Ackermann ‘only too happy’ to rotate No 10s

HAVING two quality flyhalves does not give Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann headaches as to whom to pick as his starting No 10.

Following the Lions emphatic 62-23 mauling of the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Saturday, Ackermann admitted that although it could be a difficult position to be in for many coaches, he was still happy with his rotation of No 10s Marnitz Boshoff and Elton Jantjies.

As the Lions ran rampant at Loftus, Boshoff, who started the game at flyhalf before moving to fullback halfway through the second half after a hamstring injury to Chrysander Botha, had a good night on Saturday.

The 24-year-old was flawless with the boot where he converted all 10 kicks the Lions received — two penalties and eight conversions.

After Botha limped off the field, Jantjies got his chance to shine at flyhalf and had an immediate effect in the Lions attack and also put his name on the score sheet, albeit through a gifted try from team-mate Anthony Volmink as reward for masterminding the move that led to the two sauntering over the tryline.

“Look, it can be a difficult situation to have two good flyhalves and not know who to play. But the value Elton brought when he came on showed that the two players complement each other,” Ackermann said.

“Boshoff’s kicking was spectacular, while Elton tackled and attacked very well. It’s very nice to know that one of them can come on from the bench and make a valuable contribution.”

Ackermann might not have to have sleepless nights this week about whom of the two to play when his charges take on log leaders Western Province.

With the hamstring injury to Botha an obvious option for the coach will be to play Jantjies at flyhalf and Boshoff at No 15 — the make-do combination that proved so fruitful at Loftus.

After two successive defeats in their opening two matches of the Currie Cup, Ackermann is pleased with the improvement his side is making despite being robbed of numerous players through injury from the Super Rugby promotionrelegation play-offs against the Southern Kings before the Currie Cup season.

The Lions, who had been rock bottom of the log going into the past weekend’s games, now find themselves in mid-table. They could even secure a semifinal spot — a feat that seemed unlikely in the opening two weeks of the Currie Cup. “I’m very proud of the boys. “Rugby is a funny game. After a frustrating first couple of weeks, at last we saw an entertaining game. Things clicked and we controlled the game well,” said coach Ackermann.

“We started playing the game we have said we want to play this season.

“It’s almost like the players are seeing what we see from outside the pitch and they are utilising the opportunities. We believe in what we are building.”

Bulls coach Pine Pienaar admitted that the Lions were in brilliant form at the weekend but lamented his team’s discipline on the night.

“Our discipline was not good at all. Down 20-23 at half-time we could have come back, but discipline let us down,” Pienaar said.

“The Lions were very good — they played outstanding rugby. This week we need to assess where we need to tighten up and work on it,” he said.

“The defeat was a good lesson for our young team. We must be better next week,” Pienaar said.

The Bulls, who were top of the log before the weekend’s games now find themselves at the foot of the table after one win, one draw and the Lions defeat.

This week the Bulls will look to make amends when they travel to Kings Park to face the Sharks.