugby opener against the Lions at Ellis Park tomorrow.
While coach Robert du Preez said the benching of prop Mtawarira and loose forward Du Preez had more to do with their lack of game time in the weeks leading up to the new season, and Bosch was always expected to play second fiddle to Robert du Preez Jr at flyhalf after the stellar display the coach’s son produced in the Currie Cup final, there is no doubt the Sharks will be fielding a bench full of high-impact players to match the high-tempo rugby the Lions usually produce in the final quarter at altitude.
The manic energy replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe can bring off the bench is well-known to Ellis Park fans, while Hyron Andrews is also a mobile lock.
“Beast had an extended onemonth break after the Springbok tour and only joined us after we came back from the game against Racing. He looks really good but we want to bring him back slowly and he’ll probably play 30 minutes. It’s the same with Dan, who’s had a bit of a groin niggle” coach Du Preez said yesterday.
“We also want to reward those guys who’ve played well in the warm-ups, but there were some very tough decisions. We are blessed to have so much depth. Kobus van Wyk is on the bench because he covers 13 and wing, while we want to give Akker a go off the bench.”
While some players are thawing out amongst the replacements, wing Makazole Mapimpi and flyhalf Du Preez have been thrown straight into the starting line-up on their Super Rugby debuts for the Sharks.
Much has been written about the changes at the Lions, but coach Du Preez isn’t biting.
“We’re not really interested in what they want to do, it will be more of the same I’m sure. You should ask Swys de Bruin,” Du Preez said after being asked what he expects from the Lions.