Lions gamble on their fringe players delivering
Johan Ackermann admits picking a second-string side for his team’s match against the Jaguares was one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make.
|||Johannesburg - Lions boss Johan Ackermann admits picking a second-string side for his team’s final Super Rugby regular season match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Saturday was one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make.
His call puts at risk the chance for the Lions to finish the season as the top-ranked side, but there are also valid reasons why Ackermann has taken this decision.
The Lions coach explained his reasons to rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen.
The Positives
As conference winners, Ackermann’s team are guaranteed a home quarter-final next weekend; and that’s the only game that matters to the coach right now.
“We know we’ve got a home play-off match and a semi-final and those are the ones we have to win to get to a final,” said Ackermann on Tuesday.
“By resting the first choice players the team will be physically and mentally fresh next week.
”We spoke to many people and doctors about this trip and I believe this decision is best for the Lions. There’s no guarantee we, or whoever finishes first on the combined log, will play in a final.
That’s something that can be dealt with when it arrives... what matters now is the quarters and the game after that.”
“The players who are staying behind will do everything this week that they’d normally do, except play a match on Saturday, so they won’t lose any momentum.
In fact the training sessions on Thursday and Friday will be high in intensity and be very match-like. It’s not like a bye week where the players get a whole week off.”
Added to that the first choice players will have assistant coaches Swys de Bruin and JP Ferreira guiding them over the next few days as only Ackermann and Ivan van Rooyen of the coaching team will travel with the players to Argentina.
Ackermann also points out that the tourists are by no means a B-team, with players like Howard Mnisi, Jaco van der Walt, Ross Cronjé, Cyle Brink, Lourens Erasmus, Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der Merwe and Corné Fourie all being regular first team squad members.
“I truly believe this team can win in Buenos Aires... they’re quality players who’ve been waiting for a chance to show their mettle,” said Ackermann. “And this trip gives them game-time at a different level and we may just need them in the coming weeks.”
The Negatives
The only down side to taking a weakened side to Argentina is that if the Lions lose they potentially give up the right to play at home for as long as they stay in the competition.
It would allow two of the New Zealand sides to move past them in points earned, but only one team will be seeded higher than the Lions, because of the conference system.
But, as Ackermann has pointed out, he needs to give his team the best chance of winning a quarter-final match and possible semi-final first. “Who says the number one team will be in the final anyway?
”Momentum, rhythm and match sharpness are potentially being gambled with - and it’s not as if the Lions were perfectly accurate against the Kings last weekend - but Ackermann explains: “I’m not worried about it. We had the luxury to rest some players before a big game in the Currie Cup last year, and they weren’t affected by it. At this level and knowing what’s at stake next week, it won’t be a problem,” said Ackermann.
The Schedule
The Lions leave for Sao Paulo on Tuesday morning, then catch a flight to Buenos Aires and arrive at 9.10pm tonight (Argentina time; South Africa is five hours ahead).
Thursday will be a day of recovery and rest, Friday will be the captain’s run and Saturday is match day. On their return, the Lions again go via Sao Paulo and arrive back in Johannesburg on Monday at around 7.30am.
The Squad
Sylvian Mahuza, Koch Marx, Stokkies Hanekom, Howard Mnisi, Anthony Volmink, Jaco van der Walt, Ross Cronjé (capt), Cyle Brink, Robert Kruger, Stef de Witt, Lourens Erasmus, Martin Muller, Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der Merwe, Corné Fourie. Replacements: Ramone Samuels, Clinton Theron, Pieter Scholtz, Fabian Booysen, Ruaan Lerm, Dillon Smit, Jacques Nel, Shaun Reynolds; Additional members: Bobby de Wee, Ashlon Davids
The Star