Whiteley: Lions have matured
WHITELEY: DIGGING DEEP JUST WHAT DOCTOR ORDERED
Coach desperate not to repeat same mistakes when his charges take on the high-flying Stormers at Newlands.
The harsh lessons the Lions have learned in their last game will stand them in good stead ahead of the crunch Super Rugby clash against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
While the Stormers were in scintillating form in their last two matches against the Cheetahs and the Chiefs, the Lions had to dig deep to beat the Sharks before their bye arrived last week.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley however believes the hardship they had to endure before finally getting the better of the Sharks will help a great deal with the on-going growth and development of their side.
“We’ll take any victory regardless of who it is against,” Whiteley said.
“But the experience gained in that game is what will make us grow as a side. We really had to fight and grind it out to get the result.”
The last time the two teams met last year at Ellis Park it was the Lions who won 29-22, but in 2015 the Stormers won 22-19 at Ellis Park while they played to a 1919 draw late in 2015 at Newlands.
Lions coach Johan Ackermann said they had a good look at why they weren’t allowed to play their normal game against the Sharks, with a lot of pressure on their breakdown a big talking point.
“We were going to look at the replays and say ‘wow we didn’t play like we normally do’ with that normal free-flowing style and speed,” said Ackermann.
To fall behind early is something that can come back and bite a team, he said.
“There were games where we wanted to start well but didn’t and we still have to tour,” said Ackermann, referring to the fact that a good start away from home will be non-negotiable.
The Lions will make a call today on the availability of fullback Andries Coetzee who is struggling with a hamstring niggle.