After a dismal 2011 Super Rugby season that saw them at the bottom of the log, the Golden Lions mounted an onslaught on the Currie Cup. 8 Weeks later they had lost only one game and by the end of the 2011 season they were crowned Currie Cup Champions. In the process they beat Western Province in the semi-final and annihilated the Sharks in the final. Both teams were lined with Springboks and international players while the Lions only had 2. The question is can they do it again?
The Lions comes off yet another poor performance in SupeRugby, ending last again. Yes, they have had injuries to key players and players have left the union, but in essence they once again will have the core of their SupeRugby squad to play in the Currie Cup. This time round however they are without suspended coach, John Mitchel and they have the added burden of the Kings/SupeRugby Fiasco, created by SARU, on their shoulders. I can’t remember when a team has been under so much pressure and still performed.
Realistically they should be the favourites alongside the Free State Cheetahs to win the trophy as they will suffer least by the Springboks not being available for most of the season. Bar injury they will have lost only Doppies le grange that has left the union. They can build on last year’s performance and will play against less experienced sides, but will this be enough? I believe it will be.
SupeRugby is currently on a level above Currie Cup and to have players available that played together for 16 games makes a huge difference. These guys are a unit that has played with heart and soul for each other and if they continue doing this, they will be hard to beat. Caretaker coach, Johan Ackermann can rely on players like Josh Strauss, Butch James and Elton Jantjies to lead the team. They have the backline to run at any team and if they work on their defence they can become unbeatable.
The forwards are strong and their scrum and line out work are on par with what they will face. The only drawback will be external factors that are out of their hands. If they concentrate on the job at hand and forget about these they can look forward to yet another final and probably another Currie Cup title.
The 2012 Squad is:
Props
Jacobie Adriaanse, Patric Cilliers, Ruan Dreyer, JC Janse van Rensburg, Caylib Oosthuizen, CJ van der Linde
Hookers
Martin Bezuidenhout, Francois du Toit, Bandise Maku, Callie Visagie
Locks
Ruan Botha, Stephan Greeff, Ettienne Oosthuizen, Hendrik Roodt, Franco van der Merwe, Wikus van Heerden, JC Wasserman, Paul Willemse
Loose Forwards
Willie Britz, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie, Michael Rhodes, Josh Strauss, Warren Whiteley
Scrum-halves
Michael Bondesio, Ross Cronjé, Whestley Moolman
Fly-halves
Guy Cronjé, Elton Jantjies, Butch James
Centres
Richard Aingworth, Alwyn Hollenbach, Grant Janke, Lionel Mapoe, Waylon Murray, Justin St Jerry, Jaco Taute
Wingers
Ruan Combrinck, Dylan Des Fountain, JR Esterhuizen, Deon van Rensburg, Anthony Volmink
Fullbacks
Chrysander Botha, Andries Coetzee, James Kamana
Players coming into the squad for 2012 are:
Willie Britz (from Griffons)
Guy Cronje (from Natal Sharks)
Ross Cronje (from Natal Sharks)
Stephan Greeff (from Western Province)
Grant Hattingh (from Western Province)
Bradley Moolman (from Blue Bulls)
Whestley Moolman (from Leopards)
Hendrik Roodt (from Griquas)
CJ van der Linde (from Stormers)
Callie Visagie (from Maties)
And then there are those who left or are on loan in 2012:
Jannie Boshoff (to Griquas – loan)
David Bulbring (to Eastern Province Kings)
Sebastian de Chaves (to Stade Montois)
Burton Francis (to Western Province)
Ross Geldenhuys (to Free State Cheetahs)
Grant Hattingh (to Blue Bulls)
Michael Killian (to Eastern Province Kings)
Doppies la Grange (to Benetton Treviso)
Johan Snyman (to Eastern Province Kings)
Dries van Schalkwyk (to Free State Cheetahs)
The Lions have played in the following Finals and have won 10 Titles sharing one:
Currie Cup
Season Winners Score Runner-up
1922 Transvaal n/a n/a
1939 Transvaal 17 – 6 WP
1947 WP 16 – 12 Transvaal
1950 Transvaal 22 – 11 WP
1952 Transvaal 11 – 9 Boland
1968 N Tvl 16 – 3 Transvaal
1971 Transvaal 14 – 14 N Tvl
1972 Transvaal 25 – 19 Falcons
1974 N Tvl 17 – 15 Transvaal
1986 WP 22 – 9 Transvaal
1987 N Tvl 24 – 18 Transvaal
1991 Blue Bulls 27 – 15 Transvaal
1992 Natal Sharks 14 – 13 Transvaal
1993 Transvaal 21 – 15 Natal Sharks
1994 Transvaal 56 – 35 Orange Free State
1996 Natal Sharks 33 – 15 Golden Lions
1999 Golden Lions 32 – 9 Natal Sharks
2002 Blue Bulls 31 – 7 Golden Lions
2007 FS Cheetahs 20 – 18 Golden Lions
2011 Golden Lions 42 – 16 Natal Sharks
Good luck to the Lions in their endeavour to add an 11 title and play in their 21st final.
Follow me on twitter: @djvanman
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