Orie to push his friendships aside
LOCK WOULD LOVE TO UPSTAGE HIS OLD MATES Lions man returns refreshed after his break last week.
Big Lions lock Marvin Orie will come face-toface with the former team-mates he used to share a change-room with in the Jukskei derby against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow.
Orie said yesterday there would be no time for reunions after he joined the Lions last year from the Bulls but said he and Bulls star lock RG Snyman are still good friends.
“Yes, me and RG are good friends, I played many games with him in our younger days at the Bulls,” said Orie yesterday.
“He is a great player, he is in great form so it will be a good challenge. They have great locks but we have a good team, so it will be good contest.”
Orie said having been a Bulls player for so many years it will all be about putting his emotions in check.
“In a game like this one has to be very cautious how you handle your emotions, the Bulls were very good to me and I was there for six years. They have excellent coaches there and I learned a lot from them,” he said.
“I will always be grateful for what they did for me. It’s going to be very hard game so personally I’ll have to remain focused.”
After starting the first game against the Sharks, Orie was rested last week before returning this week for Franco Mostert who has been moved to flank.
“Coach Swys de Bruin is a very honest coach and he told us what would happen with rotation. The season is long and it’s a very tough competition,” said Orie.
“And that’s why the players will be rotated and it can’t be expected to play 80 minutes every single weekend. So we don’t question his decisions and we believe in what he is doing.”
Orie said the break last week has left him refreshed and recharged.
“Very glad to be back in the team and very excited,” he said. “The break last week was good and I put in a lot of hard work.”