Rebels should be easy meat for hungry Lions side

THINGS could not be better for Johan Ackermann and his Lions.

Already well in charge of their Super Rugby conference, they are in something of a dream state in Australia and well on their way to featuring in the playoffs again this year.

Not only did Ackermann’s men get past a stubborn Western Force side in their first tour game on Saturday, with a bonus point to boot, but they are injury-free ahead of their second game, against the Rebels, on Saturday – a side who must be wishing their chop from Super Rugby could happen right now.

“We’re grateful to have got through a tough game with just bumps and bruises and can now focus on our next game,” said Ackermann ahead of the Melbourne clash.

“We made history by beating the Force. We hadn’t won in Perth before so we’re happy. And say what you want, it remains a tour game, it remains a match on the road.”

And how the Lions must be pumping themselves up for the match – a game where they will again be expected to pick up the five points on offer.

The Rebels have their backs to the wall ... and the match hasn’t even started. For one thing the Lions have only had to fly to Melbourne in the last few days, while their opponents have had to go from Port Elizabeth (where they played the Kings) to Johannesburg, to Sydney and then Melbourne.

Ackermann’s men will be well rested, injury-free, adapted to the time changes, but the Rebels – after two weeks in South Africa – may be a little out of it. And, on top of that, they have to process the fact they lost 44-3 to the Kings at the weekend.

But it’s not only that result that will make life difficult for them in the coming days. Like the Force, they, too, are fighting for their survival in the competition and the players’ morale is seemingly at an all-time low knowing their careers and futures in rugby in Melbourne are on the line, while they’ll take no confidence whatsoever into the match.

The Rebels have copped a few big hidings this year; like the 18-56 defeat to the Blues in Melbourne, the 71-6 defeat to the Hurricanes away and the 51-12 loss to the Highlanders, also away.

They’ve won just once in eight matches, have scored a paltry 106 points in total, conceded 307 and scored only nine tries and let in a whopping 41.

Ackermann said last week the first and third matches on this tour would be the most difficult – because many of his players are touring for the first time and then in week three players are often already thinking of the trip back home – meaning his team should be in prime condition to produce their best effort this week.

To freshen things up a little more it would come as no surprise if Ackermann made a few changes to his team as well, like at hooker, loose forward and even scrumhalf and allow the likes of Malcolm Marx, Ruan Ackermann and Faf de Klerk, pictured, to come off the bench.

The Lions have worked themselves into an excellent position; now they simply need to make it count.