The Lions celebrate URC win over Munster at Ellis Park. Photo: Gallo Images.
The Lions don’t have an identity crisis insists coach
They aren’t quite tigers in Walkerville but the Lions have looked like fish out of water in the Challenge Cup and URC.
The Lions celebrate URC win over Munster at Ellis Park. Photo: Gallo Images.
Lions forwards coach Albert van den Berg concedes that the franchise has some way to go towards building a team culture.
Van den Berg alluded to the Lions constant talent drain without expressly blaming it for their woes.
No identity crisis for the Lions
He said that the Lions top brass would have to make some ‘hard calls’ to get them on track to becoming a force in Europe.
WIN | A VIP Trip to the URC Grand Final, 27 May 2023
The Lions will look at their three URC peers in envy as they establish South Africa as a force in the Champions Cup.
WATCH: Speedster Kurt-Lee Arendse on Cheslin Kolbe comparisons – “It’s nice, BUT…”
“I wouldn’t say there is an identity crisis. I think the biggest thing from our side, when we joined the Lions, is to actually see what the path forward was and what is the succession plan regarding the players,” said Van den Berg.
“We can’t just get players at the last minute and make it work. We need to build the culture.
“We need to build a team here and get that consistency in.
Connecting with the fans
The Lions want to connect to their fanbase.
“You are not always going to get the wins straight from the start, but we want to start playing a brand of rugby we can relate to,” said van den Berg.
“An identity crisis is not really there. It’s more a case of finding our feet and making sure that we get our recruitment process sorted and making sure that we get our training sorted.
ALSO READ: European Champions Cup Dream Team loaded with South Africans
“We also need to make sure that the guys in the team understand their roles and what is needed from them and build that package up.”
Van den Berg can see his team getting stronger if they meet those targets.
ALSO READ: Bulls unveil new high-profile recruit
“If we can get that whole process gelling together going forward then the road forward will look brighter for us,” he added.
“There is a bit of work to do.
“Some hard calls need to be made, but you have to make those calls going forward.
“You can’t come with the same excuse every year”.
