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Johannesburg - "The bus will depart, whether you are on board or not.”
With those words Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar on Thursday described the pressure his players are feeling to do their bit in the closing weeks of this year’s Super 14.
The Lions will be out to post a victory at the ninth time of trying this year when they host the Sharks at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday. There are six changes in the Lions’ starting line-up.
At flyhalf, heaps of New Zealand experience has been traded in for South African experience. Thirty-four-year-old former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer has been omitted after a number of disappointing performances.
This gives 31-year-old Herkie Kruger the opportunity to start for the Lions for the first time – against the team for whom he made his Super rugby debut in 2001.
Spencer has still been picked as a substitute and Lions coach Dick Muir said his omission was a “rotational” move.
“Goalkicking also has something to do with it. But the nice thing about Carlos is that he’s versatile and therefore an asset on the bench,” said Muir.
Kruger succeeded with all three of his conversions after replacing Spencer in the second half of last week’s game against the Reds.
Spencer failed with all three his kicks at posts, but his general play was also not up to scratch.
As expected, Marius Delport was picked at outside centre in place of Walter Venter, who has a knee injury. Venter is expected to be fit again next week.
Deon van Rensburg, who was injured on tour, returns as a centre option on the bench, while Chris Jonck may feature the first time this year as substitute scrumhalf.
Muir said that the four other changes in the starting team were also down to rotation. Tonderai Chavhanga replaces Wigan Pekeur on the wing, Todd Clever is picked at the expense of Derick Minnie at No 8, and in the front row JC Janse van Rensburg and Hans van Dyk have been picked ahead of Heinke van der Merwe and Hannes Franklin at loosehead prop and hooker respectively.
Janse van Rensburg is playing well this year.
Grobbelaar said that the players should now take responsibility for the situation and that it’s up to individuals to show that they want to be part of the union going forward.
“The guys know that there will be changes if they don’t do their bit. The bus will depart, whether you are on board or not. Every guy wants the Lions to do well,” he said.
“Everyone feels they have worked hard since November, but we made mistakes at critical times. The biggest pressure comes from the players themselves.”
Johannesburg - "The bus will depart, whether you are on board or not.”
With those words Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar on Thursday described the pressure his players are feeling to do their bit in the closing weeks of this year’s Super 14.
The Lions will be out to post a victory at the ninth time of trying this year when they host the Sharks at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday. There are six changes in the Lions’ starting line-up.
At flyhalf, heaps of New Zealand experience has been traded in for South African experience. Thirty-four-year-old former All Black flyhalf Carlos Spencer has been omitted after a number of disappointing performances.
This gives 31-year-old Herkie Kruger the opportunity to start for the Lions for the first time – against the team for whom he made his Super rugby debut in 2001.
Spencer has still been picked as a substitute and Lions coach Dick Muir said his omission was a “rotational” move.
“Goalkicking also has something to do with it. But the nice thing about Carlos is that he’s versatile and therefore an asset on the bench,” said Muir.
Kruger succeeded with all three of his conversions after replacing Spencer in the second half of last week’s game against the Reds.
Spencer failed with all three his kicks at posts, but his general play was also not up to scratch.
As expected, Marius Delport was picked at outside centre in place of Walter Venter, who has a knee injury. Venter is expected to be fit again next week.
Deon van Rensburg, who was injured on tour, returns as a centre option on the bench, while Chris Jonck may feature the first time this year as substitute scrumhalf.
Muir said that the four other changes in the starting team were also down to rotation. Tonderai Chavhanga replaces Wigan Pekeur on the wing, Todd Clever is picked at the expense of Derick Minnie at No 8, and in the front row JC Janse van Rensburg and Hans van Dyk have been picked ahead of Heinke van der Merwe and Hannes Franklin at loosehead prop and hooker respectively.
Janse van Rensburg is playing well this year.
Grobbelaar said that the players should now take responsibility for the situation and that it’s up to individuals to show that they want to be part of the union going forward.
“The guys know that there will be changes if they don’t do their bit. The bus will depart, whether you are on board or not. Every guy wants the Lions to do well,” he said.
“Everyone feels they have worked hard since November, but we made mistakes at critical times. The biggest pressure comes from the players themselves.”
