VIDEO: Matfield delivers brutal assessment of Lions' decline
The Lions management is not going to be happy with Springbok legend Victor Matfield, who delivered a brutal and frank assessment of the Ellis Park-based franchise.
Matfield, South Africa’s most capped Springbok of all time, said the Lions are no longer an attractive option for talented young players.
Matfield, asked about the Lions’ erratic form since they reached three consecutive Super Rugby finals from 2016 to 2018 under the coaching of Johan Ackermann and Swys de Bruin, said their previous success was built on the ability to keep a squad together for almost five fears.
It started in 2013, when they were kicked out of Super Rugby, and was allowed to ‘rebuild’ with a group of ‘no-name’ players in minor competitions.
Since SA’s move North – from Super Rugby to the United Rugby Championship – the Lions’ fortunes have not improved either.
They have failed to reach the play-offs (top eight in a 16-team competition) for the first two years.
On the domestic stage they last played in a Currie Cup Final in 2019 and last won the tournament in 2015.
Matfield also suggested the iconic Ellis Park stadium has reached its ‘Sell-By’ date.
The spectator numbers at the Doornfontein venue have declined in recent years, often linked to the slump in form by the franchise’s various teams.
However, it is a more complex conundrum.
The crime-infested Doornfontein precinct, as well as neighbourhoods like Hillbrow and Berea, have long been put forward as a major deterrent for spectators to return en masse to the iconic venue.
This is an issue raised by South Africa’s most capped Springbok of all time, Matfield, in a URC media Round Table this week.
(Article continues below the Victor Matfield interview …)
“For me, where Ellis Park is situated and where they are training is a big problem,” he said about the Ellis Park sports precinct within the Doornfontein suburb – with Lions Rugby Company board Chairman Altmann Allers owning all the properties within that area.
“I don’t think a lot of players want to go and train there, ” the 127-times capped Bok added.
He said, that without being ‘nasty’ to the coaching panel under the guidance of Ivan van Rooyen, they don’t have the same “pull” and “respect” as those at the other three URC franchises – the Bulls, Stormers and Sharks.
“I have said it to their President at some stage,” Matfield told the media gathering, adding: “If you have Jake White coming to speak to you or the Lions coaching staff approaching you, you would rather go to the Bulls – where you think you can become a Springbok.”
With the Lions not having produced many new Springboks in the last few years, Matfield believes they are no longer an attractive option.
“Young players rather go to other unions where they think they can become Springbok,” Matfield said.
Internal administrative turmoil has also made many headlines in recent times.
As @rugby365com reported, the possibility of criminal charges has been placed on the table in the wake of a revelation that a Lions coach has accused a colleague of ‘spying’ on him.
This website reported last month a suggestion that the coaching staff, en masse, approach company Chief Executive Officer Rudolf Straeuli with their grievances.
This development follows the previous expose by @rugby365com of a major disconnect between players and upper management.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
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