Lions realise they have to ‘get back into the swing of things’ very quickly
JOHANNESBURG: The Lions were given a much-needed wake-up call by the Cheetahs last weekend, according to defence specialist JP Ferreira.
Last year’s Super Rugby runners-up almost came unstuck against the current Currie Cup champions in the opening match of the 2017 competition. They struggled for momentum and rhythm in their game and had it not been for a strong finish, they could well have lost in Bloemfontein.
Warren Whiteley and his charges trailed 16-6 after 45 minutes, but two tries by Rohan Janse van Rensburg and a seven-point penalty try saw them sneak past the Cheetahs.
It was the first proper hit out in some time for several of the Lions’ players, among them Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Franco Mostert, Elton Jantjies and Lionel Mapoe, who’d all played club rugby in Japan in the off-season.
“I think we were pretty rusty,” admitted Ferreira yesterday. “The guys coming in from Japan know they weren’t at their best, but there was a big step-up in training on Monday and Tuesday.
“There was more intensity in the training and I think the players realised they have to get back into the swing of things very quickly otherwise they’ll be in trouble … not only as a team, but the players as well because there are a lot of youngsters pushing for places.”
Ferreira, though, who toured as the Springboks’ defence coach in November last year, but will not be involved nationally anymore, said it was understandable that the team didn’t hit their straps immediately.
“If you go back in history you’ll see we’ve struggled in our first game,” he said, referring to last year’s 26-13 win against newcomers, the Sunwolves, 2015’s first-up loss to the Hurricanes (22-8) and 2014’s 21-20 defeat to the Cheetahs.
“It’s a case of the players coming back and simply not being used to the intensity. But with the first game out of the way and us on home soil this weekend, we’re all hoping for and expecting there to be far more fluency and momentum in our performance.”
The Lions take on the Waratahs at Ellis Park on Saturday; their first meeting with an Australian team since the 2015 season after coming up against the New Zealand conference last year.
The men from Sydney are coming off a narrow win themselves, against the Western Force, but they have always enjoyed playing at Ellis Park; their only loss being in 2015.
“They’re always a good side and tough to play against,” said Ferreira, “so it’ll be a massive challenge.
“And yes, it’s the first Aussie side in some time but it makes no difference … we’d prepare the same way whether it was the Highlanders or the Waratahs. Our focus is on us, and how we’re going to go about scoring tries.”
Head coach Johan Ackermann is expected to give last week’s strugglers an opportunity to redeem themselves this weekend, but there will be a change in the backline where he has to find a replacement for the injured Howard Mnisi.
Lionel Mapoe is likely to take over at No 13, with one of Harold Vorster, Michael Tambwe, Anthony Volmink or Sylvian Mahuza taking over on the wing.