Ackermann’s Lion hearts
Down to fate as coach looks back on a job well done
WHAT must be, must be. That appears to be the stance taken by the Lions and especially their coach, Johan Ackermann, before today’s Super Rugby semi-final against the Hurricanes at Ellis Park (2.30pm).
Ackermann, it seems, is content that win or lose today – and qualify for a second successive final or not – he has already achieved what he set out to with his players since taking charge in 2012.
He will leave the Lions when they end their run in the competition to take up a position with Gloucester in England.
In five years the Lions have gone from no-hopers to playing in back-to-back Super Rugby semi-finals.
In the past two years they have lost just five regular-season games out of 30 and should they overcome the defending champions at home today they will qualify for their second final in as many years.
The Lions, despite playing in front of their own fans on familiar territory and having not lost at Ellis Park in 15 matches, going back to April last year, will start as the underdogs today.
It’s understandable considering the visitors won the title last year and beat the Lions twice last season (they haven’t met this year until now).
The Hurricanes are also a team stacked with All Blacks superstars, including the Barrett brothers Beauden and Jordie, and they’re coming off quality wins against the Crusaders and Brumbies.
Ackermann’s men struggled to get past the Sharks in back-to-back matches going into today’s match.
In the build-up to today’s clash, Ackermann almost went so far to say he would not have been able to accept it had his side slipped up against the Sharks last weekend (when they won 2321 with the last kick of the match), but that losing in the semi-finals, to the Canes, would be bearable.
“I know we’ll be judged on results, but for me the growth of the players (here at the Lions) is what matters most,” said Ackermann in the lead-up to this afternoon’s kick-off.
“Where we were and where we are now ... the hard work that everyone has put in and the quality of men the players have become; that is what is most satisfying to me,” said an almost emotional Ackermann this week.
He said he and his players had relaxed more this week, as opposed to last week when they were preparing for the match against the Sharks.
“We’ve enjoyed this week together. I haven’t felt a lot of pressure. We’re playing against a quality side who are the defending champions. All we wanted was a shot at them, and we’ve got that.
“For me the successes we’ve had off the field are bigger than the ones we’ve had on the field ... how we’ve enjoyed each other every day at training, the smiles on the faces.”
Ackermann said all he wanted today was for the players to enjoy the challenge of facing the Hurricanes.
“I believe the guys will express themselves, play with freedom. And, hopefully, we’ll have a chance.”
A Lions team has not beaten the Hurricanes in 10 years, going back to 2007 when the Wellington side were captained by Tana Umaga and the Lions had Andre Pretorius at No10.
In fact, that victory, a 30-7 triumph at Ellis Park, is the only time the Lions have come out on top against the Hurricanes since 2002 when the Cats split up.
That is the magnitude of the job at hand.
That said, the Lions have been sublime playing at home in the past two years and while the Canes have a team stacked with stars, so, too, do the Lions – 10 current Springboks in the starting team.
And we mustn’t forget they beat quality Highlanders and Crusaders teams in the play-offs last year and go into today’s match as the second best try-scoring team in the competition and the best defensive unit.
They’ve got the pedigree and they’ve got the licence to play with freedom. Now they simply need to go out and enjoy the occasion.
And, what will be, will be.