SEASON REVIEW: Three times the bridesmaid

OPINION: It was a season of changes at Ellis Park – departures resulted in a new coaching set-up.

Despite the changes, it started with huge expectations, which ended in heartache again – the third successive year the Lions lost in a Final.

Of course many cynical pundits will point to another ‘failure’.

Runners-up three years in a row is not exactly success.

The definition of success is the Crusaders: Nine titles. Their closets rivals (the Blues and Bulls) have won it just three times.

However, that is too much of a simplistic view.

It is perhaps more accurate to look at the Lions’ last five years to assess their ‘progress’.

Since the rebirth of the Lions in 2006 – after the ugly divorce that ended the Lions and Cheetahs (Cats) marriage – the Johannesburg-based side did not finish higher than 12th.

That was until they were kicked out of Super Rugby and forced into a shake-up.

Since their return in 2014 they climbed the ranking ladder – 12th in 2014, eighth in 2015 (with a record nine wins), runners-up in 2016 (second on the regular season table, with 11 wins) and runners-up in 2017 (first on the table, with 14 wins from 15 regular season matches).

Now, back to 2018.

Given their growth in the previous four years, the expectations were huge, even with the start of a mass exodus – which included coach Johan Ackermann and his son Ruan.

That exodus has gained momentum and several other players have since headed abroad – prop Jacques van Rooyen (to Bath), prop Ruan Dreyer (joining the Ackermanns at Gloucester), flank Jaco Kriel (Gloucester), centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg (joining Bok scrumhalf and former Lion Francois de Klerk at English side Sale Sharks).

Bok lock Franco Mostert is also listed amongst Gloucester’s new recruits, but the Lions are disputing the legitimacy of this contract.

Despite the high expectations for this year, the more level-headed among us expressed our reservations over new coach Zacharia Francois de Bruin – as he was untested as a head coach at Super Rugby level.

Most of those doubts have been allayed.

Some doubts remain, especially around the remaining resources – given the loss of such a large chunk of senior players.

For me the biggest issue from 2018 was the team’s inconsistency.

There is little doubt that the Lions are still South Africa’s best team – by some distance.

They have lost just once in their last 23 encounters with South African teams – dating back to May 2015.

In 2018 their biggest challenge was the lack of consistency – epitomised in their Australasian tour.

There was that stumble against the Blues at home in Round Four, followed by another plodding performance against the Sunwolves a week later.

They then lost to the Jaguares away and Crusaders at home.

Then followed the tour – which started with their best performance of the year, a 29-0 shut-out of the Waratahs. And then followed the implosion – a loss to the Reds in Brisbane, one of the most disappointing results, and the failure to collect any points in New Zealand.

Victories over the Brumbies, Stormers and Bulls – with a loss to the Sharks sandwiched in between – kept them at the top of the SA conference.

But they were aided other results – which allowed them to overtake the Waratahs and Jaguares in the final week and finish second.

In the play-offs they had impressive wins over the Jaguares and Waratahs (both at Ellis Park), but it is in the Final in Christchurch where their real shortcomings were shown up.

Their naive obsession with attacking play – and almost arrogant stubbornness to not deviate from what they believe is their DNA – cost them dearly, as the Crusaders stayed one step ahead with a more pragmatic approach.

Unless they make more use of the flexible approach, which was so affective against the Waratahs in Sydney during the league stages, the Lions will always be the bridesmaid, never the bride!

Looking ahead to 2019, the signs are still promising.

Yes, they have lost a sizable chunk of their player resources, but the spine remains intact.

Andries Coetzee, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley, Cyle Brink, Albertus Smith and Malcolm Marx all remain.

The Lions are fighting hard to retain the services of Springbok lock Franco Mostert – who is heavily linked to Gloucester.

There will be a number of new faces, but enough senior personnel to make the Lions a competitive unit.

At least they are much more stable in terms of finances and administration than most of the other South African franchises.

By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com