Leaders of the pride
ACKERMANN: I TOLD THE PLAYERS I KNOW EMOTIONS WILL BE INVOLVED Popular Lions coach is hoping to end his tenure on a high.
It would have been extremely tough to keep the emotion out of tomorrow’s big Super Rugby final at a sold-out Ellis Park against the formidable seven-time champions the Crusaders, believes outgoing Lions coach Johan Ack- ermann.
He yesterday made his final team announcement before his departure for Gloucester, retaining the same side who beat the Hurricanes last week, with replacement hooker Akker van der Merwe set to earn his 50th cap.
“I told the players that I know emotions will be involved in the sense that everybody will smile if we win and if we lose, everybody will be sad,” he said.
“But the respect for the players and how they have supported me as a coach and my management will never change.”
The Lions have the ideal opportunity to make up for the loss to the Hurricanes in last season’s final and finally ending New Zealand’s years of dominance.
“We have a replay in front of our home crowd instead of the 30 000 or 35 000 in Wellington and now it’s 60 000 people plus, so it’s a nice atmosphere and challenge for us,” Ackermann said.
“And now that the sands of time are also running out, you treasure every minute. This morning was quite special when we had our time together as a team, so I can just treasure these moments.”
Ackermann said there should be no doubt of what they are facing; a Crusaders team who have been making a habit of winning the big games.
“We can just focus on what we want to achieve and what we want to do, the one thing about any New Zealand side is that they can punish you at any time.
“If you make a mistake they will make you pay and are well-renowned for their running game,” he said.
“But they also kick a bit, so we must stay calm and execute well.”
And now that the sands of time are also running out, you treasure every minute ...