Lions Super 14 season preview: can Dick Muir author different story?

By Greg Clark
Fox Sports rugby commentator
February 04, 2010.

The Lions have a new coach, but it will the same old story for the Johannesburg-based franchise.

It seems such a long time since they were semi-finalists for two years in a row, back in 2000 and 2001, and they’ve been in the bottom three every year since. Hardly the stats to give fans a great deal of optimism.

But the show must go on, and former Sharks coach and current Springboks assistant Dick Muir is the man handed the task of kick-starting a long overdue revival at Ellis Park.

His signing was seen as a bit of a coup, but there are concerns that maybe he has too much on his plate as he also runs a rugby academy. He will certainly be a busy man.

The Lions go into the Super 14 without a great deal of depth in most positions, so the best they can hope for would be a finish in the top half of the table.

The Lions sent out an SOS for an experienced fly half after Andre Pretorius moved to Western Force as a marquee player to replace Matt Giteau, and former All Blacks pivot Carlos Spencer answered the call.

Spencer is now approaching his mid-30s, but his high profile and his wealth of experience will help some of the youngsters in the squad.

The Lions couldn't afford to lose Springboks centre Jaque Fourie, but you can’t blame him for packing his bags and heading to the Stormers. He’s been a lone ranger in the Lions’ backline at times, and he had obviously had enough.

Stats show the Lions conceded more than 400 points in 2009, at a match average of over 30.

They have two tough home games against the Stormers and the Chiefs first-up, and then they face five on the road in Australasia. They could still be looking for their first win when they arrive back at home in week eight.

Fox Facts: Lions

Home ground: Ellis Park
Coach: Dick Muir
Best Super 12/14 finish: Third 2001
Last season: P13 W4 D0 L9 F294 A419 BP9 Pts25 (12th)

Squad:

Jannie Boshoff, Ruan Boshoff, Kevin Buys, Tonderai Chavhanga, Rouan Cloete, Danie Crous, Marius Delport, Charl de Plessis, Pieter Engelbrecht, Burton Francis, Shandre Frolick, Ross Geldenhuys, Cobus Grobbelaar (C), Derek Harwood, Alwyn Hollenbach, Johan Jackson, Chris Jonck, Michael Killian, Alex Kock, Divan Kotze, Herkie Kruger, Robert Kruger, Stephan Kruger, Jannes Labuschagne, Doppies La Grange, Jacques Lombaard, Nico Luus, Thuliphatu Marole, Henno Mentz, Derick Minnie, Jonathan Mokuena, Wouter Moore, Mina Nassif, Dusty Noble, Wigan Pekeur, Jody Rose, Lawrence Sephaka, Allistair Siegelaar, Carlos Spencer, Justin St Jerry, Wayne Swart, Jeffrey Taljaard, Franco van der Merwe, Johan van Devente, Hans van Dyk, Deon van Rensburg, JC Janse van Rensburg, Warren van Rooyen, Walter Venter, Justin Wheeler, Warren Whiteley

Gains: Carlos Spencer (Gloucester), Tonderai Chavhanga (Stormers), Burton Francis (Bulls), Marius Delport (Bulls), Herkie Kruger (Italy)

Losses: Jaque Fourie (Stormers), Louis Ludik (Sharks), Willem Alberts (Sharks), Ashwin Willemse (Retired), Ernst Joubert (Saracens), Gerhard Mostert (Sharks), Andre Pretorius (Western Force), Etienne Reyneke (Saracens), Dewald Senekal (France), Louis Strydom (Cheetahs)


Lions' Head-To-Head Records

Week 1, v Stormers (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 4, Lost 8 -
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 2, Lost 4 -

Week 2, v Chiefs (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 4, Lost 8 -
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 4, Lost 2 +

Week 3, v Hurricanes (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 3, Lost 9 -
In Wellington/Palmerston North/New Plymouth: Played 6: Won 0, Lost 6 -

Week 4, v Brumbies (away)
H2H: Played 13: Won 3, Lost 10 -
In Canberra: Played 7: Won 0 Lost: 7 -

Week 5, v New South Wales Waratahs (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 1, Lost 11 -
In Sydney: Played 6: Won 0, Lost 6 -

Week 6, v Crusaders (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 3, Lost 9 -
In Christchurch/Nelson: Played 6: Won 1, Lost 5 -

Week 7, v Highlanders (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 4, Lost 8 -
In Dunedin/Invercargill: Played 6: Won 0, Lost 6 -

Week 8, v Bye

Week 9, Queensland Reds (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 3, Draw 1, Lost 8 -
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 4 -

Week 10, v Sharks (home)
H2H: Played 13: Won 2, Drawn 1, Lost 10 -
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 4 -

Week 11, v Bulls (away)
H2H: Played 12: Won 5, Lost 7 -
In Pretoria: Played 6: Won 3, Lost 3 =

Week 12, v Western Force (home)
H2H: Played 4: Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 2 -
In Johannesburg: Played 2: Won 0, Drawn 1, Lost 1 -

Week 13, v Blues (home)
H2H: Played 12: Won 3, Lost 9 -
In Johannesburg: Played 6: Won 2, Lost 4 -

Week 14 v Cheetahs (away)
H2H: Played 4: Won 2, Lost 2 =
In Bloemfontein/Kimberley: Played 2: Won 1, Lost 1 =