Lions CEO admits to deliberately misleading the Chiefs with late changes

Former Springbok and now Lions CEO Rudolf Straeuli has revealed to Netwerk24 that the Lions intentionally named Springboks Malcolm Marx and Elton Jantjies on the bench but they had no intention of not starting the international duo.

“It was a tactical move to announce the team like that because we wanted the Chiefs to believe they were not going to play,” Straeuli said.

“With Malcolm on the bench, the Chiefs opted to rest some of their heavy forwards. With him in the starting team we could take them on at scrum time and it worked well. The foundation for our victory was laid up front.”

Before kick the Lions moved Marx and Jantjies into the starting line up with Marx packing down in his usual #2 jersey while Jantjies was given a starting role at inside centre, a position he has rarely played.

The Lions wen on to win the game 23-17 but had to resist a late fightback from the Chiefs.

The Lions’ tactic to mislead the Chiefs is not explicitly banned in Super Rugby's rules but is it bad sportsmanship?