The things that make Ackers great

It is bound to take a tad bit longer before the dust finally settles around the shock announcement by Lions coach Johan Ackermann earlier this week.

Former Springboks Breyton Paulse and Kobus Wiese have already bemoaned the loss of one of the leading local coaches after the Super Rugby season to English club Gloucester.

Former Bok flyhalf Joel Stransky, who was not the most popular person this week when he said the Cheetahs and Kings need to be cut from the competition, also jumped on the bandwagon, saying it was inevitable that the Lions’ performances will ultimately suffer as a result of Ackermann’s decision.

But if one looks at the situation holistically, you can’t blame Ackers for broadening his horizons.

During the announcement he said that it’s every coach’s eventual goal to coach at international level once he tasted some of success at Super Rugby level.

A lot of Ackers’ success during his time with the Lions has been credited to free-thinking backline coach Swys de Bruin.

But speaking to Swys recently, he pointed to the areas which makes Ackermann such a successful coach.

De Bruin said apart from Ackermann being very technical and a workaholic when it comes to making the forwards operate as a unit, he is a people’s person, has huge integrity and is always prepared to listen to other people’s opinions whether from a player or a member of the support staff.

It was quite funny in a way when Ackermann acknowledged the fans, Lions president Kevin de Klerk, CEO Rudolf Straeuli and equity partner Altman Allers as well as his family during his emotional farewell message this week.

“And what about the media? a respected colleague asked. “Of course the media as well,” Ackermann answered. “Without you guys we would be nowhere.”

That is what makes Ackers great, no person is too little to be acknowledged.

I remember an occasion where we had to wait for ages for the press conference to commence after the Lions beat the Crusaders in last year’s Super Rugby semifinal at Ellis Park.

“Sorry you guys had to wait that long,” Ackermann apologised later, “but the supporters kept me busy outside for ages and I couldn’t just ignore them, they are the heart and soul of a union.”

But as Ackers said, there’s a competition to be finished first.