The bond that unites two coaches and a Jukskei Derby that is their moment

Johan Ackermann and Ivan van Rooyen. Openfield

For two men – Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and his Vodacom Bulls counterpart Johan Ackermann – Saturday’s Jukskei Derby represents a deep bond shared between the two in the game of rugby and then a far deeper connection in the realms of friendship and faith.

In the world of professional sport where it’s all about log standings and performance metrics, there is this one fixture that has stood the test of time because it has always managed to transcend what happens on the field and become something greater.

And now comes the added dimension of this particular moment in time, when these two men bring their own special connection to its history.

“It’s personal,” Van Rooyen says of a match that will pit his die-hard loyalty to the Lions for the majority of his career against the man he used to work with at Ellis Park when Ackermann was the head coach there. The respect between the two for each other is unmistakeable. Their desire to win on Saturday is beyond doubt. It can combine for one of the most thrilling versions in the history of this derby.

Van Rooyen certainly believes so.

“This rivalry for me is alive. It’s coming up to 25 years now for me personally, so this is a very exciting week. I know the North-South Derby is seen as the original big one but for us this one is the most personal.”

The two coaches met in the first fixture at Loftus Versfeld, which the Lions won. This Saturday will be the first time Ackermann is back at Ellis Park since he coached there with Van Rooyen.

“It’s strange competing against Johan. I have the world of respect for him. He is really inspirational in terms of what he stands for and how he goes about his business. We are great friends because of that. We worked together and shared some unbelievable memories together and that creates a strong bond in itself. Seeing him at Loftus the other day back in South Africa and now we’re competing is awesome. It’s always nice when it’s a little bit more personal because it tends to mean a bit more.”

And the character of both these coaches and what they represent is very much a part of their teams as well.

“We’ve both been advocates of our faith and aren’t afraid to speak about that. That makes the bond even deeper for us. Our teams share that as well. So I can guarantee, everyone on that field on Saturday will be physically, mentally and spiritually ready.”

Van Rooyen has so many memories of this fixture, going back to his own playing days.

“In 2001 I played Lions Under-19 and we had a huge clash at Loftus Versfeld where we drew with the Vodacom Bulls in a very tight game. Then since 2009 when I had the privilege to start with the conditioning of the junior players, in that group with Ruan Dreyer and Ruan Combrinck, the Vodacom Bulls were clear favourites in the Under-19 Currie Cup and we managed to edge them in the semi-final. For me that is when this rivalry started. We’ve had massive Currie Cup clashes and I remember them all. In 2015, 2016 and 2017 there were unbelievable memories against the Bulls.”

And he is under illusions as to the challenge the Bulls will bring to Ellis Park.

“They always bring Springboks. They are always a quality team. They are always physical. Part of what I’ve learnt against the Bulls is that you just have to find a way against them. If you don’t match them physically, they’re going to dominate you. If you can’t handle set pieces, they’re going to dominate you. They can kick you to pieces, they can run you to pieces. They can maul you to pieces. That’s what a true test is. Against the Bulls it’s always a true rugby test.”

Van Rooyen is also keenly aware that the Bulls come into this return fixture brimming with confidence following good away victories.

“You can start to see Johan’s influence and what he wants to achieve now coming through in the last two weeks. There has been a slight change in the Bulls since he’s arrived. They’re willing to be braver with ball in hand and take a chance. Their set-pieces have always been dominant but even more so the last two weeks. It’s going to be physical.

“We feel we’re building a bit of momentum. The alignment and synergy are really getting close. We’re getting more true to the identity we can and want to produce and the team has matured to be able to handle different circumstances. In the last game at Loftus we knew their confidence was low and we had an opportunity. This weekend will be totally different. You can see the difference Marcell Coetzee and Kurt-Lee Arendse have made. Handré Pollard and Willie le Roux are picking up from. They’ve got their whole front row back which they didn’t have last time against us. So we’re under no illusions that this weekend will be a totally different test.”

The history of this fixture has been built around some of the greatest moments in our game. Now these two men will share in their own great moment.

They, and their players, will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at each other on Saturday.

But the deeper meaning of what they share will not be lost on them.

“It’s what competition should be. It’s personal in the flesh, but not in our friendship and our faith,” says Van Rooyen.

Faith, friendship, and 80 minutes of rugby. Saturday is as personal as it can get.

SATURDAY

Lions v Vodacom Bulls

Ellis Park, Johannesburg – KO 12.30pm IRE & UK/1.30pm ITA/2.30pm SA

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU, 20th league game)

AR 1: Aimee Barrett-Theron (SARU) AR 2: Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)

TMO: Egon Seconds (SARU)

Live on: SuperSport, Premier Sports, Flo Rugby & URC.tv