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Johannesburg - After a decent Super Rugby campaign, Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann has warned his charges not to go into the Currie Cup over-confident.
After missing out at the expense of the Kings in 2013, Ackermann's team surprised friend and foe with their performances in Super Rugby this year. Without an abundance of big stars in their squad the Lions managed to win seven games - the most in the franchise's history. Crushing home victories over the Stormers (34-10), Bulls (32-21) and Cheetahs (60-25) proved that they will be force to be reckoned with in the Currie Cup.
However, the coach is a wary of complacency.
"We can't just rely on riding the wave from Super Rugby," he told Beeld. "The guys need to realise they have to earn the jersey and will have to work for every victory. We have to carry the same intensity we practice with into the matches."
The Lions start their Currie Cup campaign at home to the Blue Bulls on Saturday and will be wearing navy blue jerseys to mark the Golden Lions Rugby Union’s 125th anniversary.
Kick-off is scheduled for 17:05.
Teams:
Golden Lions:
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Ruan Combrink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Jaco van der Walt, 22 Howard Mnisi
Blue Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jono Ross, 6 Deon Stegmann (captain), 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 19 Wiaan Liebenberg, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel
After missing out at the expense of the Kings in 2013, Ackermann's team surprised friend and foe with their performances in Super Rugby this year. Without an abundance of big stars in their squad the Lions managed to win seven games - the most in the franchise's history. Crushing home victories over the Stormers (34-10), Bulls (32-21) and Cheetahs (60-25) proved that they will be force to be reckoned with in the Currie Cup.
However, the coach is a wary of complacency.
"We can't just rely on riding the wave from Super Rugby," he told Beeld. "The guys need to realise they have to earn the jersey and will have to work for every victory. We have to carry the same intensity we practice with into the matches."
The Lions start their Currie Cup campaign at home to the Blue Bulls on Saturday and will be wearing navy blue jerseys to mark the Golden Lions Rugby Union’s 125th anniversary.
Kick-off is scheduled for 17:05.
Teams:
Golden Lions:
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Ruan Combrink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Jaco van der Walt, 22 Howard Mnisi
Blue Bulls:
15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Jono Ross, 6 Deon Stegmann (captain), 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 19 Wiaan Liebenberg, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Jesse Kriel
