Coach backs his error-prone flyhalf Craig Ray Lions coach Eugene Eloff yesterday laughed off suggestions that he drop flyhalf Earl Rose for Saturday’s crucial last-round Currie Cup match against Western Province at Newlands.

Rose had one of his worst performances at the weekend against the Sharks at Ellis Park. He went some way in allowing the Sharks to win 34-20 and leave the Lions unsure of a semifinal place.

“I only name my team on Thursday, but I can tell you that Earl will play,” Eloff told The Times. “You won’t believe how many people have called for him to be dropped after one average game.

“Until Saturday he was being talked up as an almost dead certainty for the Springbok end-of-year tour, and now people want me to get rid of him because of the loss to the Sharks.

“He had an off day but he’s had a great season and is a key part of our team.”

Rose missed four of five kicks at goal against the Sharks and gave the Sharks two tries with aimless chip kicks.

But Rose has always been that kind of player — he can be as brilliant as he can be woeful. That, however, is what makes him a dangerous player because if his own team don’t know which Earl Rose will turn up, how could the opposition possibly know?

In his defence, Rose has matured at the Lions under the guidance of Eloff, who has always shown faith in the mercurial player. Rose was seen as a gifted, but flawed, talent when he emerged at WP and then-director of rugby Nick Mallett didn’t try too hard to convince Rose to stay when the Lions came calling.

Since then he has established himself in the Lions Super 14 and Currie Cup teams — a situation that probably wouldn’t have occurred had he stayed at WP.

The Lions can afford to lose against WP on Saturday, as long as it’s by fewer than 19 points, and still make the play-offs. But Eloff says they aren’t approaching the game with any kind of negative mindset.

“The permutations don’t change the way we’ll approach the game, that for the media and public to talk about,” Eloff said.

“Despite losing to the Sharks we took a lot out of that game and know it was one that we should have won, but for a 10-minute spell.”

WP have to score four tries, which means they will have to approach the match with an attacking mindset.

“WP have a lot to do against us, but I don’t buy into the theory that it necessarily plays into our hands,” Eloff said.

“If they’re wise they’ll stick to their structure even when they come out blazing. Everybody knows what needs to be done and we’re prepared for the challenge,” concluded the Lions coach.

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