AUDIO: The Lions' best 'buy'
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are renowned for picking up unwanted ‘goods’ and turning them into gems.
Carlü Johann Sadie may just be the next big find for the Lions.
The 21-year-old former Junior Springbok has found himself surplus to requirements in Cape Town, where the Stormers have two Springboks in Wilco Louw and Frans Malherbe ahead of him.
The Lions – who lost the services of a couple of senior props – was in need of an anchor for their scrum.
Sadie, who played for the South Africa Under-20 team for two years in 2016 and 2017, is on ‘loan’ to the Lions.
However, his form in the first couple of rounds – against the Jaguares and the Stormers – suggests he is the find of the season from the Johannesburg-based franchise.
Not only has he solidified the Lions scrum, but his workrate is praiseworthy – making heaps of tackles and winning turnovers like a loose forward.
Lions forwards coach Philip Lemmer believes Sadie can fulfil his early promise and reach the highest level.
Lemmer said Sadie’s mindset is what will make him a success at the Lions.
“From day one his character was awesome,” Lemmer told a media briefing at the team’s training base in Johannesburg.
“If he keeps going the way he is going, he can [be a success].
“You see a lot of good youngsters, as soon as they start to make it, a change of behaviour takes place.
“If he stays as he is now, definitely,” Lemmer said, when asked if he believes that Sadie has the potential to play for the national team in the future.
Lemmer added that Sadie has all the physical and technical attributes needed to be an international player.
“I think the way he can scrum, his body shape, his posture and the way he moves around the field with the big body,” Lemmer said.
Although Sadie lacks experience, he has settled in well at the Lions.
“He is still very young,” the forwards coach said, adding: “From the word go he slotted in with the team.
“I think that’s the one secret – there is no juniors or seniors in our team.
“If you have one cap or 100 caps, you are all the same and that made it easy for Carlu as well,” Lemmer added.
Sadie will be looking for another big performance when he fronts up to the Bulls at Ellis Park on Saturday – a front row that consists of Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane, Springbok hooker Schalk Brits and the experienced Lizo Gqoboka.
“This weekend presents another opportunity for the youngsters to put up their hands,” said Lemmer.
“It’s always a massive battle when the Lions and Bulls meet.
“A lot of guys will want to prove a point; there are those who want to put up their hands for a Boks spot and those who want to show they must be retained.
“Our forwards will be crucial this week, as always. It starts up front and the plan is to scrum the Bulls, to maul them, to keep them as honest as possible.
“If we do that, then the backs can express themselves. There’s no secret to what we want to do, we want to keep working them.”
By Josh Isaacson
@isaacson_j
@rugby365com
