The following are some questions and answers from the post match press conference after the Pumas game last Friday night.
Asked about the game, his response was simple: “It was a tough night, it wasn’t a great performance but we got 5 points out the game. Our goal was to score 5 points, and we achieved that goal.
Credit must be given to the Pumas for their game, they tackled everything in front of them, they slowed the game down to how they wanted to play.”
Questioned about his areas of concerns, his main concern was the lineout. “Our lineouts didn’t function at all, it was a bit windy, but we have a new hooker and his skill level let him down. The handling let us down, especially out wide, we tried the impossible pass and it didn’t work for us. We had no respect for the opposition.”
This game was expected to build on the great victory over the Bulls and take us into the Cheetahs clash full of confidence. “It’s simple, we went backwards!”
Willem Alberts came on in the 20th minute for Rhodes. “Rhodes had cramps before the game started, but he wanted to play. He couldn’t take it after 20 minutes and we decided to give Willem an extended run off the bench”
Asked whether the late change, bringing in Dumond for Meyer, has anything to do with the poor showing, “We can’t blame one player for the poor showing, our entire backline moved laterally. 19 turnovers in the first half didn’t help our progress.”
“They were better than us, we can’t take that away from them. This is not a bad side at all, and I will not be surprised if they won a few games this season.”
Let’s hope one of those victories don’t come against us in the away leg!
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So here’s how our CC team could look like when all our injuries has cleared up, this is without the Boks.
15. Louis Ludik
14. Stefan Terblanche
13. Adi Jacobs
12. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
10. Steve Meyer
9. Charl McLeod
8. Willem Alberts
7. Jean Deysel
6. Jacques Botes
5. Ross Skeate
4. Steven Sykes
3. Wiehan Herbst
2. Craig Burden
1. Patrick Cillier
16. Eugene van Staden
17. Kyle Cooper
18. Allister Hargreaves/Gerhard Mosterd
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Rory Kockett
21. Monty Dumond/Andre Pretorius
22. Lionel Mapoe
And then we still have JP/Kanko/Beast/Jannie/Bissie.
How does that sound?
I hope Stefan does the smart thing and make this his last season of rugby…with the sharks.
I mean, I love the guy, but with Odwa/JP/Mvovo/Adi/Mapoe/Ludik/Lambie…covering all the positions he may want to play, it will be disappointing if they make a space for Stef to leave one of these guys out.
We’ll win the CC for him this year and hope to see him in some sort of coaching role next year, but I really think it’s time to bow out now.
That opens the when-John-leaves-captain debate again.
@Letgo (Comment 2) : I agree with you 100%.
He needs to step aside and let the youngsters get the game time and grow.
A coaching position will really suit him.. lets hope..
@Letgo (Comment 2) : I think it’s up to the coaches though to realise that, and to play him off the bench from time to time. I don’t think Stefan would mind at all, my perception is that he’s only still playing to help the team anyway… so if the coaches want to play him off the bench to allow younger guys to develop then I reckon he’d support that 100%
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : A sort of Carlos Spencer role then?
@Original Pierre (Comment 5) : let’s not use the Lions and Carlos Spencer as a blueprint for anything, ok?
@robdylan (Comment 6) :
Yeah, you`ve got me there . . .
@Original Pierre (Comment 7) :
I did enjoy that…
@robdylan (Comment 8) : I`m just worried our recent ” performance” against the Pumas gave the Lions some hope. Look out for the upset in 2 weeks time
@Letgo (Comment 1) : wat about Smit & Pienaar in the bok listing??