Time for the Lions to feast
THERE IS A STEELY DETERMINATION TO MAKE UP FOR LAST YEAR’S DEFEAT
The moment of truth will arrive for the confident Lions this afternoon at a jam-packed Ellis Park to show if they have what it takes to return the Super Rugby title to South Africa after a seven-year drought.
With history heavily favouring the Lions, they could become only the second local team to win the title after the Bulls won the last of their three titles in 2010, but in today’s final the Crusaders will loom large.
In his last game in charge, Lions coach Johan Ackermann was hoping the team would learn from the disappointment of losing last year’s away final to the Hurricanes.
“I trust the guys can look back at last year as individuals and think about the week building up to the match, what their experience was and the disappointment,” said outgoing coach Ackermann. Hurricanes 20 Lions 3 Hurricanes 14 Highlanders 21 Waratahs 33 Crusaders 32 Chiefs 27 Brumbies 22 Chiefs 37 Sharks 6 Reds 18 Crusaders 13 Bulls 25 Stormers 17 Bulls 61 Chiefs 17 Crusaders 20 Waratahs 12 Sharks 19 Bulls 20 Crusaders 19 Hurricanes 12 Crusaders 35 Waratahs 25 Brumbies 47 Crusaders 38 Blues 21 Crusaders 17 Crusaders 31 Brumbies 13 Brumbies 36 Sharks 6 Brumbies 19 Crusaders 20 Highlanders 19 Crusaders 24 Blues 13 Crusaders 20 Blues 23 Brumbies 7 Blues 45 Sharks 21
“They know they are only going to get those 80 minutes to play and do everything you want to do, in order to have no regrets afterwards.”
Ackermann said every single player who has gone through the system since 2014 played a role in taking the Lions to today’s final showpiece.
“I received a message from Willie Britz two days ago wishing me and the team well and I told him he is just as much part of this journey as any of the players.
“And we still talk about him and the impact that he had even though he was only here for a year.
“Every player, even Schalk van der Merwe – and go through the list, Warwick Tecklenburg and then Julian Redelinghuys – who is still involved with the union encouraging the players. In fact he started a mental programme between the senior and the junior players.
“Warren Whiteley has always been in and around the team ... Dylan Smith ... Howard Mnisi ... they have done a lot of things behind the scenes, taking the load off the players, doing a lot of media work, so it’s a collective effort,” Ackermann said.
Lions captain Jaco Kriel said he doesn’t believe today’s game will define the franchise as a team.
“I don’t think the final will define the team after the journey we have been through the last couple of years, so a team can’t be judged on one game. I believe one has to look at the last four years,” he said.
“The team-building, the guys caring for each other, building a brotherhood – that love for each other is unbelievable.
“It was just amazing how everybody cares for each other, no matter who is going away or who is staying, they will always be part of the brotherhood,” said the proud captain.