Swys: 'I am much better'
REACTION: Lions coach Swys de Bruin says he is doing “much better” after returning home from New Zealand.
De Bruin departed New Zealand – on the eve of the team’s 23-17 win over the Chiefs in Hamilton last Friday – for “medical” reasons.
Since his arrival back in South Africa, it has been confirmed that the condition is “stress related”.
He also denied, in the strongest terms, that he has resigned.
“I am getting very good treatment and there is fantastic progress,” De Bruin told @rugby365com in an interview.
He said he is in daily contact with the team in New Zealand – which faces the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
Ivan van Rooyen, who took charge of the Lions during the Currie Cup competition last year, is the caretaker coach while the team remains abroad.
“I am in daily contact with my [team] management,” De Bruin said, adding: “We worked through the Crusaders match.
“Any good leader, if you can’t lead adequately, you have to back the guys that are with the team.
“I have great guys who can do the job for me till I am ready [healthy] again.”
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* Asked about the rumour of his resignation, he said: “There is nothing of that kind.”
He said that in hindsight he feels he took the right decision to return home and would do it again.
“I did what is best for the team.
“If my captain is not in a good space, I don’t expect him to lead the team.
“If a great player can’t play, then I don’t expect him to play. The team always comes first.”
He also denied there has a breakdown in the relationship between him and the union.
Defence coach Joey Mongalo also returned home from tour, after being convicted and sentenced by a Sydney court for indecent assault – stemming from an incident in a hotel while the Lions were on tour last year.
Mongalo faces an internal disciplinary hearing.
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
