Upbeat Lions remain on Reds alert

Complacency will be the last thing on their minds as they prepare to face the Reds in Brisbane at the weekend.

Rudolph Jacobs

Complacency will be the last thing on the Lions’ minds as they prepare to face the Reds this weekend in Brisbane in the second game of their Super Rugby trip Down Under.

The Reds might have lost five of their eight games and suffered a big 36-12 defeat to the Chiefs at home last weekend, but Lions coach Swys de Bruin believes they are a better team than their results have shown.

“The Reds have a few big and strong ball-carriers and it’s another challenge we have to face,” said De Bruin after his team started their tour on a resounding note by beating the Waratahs 29-0 in Sydney last weekend.

“They are a good side and the results haven’t maybe been in their favour.

“But we won’t underestimate them, we’ll have to be up for it and fortunately we have no fresh injuries, so we are very blessed.”

De Bruin also credited the Lions’ youth policy at home as the key to bringing talented youngsters through like wingers Madosh Tambwe (below) and Aphiwe Dyantyi as well as No 8 Hacjivah Dayimani.

Tambwe scored his sixth try in three games since he took over from the injured Dyantyi who was a sensation in his opening five matches, scoring five tries.

“Madosh is a very exciting player, as is Hacjivah and there’s one or two more back at home,” said De Bruin.

“Our junior system is really doing well, the high performance system is doing great and the youngsters are putting up their hands and that’s beautiful to see.

“And then there is Aphiwe who is just as good and also comes from the youth system. He is busy recovering from a pectoral muscle injury.”

It will probably leave De Bruin with a bit of a selection conundrum once Springbok wing Courtnall Skosan also returns after the June international window once he has recovered from his knee injury.