Lions face big rebuilding task

Some call it the end of an era, others named it the big exit after the Lions crashed to their third straight defeat in a Super Rugby final last weekend. Immediate questions have been raised about whether the Lions have the depth and the player resources to go to a fourth final next season, having lost all five matches against New Zealand opposition.

It is in the front five especially where they have been hit extremely hard and it is in this area where the foundation had been laid for their successes over the past few seasons.

The departure of at least six stars would have left the Lions deprived of a mountain of experience which had been built over the last four to five seasons.

Here one thinks of the departures of lock Franco Mostert, prop Ruan Dreyer, flank Jaco Kriel (all Gloucester), prop Jacques van Rooyen (Bath), centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Sale Shaks) and prop/hooker Corne Fourie (Stormers).

Then there is still doubt over the futures of flyhalf Elton Jantjies and lock Andries Ferreira who have both been vague about putting pen to paper.

Coach Swys de Bruin, however, proved himself as a coach of the highest quality, having steered the team to the final in his first term as head coach.

And even though De Bruin pointed out that despite the losses of several of their star campaigners, they still managed to retain the signatures of the bulk of the squad.

De Bruin added that a few years of rebuilding probably awaits with the introduction of several talented but inexperienced youngsters in both the Currie Cup and Super Rugby competition.

Being finalists for three years in a row is a massive achievement as the top local side, but being silver medallists every time wouldn’t have gone down well and they will probably will have their work cut out to make it to a fourth straight final.