Joburg’s pride will be hard-pressed to emulate the success of the past three seasons, writes JON CARDINELLI.

The Lions look set for a challenging Super Rugby season in 2019. A host of frontline players – including Springboks Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Ruan Dreyer – have opted to further their careers abroad.

The Joburg-based franchise has managed to retain some big-name players in Malcolm Marx, Warren Whiteley and Aphiwe Dyantyi, but coach Swys de Bruin will have to manage these Bok assets carefully with the 2019 World Cup in mind.

The Lions won their third consecutive conference title in 2018 to reaffirm their status as the best side in South Africa. They went on to qualify for their third successive final and ended up losing to the Crusaders in Christchurch. It’s a commendable effort when one considers where the franchise was five years ago, and how hard they have fought to restore pride to their brand.

In the context of the past three seasons, however, there has been little progress. De Bruin’s charges won nine of their 16 regular-season games in 2018. They failed to strike the necessary balance between attack and defence. Their regression was highlighted by the fact that they lost all five matches against Kiwi teams.

The Lions lost five of their six overseas matches last year. The heaviest loss came to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, and they will be looking to end a three-game losing streak when they visit the Argentinian capital in the first match of their 2019 campaign.

It won’t get any easier this year as far as overseas matches are concerned. The Lions will play the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders on consecutive weekends in April.

If they don’t improve on last year’s results against international opposition, they may struggle to secure a home quarter-final.

FORWARD TO WATCH

Malcolm Marx was the standout performer among the Lions forwards in 2018. The hooker forced more than twice as many penalties at the ruck and maul than the next-best player in the tournament. The Lions boasted the most accurate lineout in the competition, and finished the season with the most tries from first phase. Marx made a big impact with ball in hand too. He was later nominated for the World Rugby Player of the Year award. It will be interesting to see how Marx copes with the additional responsibility this season, now that so many senior forwards have left the Lions. While his lineout throwing was accurate at Super Rugby level, he battled to find his jumpers at times when representing the Boks in the Rugby Championship and on the end-of-year tour to Europe. Marx will need to improve in this area if the Lions – and indeed the Boks – are going to be a factor at the lineout in 2019.

BACK TO WATCH

On the back of several potent performances for the Lions in the 2018 Super Rugby tournament, Aphiwe Dyantyi was brought into the Springbok mix as coach Rassie Erasmus looked to harness the 24-year-old’s speed and finishing ability. Dyantyi was backed to start in 13 of the Boks’ 14 Tests, and his talent and contributions were recognised when he claimed the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award. Many compared the rookie to Bryan Habana, the most prolific try-scorer in tier-one history, with 67 touchdowns. Habana performed consistently over a period of 14 years, though, and it remains to be seen if Dyantyi can replicate the form he showed in his breakout season. While his attacking play has undoubtedly boosted the Lions and the Boks over the past 12 months, he has room to improve on defence and under the high ball. What’s been encouraging to note is the youngster’s attitude and work ethic. There’s good reason to believe that Dyantyi will take his game to the next level in an important year for South African rugby.

BIG SIGNING

Prop Danie Mienie has moved down from Toulouse to bolster the Lions’ front-row stocks.

BIG LOSS

Springbok lock Franco Mostert, who played every minute of the Lions’ 2018 campaign, has moved to English side Gloucester.

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PREVIOUS LOG FINISHES

1996: 10th
1997: 5th
1998: 12th
1999: 11th
2000: 4th (semi-finalists)
2001: 3rd (semi-finalists)
2002: 11th
2003: 12th
2004: 12th
2005: 11th
2006: 13th
2007: 12th
2008: 14th
2009: 12th
2010: 14th
2011: 14th
2012: 15th
2013: DNP
2014: 12th
2015: 8th
2016: 2nd (finalists)
2017: 1st (finalists)
2018: 2nd (finalists)
Note: Combined with Cheetahs as Cats between 1998 and 2005

ALSO READ: Super Rugby Fantasy Rugby Cheat Sheet

2019 FIXTURES

16 February: Jaguares (a)
23 February: Stormers (a)
2 March: Bulls (h)
9 March: Jaguares (h)
16 March: Rebels (h)
23 March: Sunwolves (a)
29-30 March: BYE
5 April: Sharks (h)
13 April: Brumbies (a)
19 April: Chiefs (a)
26 April: Crusaders (a)
3-4 May: BYE
11 May: Waratahs (h)
18 May: Highlanders (h)
25 May: Sharks (a)
1 June: Stormers (h)
8 June: Hurricanes (h)
15 June: Bulls (a)