Not even two comprehensive defeats could dampen the spirit of new Lions coach Dick Muir, who insisted his team remains on track ahead of the Super 14 season.
Muir saw the defending champion Bulls, fielding their most likely first and second string selections against mix-and-match combinations from the Lions, recorded 25-3 (in the early match) and 42-12 (main match) victories over the Lions in Polokwane at the weekend.
But Muir said the scoreline “never would have counted in this match”.
“This was not about winning, but about a process,” Muir said, adding: “And with that I’m happy.”
What impressed him was the fact that his side, not the best available selection like the Bulls, did create opportunities.
“If we hadn’t done that, I would have been worried. But we did, and now it’s a case of finishing off properly.”
Three, four tries went begging because of a late knock-on or lack of ball control.
And although the Bulls were undoubtedly the better side, he felt the scoreline did flatter them somewhat.
“Our line-outs weren’t great, but we only had one week to work on that,” Muir said.
What concerned him more were the turnovers – both at the breakdown where the Lions were competitive but not clinical, and in general play.
For this coming Friday Muir will select his two sides, to play the Pumas and Leopards, on merit.
He will also have All Black Carlos Spencer available for that outing, and even in his warm-up in Lions colours the Kiwi flyhalf will add a new dimension to a backline that showed lots of promise on attack, but weren’t always good enough on defence.
But that’s a communication exercise – and as Muir had said: they aim to improve week by week.
It will be interesting to see what Muir has in mind when he selects his side for Friday.
There is so much young, rather raw talent in his squad that still counts over 50 that the challenge is to pick some of the talent and gel it with the experience.
The success of the team will be determined by whether he gets this right.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:23 pm
What impressed him was the fact that his side, not the best available selection like the Bulls,
======
So you don’t select your best
side – provides you with a
good excuse when they get
fooked.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:31 pm
Well the S14 is going to be interesting in terms of how some of the teams will perform against their own standards. Bulls to see if the can maintain the dominance, Sharks to see if they can overcome the big dip in form, Lions to see if they improve under new coach, WP to see if they can actualy be in the top 4 by playing well the full competition, Cheetahs to see if they can survive the player drain
February 1st, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Reply to Ollie @ 2:31 pm:
I recon we will see the Bulls up there again!
Sharks, Stormers and Cheethas to be in the middel somewhere..8,9 & 10
Lions – NO change from last year!!
February 1st, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Ek sien Zuma het nou amptelik die titel by Steve oorgeneem as die ou mety die meeste kinders by verskillende vrouens in SA.
Hulle sê mos Daai deng – hy is soos die weerlig – Jy kyk nie vir hom nie, maar jy sien vir hom!!
February 1st, 2010 at 2:56 pm
Ek sien Cosmopolitan het
besluit Meisiekind is die
sexyste man in die land.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:58 pm
I’ll never understand why Dick is putting himself up for this… this years squad is just hondkak… nothing to work with… and the fans not so forgiving…
February 1st, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Reply to PietPloos @ 2:38 pm:
Not sure about that, I think the Stormers might perform better this year, particulalry in first half of the comp. Bulls will prob be up there somewhere. Sharks don’t seem so settled this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if they start badly. Lions are really a dark horse for me. Cheetahs I think already punch above their weight IMO, and just hope they can keep it up.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Reply to bryce_in_oz @ 2:58 pm:
Me neither, I hope that he knows something we don’t.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:34 pm
My hoop vir die Lions, geen oorsese span druk 4 drie teen julle en so af en toe ‘n surprise oorwinning oor die top 3 oorsese spanne. Doen ma eerder die ander SA spanne gunste.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Three, four tries went begging because of a late knock-on or lack of ball control.
Same old same old from the Lions..
Appears Loffie’s ghost is there to haunt them