Ackers to break Durban drought?
It has been a long time between drinks for Johan Ackermann. The last time he won a Currie Cup match as a visitor in Durban, he was still a player.
Since Ackermann has become involved in the coaching structures at the Lions, the men from Johannesburg have not won a Currie Cup game at Kings Park.
In fact the last time the Lions won a Currie Cup match in Durban was the semifinal encounter in 2007.
And, despite pundits suggesting they are favourites, Ackermann feel that Saturday's Round Nine trip to Durban will not be a walk in the park either.
"They have plenty of players with Super Rugby experience and on their home field they are always a tough hurdle," the Lions mentor told rugby365 in an interview.
"They would also have taken a lot of confidence from their win at Loftus [Versfeld, a fortnight ago]."
But it is the Lions' long drought in Durban, as much as the opportunity to cement their second place on the standings, that will be driving them this week.
"Since I have been involved, the Lions have not beaten them in Durban and that shows just how tough it will be," he said of Saturday's outing.
"Then you look at names like Kyle Cooper, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Jacques Botes, Etienne Oosthuizen, Lionel Cronje, Sibusiso Sithole and Lwazi Mvovo – those are all players who were involved with the Sharks in Super Rugby.
"Now doubt we have our work cut out for us."
The Lions received a timely boost with the return from injury of some of their star players.
Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, who suffered a fractured arm during the first round of the Currie Cup, was set to be ruled out for the rest of the season. However, the 25-year-old made a surprise return to action during the Golden Lions' 46-8 win over Griquas in Kimberley last weekend. He featured off the bench during the impressive victory.
"Bossie [Boshoff] is a bonus for us, as we didn't expect to see him again this season," Ackermann told rugby365, adding: "He made a great recovery."
Star prop Julian Redelinghuys injured his calf muscle in August and has been sidelined since.
"Julian [Redelinghuys] is slowly working his way back [to full fitness], he just needs some game time," the Lions coach said.
"[Scrumhalf] Ross [Cronje] is also back [from injury]."
However, it is having his Bok flyhalf back that is the biggest boost.
"It is important to get Bossie match-fit," he said, adding: "Jaco van der Walt did not do anything wrong, in fact he is in great form.
"It is just much better for us going towards the play-offs that we have two flyhalves in peak match condition."
He opted not to select his back-up flyhalf, Van der Walt, on the bench and instead named an additional prop for the trip tom Durban.
"We do have [flyhalf] cover in the team. Andries Coetzee has played at flyhalf often enough and we have to get Julian [Redelinghuys] match-fit as well, so we opted to go with an additional front row."
By Jan de Koning
