Lions squad for Super Rugby

The following squad has been announced:-
Andries Coetzee, JW Bell, Ruan Combrink, Lloyd Greeff, Courtnall Skosan, Sampie Mastriet, Anthony Volmink, Koch Marx, Selom Gavor, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Stokkies Hanekom, Howard Mnisi, Harold Vorster, Lionel Mapoe, Jacques Nel, Gerdus van der Walt, Marnitz Boshoff, Jako van der Walt, Elton Jantjes, Ashlon Davids, Ross Cronjé, Faf de Klerk, Ricky Schroeder, Dillon Smit, Marco van Vuren, Warren Whiteley, Fabian Booysen, Ruaan Lerm, Jano Venter, Steph de Wit, Jaco Kriel, Derick Minnie, Warwick Tecklenburg, Ruan Ackermann, Cyle Brink, Victor Sekekete, Robert Kruger, Lourens Erasmus, MB Lusaseni, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, JP du Preez, Andries Ferreira, Bobby de Wee, Robbie Coetzee, Malcolm Marx, Akker van der Merwe, Ramone Samuels, Jacques van Rooyen, Dylan Smith, Corné Fourie, Julian Redelinghuys, Ruan Dreyer, Justin Ackerman, Pieter Scholtz

If I have to pick a team from the above it would comprise of the following:-
16  Andries Coetsee14  Ruan Combrinck13  Harold Vorster12  Howard  Mnisi11  Courtnall Skosan10  Jako van der Walt  9  Faf de Klerk  8  Warren Whiteley  7  Steff de Wit  6  Jaco Kirel  5  Franco Mostert  4  Lourens Erasmus  3  Julian Redelinghuys  2  Malcolm Marx  1  Jacques van Rooyen

 
Not bad Mike ... would however prefer Vorster at 12 as Mnisi seems prone to losing the ball in contact. The amount of times he dropped the ball crossing the line last season drove me absolutely insane. Great player. I really like him but that aspect of his game needs looking at. We cannot afford to throw trys away like that.

Also ... Rohan Janse Van Rensburg ... in my opinion is one to watch. I know he'll be competing against Stokkies and Lionel for the 13 jersey and I'm aware they'll probably be Ackers first choice  ... but not for long.

That's a great lock pair. We've been short of quality locks for a long time. Erasmus is a class act.

Not the biggest fan of van Rooyen!!

Whatever happened to Schalk van der Merwe?

If only we had a Thomas Du Toit!!!!!

Look forward to the coming season.

You snubbing Elton then Mike? He did well last year. Kinda hard to compare him to Boshoff though huh, since the Lions scored way more tries in the CC but it's obviously a lesser competition as compared to S15. I find their kicking game.to be on part. Maybe slightly in favor of Bos. Really excited for the No17s this year. Think they are gonna reap a lot of the rewards for all the work very the last few seasons. We'll also see a few good Boks emerge from this team.

 CC
I have the same problem with Mnisi - he seems to eb a bit stupid in what he is trying to do and that makes him a problem case.
However, after studying the form of Vorster in Super 15 this year I came to the conclusion that he is substantially better when he plays at 13 than at 12.  In fact I view him as a future Bok 13 - hence my feeling that he should play at 13.
Ackerman may just bring in Van Rensburg at 12 - he played there for the Junior Boks at times as far as I can remember -physically a very strong guy, that one.  
If you participoate in Fantasy games - please make sure Vorster is there.  He was a huge point scorer for me last season and my center pairing normally scored big time with De Allende and Vorster.  De Allende is in the 7's squad - so I will have to find another center to follow.  Maybe Moala of the Blues.  
 

 
I'm hoping so, Plum. Nothing grows a player quite like test matches.

We have a few in the Lions squad that should have been selected for national duty.

Perhaps next year. I am hopeful.

Can't really believe I'm gonna say this but yes ... Jantjies had a great season and would be hard done by if he's not the starting 10. Van der Walt also has potential and knowing Ackers as we do, he'll rotate the boys till he settles on his premier flyhalf.

Question ... has Faff been signed as a Lion permanently now or is it still only for Super Rugby?

I dislike Cronje intensely. He's a stupid rugby player that strikes it lucky every now and then.

I had Vorster as a fantasy pick and yes he did well for me too. Will definitely consider him for inclusion next season.

CC this may help you feel a tad better about him. Met Swy's neighbour last year up in Nelspruit and he reckons Elton is well loved at the Lions. Apparantly he is super respectful...calls coachs and assistants "Oom" and also trains like a maniac. Not the impression one gets when you watch him on the field with the haircuts, tattoos etc. For my money if he has another similar season to last year, then he better green and gold. Our tens of choice have not exactly blown our minds or necessarily played him out of contention. The Lions travelled very well last year Brycy. Should be a good game. I still believe the best approach on tour is a fearless one. Play defensively trying to remain within 7 and eventually the opposition get the better of you. And this fearlessness has been something they've been perfecting. They've got a solid bunch with some strong leaders, probably the best interplay between backs and forwards in SA and a young team. It was the home derbys and not the away games or even the top S15 teams that cost them last year. I'm probably wrong, but to me, that smacks of a very good team that doesn't quite now just how good they are yet. Maybe the CC win this year will cancel some of that out :) Finally the Bulls V Lions will serving up some quality rugby again. Really cannot wait!

Faf was the best SA S15 9 last year and Elton the best 10. They're decent. Rudy Paige and Pollard are also not to be scoffed at. Lambie and Reinach also not.the worst. The Cheetahs and Stormers aren't in such good shape though. Du Preez looks good. Can't wait for his two youger twin brothers to get a year or two more top level rugby under their belts. I have a feeling they will bring back the U21 cup. Tell me what you think of this Brycy, granted it's school rugby... http://youtube.com/watch?v=w03Z_gZhdfg I know, a long way to go, but I've never seen something like this before.

Just saw this thread- after posting on the same topic!

 
Brycy ... the Lions had to start from scratch after their Super Rugby exclusion 2 seasons back (2013) ... and to be fair ... the Canes, the Highlanders and the Chiefs have had seasoned players available to them all along.

Ackerman's done wonders with the no-bodies he's had as a team ... and bear in mind that 95% of the boys had never played super rugby before ... most had never been overseas before ... 

They placed in the top 10 last season ... not too shabby for their 2nd season out.

Faff de Klerk is the next Bok scrummie ... or rather, he should already be our test 9 ... how he missed out on the WC only Meyer knows.
 
Marnitz is a class act ... he suffers from nerves but will learn over time. I'm expecting big things from him this coming season. Jantjies had similar nerve issues ... not anymore. That's what experience brings and of course a coach that knows how to pump your confidence up helps too. 

Van der Walt could well be the best of the lot. We'll see how he does this coming season.

I don't think you've watched our full back play ... if you did you wouldn't have said that. 

Plum ... very impressive footage I must say. Don't know these guys at all but I'm liking what I see. Powerful on their feet ... high work rate ... talk about getting awesome go forward ... they seem to like the physical stuff ... solid defenders ... and then some.

The Boks have an issue at 7 currently. I know we have to wait a season of so before these boys are available. I just hope we don't lose them to another country like we have so many of our boys.

To think we have to wait another 2 and half months before the seasons starts. Seems forever.

Goooooooo Lions!!!!!!!!!

 CC
It is 93 days to go before the start of Super rugby - in other words just about three months.   So be patient like I am - am taking time off as the work attached to finding and listing of the teams on this site is actually hard work.  That will probably start on 22 February 2016. 
My team would likely look like follows on the whole:
PO   -   Malherbe, Slipper, Du ToitHO   -   Cole, MarxLO   -    Etzebeth, De Jager, Du ToitBR    -    Kriel, Poc ock, Savea, LabuschagneSH    -    Cubelli, De KlerkFH    -    Sanchez, PollardCE    -    Vorster, Fekitoa, MoroniOB   -     Folau, Milner-Skudder, Nadolo, Kriel
I doubt whether the above would fit into the budget and may have to cut back, which I normally do by cutting the bench to the bone - or leave out one of the expensive players when I have three or even two in a certain position. 
I am not sure about Sanchez - he may not be in the Argentina team.  If he is he is bound to be my anchor selection in the backline.       

 
93 days???!!!

That's awful, Mike!!

You are obviously speaking of the Fox Sport fantasy version. I suck at that. In fact I didn't have much of a fanatasy season this year at all.

Hope to change that next season.
 

Haha CC and Mike. I promise to keep talking a bunch of Kak on here to make the time pass. My gf is also a big Rugby fan and between the two of us not a weekend goes by when one of us doesn't say "Man the world sucks without rugby!" She's a Bulls fan. Ja, i know :/ At least they looked rejuvenated in the CC. Jemba looks to be the real deal and I hope he doesn't get screwed up there in Pretoria as so many other good players have.