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Johannesburg – A complete change in team culture.
That is what sports psychologist Henning Gericke has observed at the Lions rugby team.
And he has the following warning for the team’s opponents: It’s not going to end here.
Gericke, who has worked with just about every major sports team in South Africa, is a consultant for the Lions and he has no doubt about how the turnaround at the Lions has been engineered.
“It has helped to be able to build in the Currie Cup, which is less intense than Super rugby. But there is a change in culture at the Lions. They were poor in the Super 14, but Dick Muir already identified their needs then,” said Gericke.
“Dick had the vision to get John Mitchell involved because the situation required someone who could bring some structure. That is what John did and he now plays an important role.
“Dick is more of a creative guy who thinks outside the box and it will be very interesting to see how he and John work together.”
Muir coached the Lions in the Super 14, but will in future oversee operations as director of rugby while Mitchell coaches the side.
“The changes started when Kevin de Klerk became president. There are few unions that can boast a former Springbok as president. Kevin understands how players think.
“When John arrived here, he said that values and a winning attitude had to be established. He is one of the few coaches that take players out of their comfort zones because they are evaluated every week. He does not tolerate egos.”
Gericke observed that the Johannesburg city environment leads to greater distance between players than is the case at other unions. This apparently makes it more difficult for the team to become a tightly-knit unit.
“That is why it’s so important that the players care about one another. And John has established those values,” he said.
Gericke believes Mitchell is doing what another New Zealander, Laurie Mains, did for the union years ago. Mains coached the Cats at the turn of the century.
“Strangely enough, I believe John has the right profile to coach a South African team. He does not take any nonsense and our players want that. They look for heart and structure from their coaches because that is part of our culture.
“Apart from the culture there is also the creativity of Carlos Spencer and Johan Ackermann’s knowledge of the basics of forward play.”
Johannesburg – A complete change in team culture.
That is what sports psychologist Henning Gericke has observed at the Lions rugby team.
And he has the following warning for the team’s opponents: It’s not going to end here.
Gericke, who has worked with just about every major sports team in South Africa, is a consultant for the Lions and he has no doubt about how the turnaround at the Lions has been engineered.
“It has helped to be able to build in the Currie Cup, which is less intense than Super rugby. But there is a change in culture at the Lions. They were poor in the Super 14, but Dick Muir already identified their needs then,” said Gericke.
“Dick had the vision to get John Mitchell involved because the situation required someone who could bring some structure. That is what John did and he now plays an important role.
“Dick is more of a creative guy who thinks outside the box and it will be very interesting to see how he and John work together.”
Muir coached the Lions in the Super 14, but will in future oversee operations as director of rugby while Mitchell coaches the side.
“The changes started when Kevin de Klerk became president. There are few unions that can boast a former Springbok as president. Kevin understands how players think.
“When John arrived here, he said that values and a winning attitude had to be established. He is one of the few coaches that take players out of their comfort zones because they are evaluated every week. He does not tolerate egos.”
Gericke observed that the Johannesburg city environment leads to greater distance between players than is the case at other unions. This apparently makes it more difficult for the team to become a tightly-knit unit.
“That is why it’s so important that the players care about one another. And John has established those values,” he said.
Gericke believes Mitchell is doing what another New Zealander, Laurie Mains, did for the union years ago. Mains coached the Cats at the turn of the century.
“Strangely enough, I believe John has the right profile to coach a South African team. He does not take any nonsense and our players want that. They look for heart and structure from their coaches because that is part of our culture.
“Apart from the culture there is also the creativity of Carlos Spencer and Johan Ackermann’s knowledge of the basics of forward play.”
