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Change needed in Lions' den |
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Transvaal 
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 Topic: Change needed in Lions' denPosted: 02-Mar-2020 at 1:21pm |
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https://www.iol.co.za/sport/rugby/super-rugby/change-needed-in-lions-den-43841602
The time has come for the Lions to throw caution to the wind and play their traditional brand of attacking rugby, and for coach Ivan van Rooyen to give opportunities to some other players. This after the team slumped to their third Super Rugby defeat in four matches following Friday’s 29-17 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney. It was the first time the Tahs had beaten the Lions in six matches and since 2014. The last time the Lions visited Sydney in 2018 they beat the Waratahs 29-0. The Lions have now lost to the Jaguares, Stormers and Waratahs, with their only win coming against the Reds in round two. They face the dangerous Rebels in Melbourne next weekend before heading to New Zealand for matches against the Blues and Highlanders. Van Rooyen’s men have been found wanting on attack and defensively this season and on Friday conceded five tries to a team that had lost all three of their previous games and looked well out of form. At the same time the Lions managed to score only two tries - both coming via flank Marnus Schoeman, from the driving maul. While the Lions dominated the possession stakes in Sydney (61%) and won 98 rucks to the Tahs’ 56 they battled for momentum and rhythm in their game and failed to put multiple phases together. It meant that from 141 ball carries they beat only 13 defenders and made only four clean breaks. With their 100 ball carries the Tahs beat 24 defenders and made nine clean breaks.In defence, the Lions missed 24 of 93 tackles, while the Waratahs missed only 13 of 173. Only a handful of the Lions players, among them Schoeman, captain Elton Jantjies and wing Tyrone Green, performed well, while several others failed to make an impact. While the Lions are in a rebuilding phase following the departure of many big-name stars in the last year or two, it is difficult to understand why such dynamic players as loose-forward Hacjivah Dayimani and centre Wandisile Simelane haven’t started up to now. The loose-trio that has been backed by Van Rooyen has failed to fire while the team’s two first-choice locks, Ruben Schoeman and Marvin Orie, have hardly done any damage to the opposition. And, in midfield, whether it’s been Dan Kriel playing next to Duncan Matthews or whether Manny Rass has worn the No 13 on his back, there has been precious little to get excited about in terms of what they have dished up in attack. Also, exciting scrumhalf Dillon Smit, a player with plenty of experience and someone who makes things happen on the field, failed to even make the Lions tour squad. The Lions have now also lost promising flank Vincent Tshituka to an ankle injury - and he’ll be returning home - so Van Rooyen will be forced into making a change in the loose-trio for the upcoming match against the Rebels. Dayimani or veteran 35-year-old former Springbok, Willem Alberts, will now almost surely get an extended run. The Lions need some strong and bold leadership right now, as well as some tough decisions to be made - by the coaching team and the players themselves. There are still three weeks to go on tour and getting a win, from a commanding performance, this coming weekend in Melbourne would certainly make life a little easier when the Lions hit New Zealand after that. |
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WitBoer
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Joined: 31-Mar-2016 Location: Bronkhorstsprui Status: Offline Points: 2162 |
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 2:15pm |
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My 2c...
Ek is geen "expert" nie en die is maar net my waarnemings as a Leeurugby liefhebber. Aanval. Die gevaarligte tov ons aanval het al vir my in 2017 begin flikker... In 2016 het ons 3 spelers onder die top 10 gehad vir meeste driee. (Rohan, Skosan en Mapoe). 2017 het ons net 2 (Marx en Skosan) en 2018 net vir Marx... So dit is baie duidelik dat ons al hoe meer met die voorspelers begin aanval het (rolmaal), instede dat die vories hulle werk doen en die agterspelers toelaat om aan te val. Ek is nie seker wanneer Niel de Bruin betrokke geraak het by die senior span nie, maar ons aanval het definitief onder hom BAIE agteruit gegaan. Daar is geen verbeelding op die aanval nie. My volgende punt kan dalk 'n groot invloed op dit he. Spankeuses. Hier kan ek net onthou dat ek in 2017 nie saam gestem het met Rohan wat van die bank af moes speel na hy teruggekom het van sy besering af nie. 2018 moes Rohan of op die bankie sit of vleuel speel... Dit terwyl Vorster in uiters swak form was, maar ons het aangehou met Vorster en so doende op die ou einde vir Rohan weggejaag. Dit is ook hier waar ons begin het om Franco Mostert op 7 te speel met Brink op 6 en Schoeman/ Kwagga op die bank. 2018 is ook die jaar wat "Nic Groom" op die toneel verskyn het en ten spyte van swak vertonings, week in en week uit was hy ons voorkeer skrummy. 2019 het ons steeds voortgeploeter met Vorster wat nooit die bal uitgee of oor die voordeellyn kom nie, koppel dit met Groom wat sekerlik ons skrummie is wat die bal die stadigste ooit skoonmaak en dit is glad nie 'n verrassing dat ons nie die uitspeelrondtes kon haal nie. 2020 sit ons al klaar met spelers wat nie perform nie, maar wat week in en week uit speel... Dit lyk amper asof die afrigter voel hy MOET die spelers wat gekoop is speel.... Verdediging Punteverskil op die log per jaar: 2014 - (-46) 31 driee vir en 46 teen 2015 - (-22) 32 driee vir en 41 teen (verbetering op al drie afdelings) 2016 - (+186) 71 driee vir en 42 teen (verbetering op 2 afdelings en amper dieselfde op driee teen, maar ons het meer wedstryde gespeel.) 2017 - (+322) 81 driee vir en 27 teen (By verre die beste seisoen in al drie afdelings) 2018 - (+84) 77 driee vir en 55 teen 2019 - (-77) 53 driee vir en 64 teen (swakste seisoen vandat ons teruggekom het in SR). 2020 - (-38) 10 driee vir en 16 teen... Op die trant is ons weer op 64 na 16 wedstryde... Probleem is dat ons nog die "moeilike" wedstryde moet speel... Meeste van die ondersteuners is lief daarvoor om uit te wys dat ons soveel Springbokke verloor het tussen 2017 en 2018... In 2014 het ons 'n klomp "unknown nobodies" gehad. Ek dink as mens die span van 2014 vandag vergelyk met die span van 2018 en 2019, behoort ons saam te stem dat ons baie meer talent het as wat ons gehad het. 90% van ons span was spelers wat ander unies nie wou gehad het nie... Vandag sit ons met van die beste ex junior springbokke tot ons beskikking. Ons flous ook onsself as ons dink dit gaan beter word volgende seisoen of die een daarna... In 2014 het ons amper elke wedstryd beter en beter begin speel, 2016 was die jaar wat ons seker die mooiste rugby gespeel het, maar ons verdedeging het gesukkel en ons verdedeging is in 2017 uitgesorteer. Van 2018 af speel ons amper elke week bietjie swakker en swakker. Ek persoonlik dink ons het die spelers om oor 'n jaar of wat weer aanspraakmakers op die beker te wees, maar ons het eenvoudig nie die talent op afrigtersvlak nie. As die bestuur dit nie kan of wil raaksien nie, gaan ons weer vinnig moet gewoond raak om elke naweek te kyk hoe ons verloor. Ons moet eenvoudig wereldklas afrigters aanstel as ons 'n wereldklas span wil wees... Ek is seker ons kon 'n 1ste klas afrigter bekostig het met Jannie du Plessis se salaris....
Edited by WitBoer - 02-Mar-2020 at 2:18pm |
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"Believe nothing, No matter where you read it, Or who has said it, Not even if I have said it, Unless it agrees with your own reason And your own common sense" - Buddha
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Niela
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Joined: 29-Apr-2019 Location: Johannesburg Status: Offline Points: 515 |
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 2:20pm |
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I agree in general with the article, however lots of opinions/data with very little answers.
Many people complained that 2019 was tough and Swys must go. But people underestimate just how tough it is to coach a young team with limited experience... Now throw a young and inexperienced coaching team into the mix and we really have a proper challenge on our hands. We dominated possession , Schoeman’s brain fart and bad defense costs us, simple as that. We could have won, and we should have won. But don’t expect this side to be world beaters. This season is a write off , we must learn and we must try things ,with a few upsets and a bounce of the ball we can sneak int 8th spot. |
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Niela
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 2:26pm |
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@witboer
Ek stem saam, die ouens het baie talent , maar talent is nie genoeg op die vlak nie. Jong ouens moet kans kry en moet nie al die pressure dra van dag 1 af nie , dis n big ask. Ons Almal weet ook dat ons grootse issue in terme van spelers is hakkers en slotte. Die leeus het baie min gedoen om dit te probeer adresseer. Ons afrigtings span is all over the show , to many chefs in the kitchen. Dis hoekom ons so disjointed lyk op die veld. Dit Sal 2 jaar vat vir die span om te settle , teen daai tyd kan ons weer compete. Ons moet maar ons expectations adjust vir 20/21
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WitBoer
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 2:34pm |
Ek hoor jou en sou kon saamstem as ons ten minste week na week bietjie verbeter... Ek se weer, 2014 het ons net so onervare span gehad, ook geen slotte of hakkers of skrumskakels of senters of vleuels of heelagters nie... Dit was maar net Kriel, Whiteley, Redelinghuys, Minnie en Jantjies wat op daardie stadium op daardie vlak gehoort het... Nou sit ons met 8 Springbokke en ons wil nogsteeds reken dat ons 'n onervare span het? Die probleem le nie by die spelers nie...
Edited by WitBoer - 02-Mar-2020 at 2:34pm |
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"Believe nothing, No matter where you read it, Or who has said it, Not even if I have said it, Unless it agrees with your own reason And your own common sense" - Buddha
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Leeubok
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 3:13pm |
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Ek het nognie 'n game gekyk hierdie jaar nie aangesien ek nie meer dstv het nie, so dis bietjie moeilik om kommentaar te lewer op wat presies fout is.
Een ding wat ek dink uitstaan is ons kort 'n regte leier. Jantjies is wel 'n legende in leeu rugby, maar hy het nie dieselfde effek wat WW of selfs Marx op die span het nie. Dan, al die posisies wat ons voor die seisoen begin het bespreek het as problematies is raai wat, nogsteeds problematies! Haker, slot, scrummie.. Swys se laaitie het nognie in enige van sy rolle 'n impak gemaak nie. Die afrigters is dalk 'n great klomp ouens, en dis baie nice om ouens wat deur die sisteem gekom het te beloon. Maar soos iemand anders al op die thread uitgewys het, as jy wil kompeteer vir die beker moet jy 'n wereld klas afrigter he. Ons het voor die seisoen ook al so gese, ons het nog gegrap na die WC hoeveel afrigters dalk beskikbaar sou wees. Ek hoop maar Cash en sy span kan dinge omkeer, maar ek sal ook nie verbaas wees as dit slegter gaan vorentoe nie. As 'n span se selfvertroue eers laag is raak dit baie moeilik om dit om te keer.
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Transvaal
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 3:19pm |
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Ek weet nie eintlik wat om te se nie, as ons nie eers die heel onderste span op die log kan klop nie, dan het ek nie hoop dat dit 'n goeie seisoen kan wees nie
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emiel1
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 4:18pm |
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Soos julle opmerk, sit ons tans met 'n hele paar probleme:
- Klomp onervare spelers gelei deur oor die muur veterane sowel as spelers wat dit nie by ander spanne kon maak nie of meeste van die tyd beseer is. - Ivan van Rooyen het amper 'n dekade se Super rugby ondervinding saam met Mitchell en Ackerman, en onder hom, was die Leeus een van die fikste spanne die afgelope paar jaar. Maar om hom dan opgesaal te sit met junior en skoolafrigters om hom by te staan in spesialis posisies is verby absurd. - Dit is nou al twee of drie jaar dat top bestuur klei trap met swak kontraktering en aanstelling van onbekwame personeel. Almal kla tereg oor spelers en afrigters, maar ons grootste probleme le met die unie se top bestuur en die manier hoe hulle die "herbou" proses bestuur het.
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Attie Karate
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 6:15pm |
Jip  Ek sien weer 'n rooi kaart op pad
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Up the Vaal!
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valie
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Joined: 02-Apr-2016 Location: ver van hier Status: Offline Points: 2677 |
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Posted: 02-Mar-2020 at 6:40pm |
Teen die Tahs het swak dissipline ons gekos. Teen die Tahs en die Jaguares moes ons catch up rugby speel, en dis waar jy ondervinding kort. Ek dink ons probleem le nie net by die afrigter, of net by die bestuur of net by die spelers nie. Dis n kombinasie, en gooi n tekort aan geld in die mix, en dan het jy die antwoord. Ons is glad nie so swak soos wat ons rekord se nie. Sagte oomblikke het ons 2 games gekos. Dis vroeg in die seisoen. Kom ons hoop die manne keer hulle seisoen om.
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Leeubok
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Posted: 03-Mar-2020 at 7:07am |
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Valie, ek onthou die slegter jare het ons ook gereeld net-net verloor, dan het mens baie gese: as daai een net dit gedoen het, die ref net daai geblaas het, dan het ons gewen. Feit bly staan ons het verloor.
Ek dink persoonlik die hele groep, afrigters en spelers, moet kans gegee word tot die einde van die seisoen. Ek het geen verwagting van hulle nie, ek weet ons gaan nie die uitspeel rondtes haal nie. En onthou, Rudolf en die res van die bestuur het die unie van die grond af opgetel en een van die beste super rugby spanne gemaak. Dit is maar altyd moeilik om bo te bly
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L13
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Joined: 11-Feb-2020 Location: Vietnam Status: Offline Points: 51 |
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Posted: 03-Mar-2020 at 8:50am |
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Yes soft moments are costing us and we could be 3 wins from 4...but I would still be concerned. Results are less important this year than putting the right structures and systems in place. At the moment we aren't seeing much of that. We can blame the guys at the top and they do need to shoulder some of the blame (I am less than impressed with player contracting and retention). However, part of the chat Cash would have had when he signed was "who do you want as your assistants". No coach gets all the guys they want because of budget and politics but they can at least get some of the guys they want. So we can't completely blame the administrators for a completely inexperienced coaching team.
Someone said that the 2013 team had less "known" players but you could instantly see what the team's game plan was. Ball in hand rugby but with strong set pieces, a mobile pack with good hands, attacking the gain line in pods of three, shifting the ball wide, counter attacking from deep and tries over penalties. Every game they got a little better. Who knows what our current style of play or game plan is? For example pick a position and then pick one player in the world that you could put in the team that would suit the game plan and improve the team...can you name one? I can't, because I know how supporters want the team to play - but honestly have no idea how the coach wants them to play right now.
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Niela
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Posted: 03-Mar-2020 at 9:11am |
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There is a lot of things going on, a lot of moving pieces,
Our attack isnt bad, we are scoring tries and we are creating momentum, we need to gel a bit better. For me, its defense and set piece dominance, fix that and we will win more
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valie
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Posted: 03-Mar-2020 at 9:24am |
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valie
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Posted: 03-Mar-2020 at 9:34am |
One must also remember, from 2016 onwards most teams' defensive systems have evolved to try and counter the ball in hand approach, so the attacking style we had back then, also had to evolve. Back then, most teams that applied the ball in had approach ran from almost everywhere on the field and scored tries, while nowadays it seems that most backline tries are now scored by counter attacks, when defenses are in tatters, and by using kicks (cross kick etc.).
Edited by valie - 03-Mar-2020 at 9:37am |
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Niela wrote: