Lleyds optimistic despite mauling
DILLYN Leyds believes there is no better way to shake off the debris from the Loftus debacle than with a victory over the powerful Lions on Saturday at Newlands.
The visitors this weekend have been the dominant force in South African Super Rugby for the past three seasons, progressing to three consecutive finals.
They have played an enterprising brand of rugby, utilising ball-in-hand in order to create space out wide for their speed merchants to exploit.
This positive approach has also never been to the detriment of the fundamentals of defence, while they remain vigorous at the breakdown point. Even their scrum was working effectively against a Jaquares outfit renowned for their powerful forward unit. So, if ever there was an opportunity to show that the capitulation against the Bulls was but a mere intermission, then the Lions at Newlands provides it.
“We can definitely win. Of course we can. We love playing at Newlands, and even though what happened at Loftus was disastrous and certainly wasn’t in our plans, it was just one of those days.
We still retain the belief, we still believe we have the players in the right positions to go far in this competition. And although our backs are to the wall there is no better opportunity to make a big statement than against the Lions,” Stormers fullback Leyds said. “The Lions have been the top team for the last couple of years, and to my mind they are still the No 1 team in the country, even though they have lost a couple of big names since last year.
“They have a backline that is phenomenal. Having Ruan Combrink on the bench for the game in Argentina shows how much depth they have there, and we all know what Elton (Jantjies) can do. They have lost a bit at forward but they have had new guys come in that did really well against the Jaguares in Argentina. Playing in Buenos Aires is tough, and the Lions showed there what they are capable of and that at this point they are still the No 1 side.”
For all this to not only sound like supreme optimism and be transformed into reality, the foundation will need to be laid up-front. For all of the flair the likes of Leyds and Co possess, the Stormers cannot go through another match where their line-out is a complete shambles.
Equally, the return to fitness of the uncompromising Cobus Wiese may ignite a spark within the forward pack that seems to be lacking in Eben Etzebeth’s absence.
The scrum battle should be a good contest for this was the one area the Stormers held parity at Loftus, which can at least form the basis of attack. A possible change at scrumhalf could further ignite the backline where the exciting Herschelle Jantjies may add a bit of spark at the base instead of veteran Jano Vermaak.