Ackermann backs young Lions to shine
THE last time the Lions’ Van der Walt brothers, Jaco and Gerdus, played alongside each other in the backline was at Monument High School in Krugersdorp. Tomorrow, in the Lions’ final Currie Cup round-robin game against Griquas at Ellis Park, they’ll again be next to each other in what is a young and untried combination.
Coach Johan Ackermann has made wholesale changes to his table-topping team for their last league game against the men from Kimberley, resting the majority of his big guns for next weekend’s semi-final against either the Cheetahs or Sharks. The Lions secured top spot last week, with a game to go, and all that will be on the line tomorrow will be their unbeaten record; they’re nine from nine so far.
Coming in at flyhalf will be 21-year-old Jaco van der Walt – a regular for the Lions over the last two seasons, but he’s played mainly behind Marnitz Boshoff or Elton Jantjies – and at inside centre will be his younger brother, Gerdus, just 20 years old.
“He’s just like Jaco ... a real talent,” said Ackermann of the younger Van der Walt. “He’s a ball player, he’s big and strong and physical and it’s going to be interesting to see how they combine. The last time they played alongside each other was at school.”
Ackermann has picked a number of under-21 players for the match, including centre Jacques Nel, who’ll directly oppose his older brother Ruhan in the Griquas team, prop Pieter Scholtz, prop Dylan Smith and lock Bobby de Wee.
“There are a few under-21s playing this weekend who’ve had to adapt quickly to the way we play here, but the majority of them train with us anyway on Mondays,” explained Ackermann. “We may struggle with fluency in the beginning on Saturday but I’m confident the longer the game goes on the more they’ll settle into our pattern.
“We’re in a great situation this weekend. We can have a look at who measures up at this level and at the same time the regular guys get a weekend off to freshen up mentally for the play-offs. It wasn’t an easy decision (to make all the changes), but I want the players to stay away from rugby this weekend and come back on Monday mentally fit for the big match ahead,” said Ackermann.
He added players like Robbie Coetzee, MB Lusaseni, Kwagga Smith, Fabian Booysen, Van der Walt and captain Ricky Schroeder would have a big role to play against the men from Kimberley. “I want them to take control of things. They’ve been part of the senior squad all year and in the case of Ricky he’s been captain of the Vodacom Cup side and knows our system. They’re going to have to lead the youngsters and bring calm to the occasion.”
Despite resting 14 regulars, Ackermann said his team will continue to play attacking rugby. “The style won’t change ... this remains a Lions team and there’s a responsibility to do the jersey proud. We’ll continue to play attractive rugby and hopefully, with all the changes, it will still be successful.”
An injury to lock Martin Muller at training yesterday means there could be some positional switches in the team named yesterday, with Ackermann set to make a call tomorrow before the 4pm kick-off. At this stage scrumhalf Schroeder is down to lead the side, but that could change if Warren Whiteley is included.
Meanwhile, the Bulls will be looking to secure second place and a spot at Loftus Versfeld in next week’s semi-finals when they face the Pumas in Nelspruit this evening (6pm kickoff). At the same time Western Province entertain the EP Kings at Newlands, hoping they get five log points from the match and the Bulls slip up.