VIDEO: 'That is something I can't do for the players on the field'

Seasoned Springbok Jaco Kriel first raised the issues in an emotional post-match review, about the ‘lack of attitude’ by the Lions players on defence.

Kriel was clearly unhappy with some of his Lions teammates in the wake of their 10-34 loss to the Bulls at Ellis Park last Saturday

Now World Cup-winning Springbok Jaque Fourie has continued the tone and theme in his analyses of the Lions’ dramatic slide in form the past fortnight.

Fourie said it is now up to the players, because ‘heart and attitude’ are not things you can coach.

“You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t force him to drink,” the 72-times capped Bok told a virtual media briefing.

Fourie added that for the coaches it is important to get the players motivated to start playing for each other and show pride in the jersey.

“It is about having respect for the players on your inside and outside,” the Bok legend said.

He spoke about “pride” in what you do and on more than one occasion pointed to the players’ attitude as being at the heart of the issue.

The World Cup-winning Springbok was not beating around the bush when asked about his team’s defence in recent matches – describing it as “terrible”.

Statistics seem to indicate that it is indeed about ‘attitude’ and mot the team’s defensive systems.

(Article continues below …)

In their two wins (from seven starts) – 38-26 over Zebre in Parma and 37-19 over the Stormers in Cape Town – the opposition had the majority of the possession, yet the Lions won comfortably.

Zebre had 55 percent possession and 59 percent territory, while Lions made 105 tackles to 69 – with an 86 percent tackles success rate.

The Stormers had 64 percent possession and 68 percent territory. The Lions made 191 tackles to 86 – with an 89 percent success rate.

In stark contrast, their biggest defeats – 13-36 to the Scarlets and 10-34 to the Bulls last week – the Lions’ tackle success rate had barely reached 80 percent.

Fourie added that there are some “aspects” they have to work on, but repeated the view of fellow Bok and current flank Jaco Kriel that the issue may well be with the players.

“We can only coach so much,” Fourie told a virtual media briefing, adding: “If the players don’t have attitude, the workrate and the heart to do it for each other, you can only go so far.”

He added that they are working on improving the players’ desire to put their bodies on the line.

“This [coming] weekend against the Bulls, they are a physical side and if you let them run at you for 80 minutes, they will give you a hiding,” he said of the return match at Loftus Versfeld.

“For us it is about manning up, fronting up and making our tackles.

“That is something I can’t do for the players on the field.

“We have worked really hard at it the last two days.”

The Lions get a chance to rectify the errors of the past fortnight when they travel to Pretoria for the second of their back-to-back Trans-Jukskei derbies.

“For us, it is all about pride,” the 38-year-old said, adding that the players can make a statement with their performances on the field.

“It is a turning point in our URC campaign.

“We are not going to let teams score easy tries against us.”

* Meanwhile, veteran Bok utility Willem Alberts will be sidelined with a knee injury he suffered in last week’s loss to the Bulls, while captain Burger Odendaal is currently going through head injury assessment protocols after suffering a concussion.

While he is unlikely to play, they are giving him time till Thursday, or even Friday, before making a final call.

@king365ed
@rugby365com