Lions call on shrink
15 Mar 2010
GLRU president Kevin de Klerk won’t fly out to New Zealand, but instead psychologist Henning Gericke has been called out.
In a press release on Saturday morning, the Lions president said he would join up with the Lions to provide ‘moral support’. Now he has opted against that, and Gericke will attempt to restore the damaged psyche of the players after five straight losses and a 73-12 hiding from the Waratahs.
The 2007 Springbok World Cup-winning sports psychologist has worked with the side in the latter part of last year and for their two earlier home games in this year’s campaign.
‘After reviewing the current situation over the weekend,’ said De Klerk, ‘I have decided not to undertake the trip to New Zealand. Instead I’ve decided to send our team psychologist, Dr. Henning Gericke, in my place.
‘I have full confidence in the coaching staff and in Henning’s ability to lift the team, and I am certain that they will bounce back over the next weekend.’
De Klerk said he couldn’t afford to be away from the office at this time.
‘There are many commercial and other commitments that have to be attended to – both at the Union and within my own business – and again, after careful thought, it has become evident that the 12 days away from the office could not be sacrificed.
‘Again, I wish to reiterate that I have full confidence in the coaching staff and the team to do this turn around.’
The Lions face the seven-time champions, the Crusaders on Saturday.
61 Comments
15 Mar 2010, 14:53 pm
A Dragon to late….
15 Mar 2010, 14:54 pm
Is the shrink going to play fullback in stead of Rose?
If not save the money on that air ticket….
15 Mar 2010, 14:55 pm
At this point, they’ll need a combination of Tony Robbins, Deepak Chopra, and the Dalai Lama to inspire them
15 Mar 2010, 14:58 pm
In a hypothetical stretch of the imagination, imagine the state Ruan Pienaar would have been in if he was plying his trade at the Lions… He woulda been on the brink of his third nervous breakdown by now
15 Mar 2010, 15:02 pm
Just heard that the Crusaders have also called in a shrink to help them contain their laughter during next week game
15 Mar 2010, 15:11 pm
How about finding a defensive coach and sending him?
How about finding a proper rugby coach and sending him? .. incase you don’t know what he looks like, he is now back at the bulls as there director of rugby you %$#@ idiots.
Only the Linos will have a chance to hire HM, and then chose **** .. %$#@
%$#@ lins board .. a-holes.
15 Mar 2010, 15:37 pm
HaHAHA. Kevin de Klerk must read this blog.
15 Mar 2010, 15:40 pm
Wise decision by de Klerk not to go to New Zealand as it will be a massacre of note for the next 2 home games for the Crusaders and Highlanders.
They will also want to pleasure themselves at the expense of the Leeu’tjies.
The Christchurch & Dunedin bells will toll and the Kop Dokter is not going to stop the blood letting and crying.
This is like canned Lion hunting and the Lions have been stuck in the dark ages with no hope of getting out of this funk with the lot they have at the Coke Tin.
**** Muir is caught in the headlights and there is not a squeak from him in turning this around. Why? Because his masters at the Coke Tin are in a meltdown and it shows on the field.
15 Mar 2010, 15:43 pm
The Poll above right has left out the Admin & MisMngmnt as an option.
Who’s to blame for the Lions’ rotten form?
A combination of all three
The players
The coach
The Management.
Total Votes: 924
Started: March 12, 2010
15 Mar 2010, 15:47 pm
I wanted to fly there but I don’t have my powers
15 Mar 2010, 15:55 pm
@RedLion:
I think you would be the Lions only hope.
15 Mar 2010, 15:58 pm
It is actually quite laughable…
“Don’t worry, nothing is wrong but we are sending over the head doctor to help you okes in your time of need.”
Really, what message does that send?
What is he going to do anyway….
15 Mar 2010, 15:59 pm
clearly they don’t know what they are doing,just the otehr day they said he was going,,,,, I’m going, no I’m not, I’m going, no I’m not….. hell no wonder the Lions are in disarray
15 Mar 2010, 16:05 pm
jake “winning ways” white must be thanking his lucky stars he got out while he did.
dickie has no chance with this bunch but might lift them to the level of the wildebeests by sometime next year.
15 Mar 2010, 16:06 pm
@Sonito: if I had my Hancock powers Rose’s head will be right up Chavangas *** right now.
15 Mar 2010, 16:08 pm
Well at this fkg stage I need a psychologist as much as the fgkg useless team.
They have driven me MAL!
And the booze has stopped working.
So Henning – just keep flying anti-clockwise. I am at the top, in the middle. Of the USA. Which is something of a relief because no one knows fokkol about rugby, let alone the Lions.
15 Mar 2010, 16:10 pm
@RedLion: If I had Hancok’s powers they would be “pulling a train”.
Seriously there are SA professional rugby players in Devon Second Division better than these pallookas.
15 Mar 2010, 16:12 pm
@SodaJoe:
Calm.
15 Mar 2010, 16:12 pm
@RedLion: ag cmon man, give us a roar.
or at least a little ditty about the sharks.
and while you are at it, tell me if you think the lions will concede over a 1000 points this year?
15 Mar 2010, 16:14 pm
@Dawn: This is worse than when you gave up ***, which depressed me for quite a while.
15 Mar 2010, 16:14 pm
De Klerk says both the Lions “and his other business” require him to be in SA at this point in time.
Why does de Klerk have another business that also needs running while being president of the Lions franchise at the same time?
What is this? Is he running the Lions during his lunch breaks at his day job? During the night shift? Is he taking leave at his main business in order to attend Lions board meetings?
Geez these guys are amateurs. No wonder they’re losing by 60 point margins and sitting with Creative **** as their head coach.
Get a guy who can give his full attention to the job to serve as your leader, for goodness sake.
15 Mar 2010, 16:15 pm
@rangerman: Pot Kettle Black
15 Mar 2010, 16:16 pm
PLUS I have to go through the nerve wracking support of an average 3′rd Division English Football team.
15 Mar 2010, 16:17 pm
@Tacitus: Aye.
15 Mar 2010, 16:20 pm
I hear “psychologist” and I look at a guy like Willem Stoltz and I can’t help but think that this plan is a bit like sending a Bulls supporter to the Louvre.
15 Mar 2010, 16:22 pm
@rangerman: not even the Sharks song will cheer me up.
15 Mar 2010, 16:23 pm
@SodaJoe: sorry soda, couldnt resist having a pop back at redlion.
i have family who are lifelong lions supporters and i feel for you guys.
15 Mar 2010, 16:25 pm
@katman: Thank goodness we have Yak skiing to fall back on. The Lions Yak skiing team is the best in South Africa by far.
15 Mar 2010, 16:26 pm
Honestly, have these guys not heard of video conferencing?
15 Mar 2010, 16:26 pm
@RedLion:
Stay Strong, RedLion!!
15 Mar 2010, 16:27 pm
@SodaJoe:
I have never given up ON ***.
Rest assured.
15 Mar 2010, 16:27 pm
@rangerman: Bushy, both of us are having a depressing season.
However I can always see Sharks getting out of the mess, but the whole kit and caboodle in Johannesburg need to go fishing, or attempt to learn something from our world class yak skiing team.
The yak skiing team have: Good players, who work hard at tehir craft and are not show ponies or one trick ponies. Good administrators who know what to do and who are professional and competent. And they have a coach who can coach.
15 Mar 2010, 16:28 pm
@Tacitus:
Exactly.
Even Jerry Jones owner of the Dallas Cowboys and Chairman Jones Oil/Land Lease quit the latter to concentrate on Cowboys.
And he made his fortune on Oil/Gas exploration
15 Mar 2010, 16:28 pm
As long as the Sharks beat the Stormers to knock them out of the Semi finals. I will be happy.
15 Mar 2010, 16:28 pm
@Dawn: Well – light at teh end of the tunnel, the world is just a little bit sunnier.
Now go and find a handsome devil from up North, none of these half-*** Cape Town “men” are worth the time or money.
15 Mar 2010, 16:29 pm
@SodaJoe: You say that, but I have it on good authority that the Yak Skiing Federation’s bid to have the sport included in the next winter Olympics has already been thrown out. What’s the use then of having the best Yak Skiers in the world?
15 Mar 2010, 16:29 pm
sad to say but the Lions are an embarrassment to the other SA Rugby franchises in the S14
15 Mar 2010, 16:29 pm
@mshiniwami: I suggest the Reverend Jim Jones would be a good role model for the “mighty” Lions.
15 Mar 2010, 16:29 pm
@SodaJoe:
What about the Lions curling team?
15 Mar 2010, 16:30 pm
@SodaJoe:
Seriously.
I am SO looking for a Scot!
I luv ‘em!
15 Mar 2010, 16:31 pm
@katman: I blame it on the International Federation Of Yak Skiing. They are also useless. They are useless as the gin-soaks of the International Rugby Board who are so dof the don’t even own rugby.com (Ralph Lauren does).
15 Mar 2010, 16:32 pm
@Dawn: Nah, you’re fkn confused by the accent, the pale pasty fellas with love handles with red hair on them. The kilt is a strategy to hide the hairy love handles.
Also they eat fried Mars Bars.
I have one word for you when it comes to men – Johannesburg.
15 Mar 2010, 16:33 pm
@Dawn: We’re kak at that too. But I heard that Eddie The Eagle was training our ski jumpers and we are looking quite skillful.
15 Mar 2010, 16:34 pm
@SodaJoe:
Ag please man.
I watch Scotland in the 6 Nations
None of them match your description.
And they have whiskey on tap.
15 Mar 2010, 16:36 pm
@Dawn: That’s like saying all American men look like Brad Pitt.
But they do have whisky.
BUT they also drink Iron Brew. Yukkk! The worst cool drink ever made.
Tennent’s might be teh worst beer ever made, actually that’s not true American Light beer is worse.
15 Mar 2010, 16:37 pm
Now for any Palooka who opposes the Southern Kings to replace this lot, then please stand up and raise your hand.
Seriously, how long have the Lions been at this? This is embarrassing to SA Rugby. So pull finger SARU and replace these clowns with someone else. And not in 2015 either. 2011, and before the Melbourne Rebels take all SA’s talented youngsters.
15 Mar 2010, 16:38 pm
@toddke: 46. You are right. It seems even the Kings wold be more worthy than the Surrender *******. (Lions)
15 Mar 2010, 16:38 pm
@Dawn: Dawnie. The Scots do not have “whiskey”. That is reserved for the Irish. The Scots have “Whisky”.
15 Mar 2010, 16:43 pm
Maybe there is to much pressure on this young team, I do not know, i try and stay positive but what the hel!
GO LI…. STORMERS!!!!!!!!!!!
15 Mar 2010, 18:17 pm
mjekevu must be bawling his eyes out!
15 Mar 2010, 18:21 pm
45. SodaJoe Hmmm IronBru,, a great drink, they sell more of this cold drink than Coca Cola in Scotland… I see you can get it locally now… mostly in JHB so that’s why their rugby has gone to the Scots …
15 Mar 2010, 20:25 pm
When are they sending rugby players?
15 Mar 2010, 21:22 pm
FFS does this guy still run his own business on the side? So he is an amateur just like the tossers before him?
Do these guys never learn? Rugby is a professional sport now dammit- and requires the full time attention of professionals- in admin as well, not just the players.
His stupid decision to come across “for moral support” was ridiculous to start off with – what the hell did he think he was going to do that **** has not already tried? A rousing speech? Leading a haka? FFS!!! He probably wanted to look for business opportunities in Oz for his business. Can you spell “conflict of interest”?
Anyway I am glad he realised that it was blatantly obviously a gravy train trip, and got someone eles who might be useful to go.
That Lions admins setup is still clearly as amateur and dumbass as ever. The rot RUNS REAL DEEP.
15 Mar 2010, 21:49 pm
Why don’t they both go? No money? The Lions administartion has become such a joke. Why does SA Rugby accept such medoicrity?
15 Mar 2010, 21:55 pm
@rugbynut: 54. Because SA Rugby administrators are mediocre…
15 Mar 2010, 22:33 pm
@SjamBok: Well said.
15 Mar 2010, 22:38 pm
roflmao! Are they for real?
16 Mar 2010, 01:50 am
@toddke:
I raise my hand!
Let the Kings assemble their squad now (with players signing a firm commitment to play for the franchise for the next three seasons, to have committed sponsors, etc., etc.) and, at season’s end, play a home and away fixture against the bottom finishing SA franchise.
If it’s the Lions, **** as they are, I will bet my bottom dollar they’ll thrash the Kings.
The winner of the play-off then progresses to Super 15 2011, and so on and so on until finally the Kings earn the right to play in the big league.
Simply replacing the Lions with the Kings will shower even greater embarrassment on SA rugby.
Anyone who challenges the Lions’ right to be in Super rugby needs to remember we have earned that right…after all, we, along with only the Bulls, HAVE a Super rugby title to our name, albeit a Super 10 title.
16 Mar 2010, 01:54 am
Of course, in post 58, final para, I’m referring to SA franchises only…not for a minute diluting the achievements of Crusaders, Brumbies, Blues…
16 Mar 2010, 08:16 am
Re the Lions , funny that now no-one is mentioning Jake Whites name.
16 Mar 2010, 15:58 pm
I’m going to watch this this coming weekend just to have a good laugh.
GO STORMERS!
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