Ackermann betting his money on Mapoe

[caption id="attachment_79927" align="alignright" width="199"] IN GOOD FORM: The Lions' Lionel Mapoe during the Absa Currie Cup match between Vodacom Blue Bulls and Xerox Golden Lions in September Picture: GALLO IMAGES -[/caption] Star centre should go to World Cup, says Lions coach LIONS coach Johan Ackermann said he would take Lionel Mapoe to the Rugby World Cup if he was in Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer’s shoes.

Mapoe was at the weekend named by Meyer as part of the wide group of players invited to both Bok training camps in Johannesburg and Cape Town, which will take place on May 3 and 31 respectively.

Mapoe, 26, has been one of the standout players who have taken the Lions to within sneezing distance of making the Super Rugby playoffs for the first time.

He again showed what he was capable of in the Lions’ 34-29 win over the Cheetahs at Ellis Park last Saturday. In the eight-try slugfest, Mapoe set up Ruan Combrinck with a wonderful offload.

He went on to score one of the tries of the weekend, bursting through tackles before sprinting 40m to dive in under the poles, his trademark shark fin celebration on display on his way there.

In the weeks the Lions had a defensive approach, and eked out wins over the Blues, Rebels and the Reds overseas, Mapoe was also up there in the tackle count.

“I would take him to the World Cup,” Ackermann said.

“He can play No 13, left and right wing. He is very versatile and I’m sure even if you put him at No 12, he’d play well there too. I definitely think he can be great coming off the bench or even starting.