Lions rookies: Reward for time & effort
The Lions may be sitting second-last on the standings, but they are adding plenty of value to the Super Rugby competition.
Johan Ackermann's charges head to Perth this week, where they take on the Western Force hoping to end a six-match losing streak.
The Lions' last win came at Ellis Park back in March, against the Reds – the only team below them on the standings.
Despite the harsh reality of their slump in form in the last two months, the Lions continued to make an impression on all their opponents.
It is their rookie front row that has left an indelible impression on the opposition.
With not a single Super Rugby cap between (that is if you don't count the two promotion-relegation matches against the Southern Kings in 2013) Julian Redelinghuys, Robbie Coetzee and Schalk van der Merwe have taken on all-comers and triumphed.
Not even the Waratahs' highly-rated all-Wallaby front row of Paddy Ryan, Tatafu Polota Nau and Benn Robinson last week or the Sharks' much-feared all-Springbok collection of Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis earlier in the season could overpower them
While their lack of depth have been shown up after a number of key injuries elsewhere in the team, the front row trio have done the franchise proud.
Despite the stirring displays by the competition's youngest front row – they have an average age of just 24 – the coach, Ackermann, remains cautious about the challenges ahead.
"The lesson we have learnt is that when you think you have a strong point [set pieces] then other teams start planning ways to unsettle you," Ackermann told rugby365.
"They [opponents] will work harder to beat you in that aspect.
"We must never think we are the better scrum or have achieved greatness."
The Lions mentor said hard work is the key to the front row's success.
"Players like Julian [Redelinghuys], Schalk [van der Merwe], Corne [Fourie] and Ruan [Dreyer] work together as a unit and they will continue to put in the hard yards," he said.
"You can never afford to underestimate any team. It is like that with everything – if you analyse a team and you see they have a strength, you work out a way to counter that."
Asked how he has managed to take such a young front row and turn them into a combination that can take on all comers, Ackermann praised the players.
"Obviously we saw potential in them, which is why we recruited them," he told rugby365, adding: "However, I truly believe it is just honesty.
"They work hard throughout the week, they are willing to put in the hard yards and partake in those tough scrum sessions [at training].
"As a set of forwards they have bought into what we expect of them.
"The lock's goal is to win 20 out of 20 line-outs, and he needs the props and flanks to support and lift him.
"In the same way they are willing to work for each other in the scrums. They know that if the props want to good report card on the Monday they all have to work hard in that aspect – it is a typical forward effort.
"Like any team we do put the time and effort into those scrum sessions, but mostly it is commitment and hard work that get them the results .
"The individuals also work on their own on aspects of their game. A player like Schalk [van der Merwe] arrived at us [as a discard from the Cheetahs] and has worked very hard on his conditioning and preparation.
"Julian [Redlinghuys, unwanted at the Sharks] has grown tremendously.
"I know [Ruan] Dreyer a bit longer, but he has also worked tremendously hard to make a full recovery from his shoulder injury.
"That individual efforts also contributes to the team's success."
By Jan de Koning
