The South African franchises in the Super Rugby competition are not renowned for attacking, running rugby. Instead, their game plans are largely based on kicking for field position and bulldozing the ball towards the try line with a big forward pack.
After eleven rounds of Super Rugby, the Lions find themselves in third spot in the South African conference behind the Stormers and the Bulls. While they are not in contention for a play-off position at the moment, they have arguably played the most attractive rugby by a South African team this season. The Lions have continued with an attacking approach to their rugby, preferring to run the ball rather than hoof it up field. While too much attacking intent can often prove costly, the Lions have shown that if you are brave enough to take risks you will be rewarded. During the game against the Cheetahs this past weekend, the Lions turned it on once again to come away with a bonus point victory.
Renewed Lions playing the right way
Perhaps much of the Lions extravagant rugby comes down to flyhalf Elton Jantjies who undeservedly comes in for much criticism. He has proven this season that he is able to ignite the backline and get players over the advantage line. While his form has been great, he has had some powerful and innovative backline players to work with. Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe are becoming a menacing center combination and Faf de Klerk continues to keep defenders busy around the rucks with his innovative and intense play from the scrumhalf position.
Another factor that has contributed towards the Lions fast paced attack is their mobile loose forwards. This seems to be what coach Johan Ackerman has drilled into his Lions squad; that every player has to play his part for an attacking game plan to work. Warren Whiteley, Warwick Tecklenburg and Jaco Kriel do immense work up front but when the game breaks up and the ball is being thrown around they are no mugs in crossing the gain line.
None of this attacking rugby is possible though without a strong defensive platform. The Lions coaching staff should be given a lot of credit for the work they have done on improving the defensive game of the Lions. As well as noticeable improvements in defence, the Lions have also shown that they are able to close out tight games. We now see them playing for the full eighty minutes with intensity and commitment instead of losing concentration and making costly errors in the last quarter. The Lions showed a real never say die attitude in their overseas games and recently in home games against the Sharks and the Bulls; beating the latter with the last move of the game.
Fans of the Lions finally have something to cheer about after many years of being the whipping boys of Super Rugby. While time will tell if they have what it takes to reach the playoffs, their exciting rugby and effort to play the game in an attractive way bodes well for the future of rugby in Johannesburg and for South African rugby.
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