Familiar territory
LIONS ON ROAD THEY HAVE TRAVELLED BEFORE, SAYS COETZEE Waratahs look for revenge after their Sydney whitewash.
Being involved in another Super Rugby semifinal is an avenue they have travelled before which have prepared them well for what’s coming, believes Lions fullback Andries Coetzee.
Coetzee said they can’t deny that the earlier result between the Crusaders and the Hurricanes will play on their minds before they take on the Waratahs at Ellis Park this afternoon.
“You can say it won’t, but if it happens (the Hurricanes winning) it will certainly give us a little push. But if we don’t beat the Waratahs the venue of the final will be worthless,” he said.
“Getting the home semifinal this year was a privilege, Jaco (Kriel) actually said it this week, nothing is new for us, we can learn from the past and just be better this weekend.”
Coetzee renewed his Lions contract until after next year’s Super Rugby because he has one big ambition burning inside him.
“It was a decision I had to make, but I feel it was the right one to make, by staying, giving yourself a shot to be in a potential World Cup squad, but I feel more at ease having done that,” he said.
The fullback believes the start will be important but said it’s more vital to continue the effort until the end as the altitude is sure to count in their favour.
“And something we can use against other teams, but they are a fit team and will come with a big effort.”
Coetzee said for them it’s about winning that aerial battle, saying they know the Tahs have guys with the X-factor, but said they have worked on it.
“I believe we will better this weekend, we will be ready,” he said, adding that included stopping their monster 123kg wing Taqele Naiyaravoro.
“If it comes to that, it’s your job to stop him. If he is so much heavier you just have to find a way to stop him, that’s why we play the game, you challenge yourself, but I won’t say there’s a special way to stop him.
“It’s a mindset thing for me, if you don’t want to tackle a guy you will end up missing him, you have to have a positive outlook, maybe better to go for the ankles.”
Coetzee said their 29-0 win over the Tahs in Sydney happened a long time ago and said they will come here with a much bigger attitude seeing it’s a semifinal.
“I think they have something to prove, especially after not scoring against us in that game, but we are up for the challenge.”
Australia’s Angus Gardner will referee the Super Rugby final next Saturday, southern hemisphere rugby’s governing body Sanzaar said yesterday.
New Zealand’s Glen Jackson refereed the 2016 final between the Hurricanes and Lions, while South Africa’s Jaco Peyper refereed last year’s final between the Lions and Crusaders in Johannesburg.
Peyper will referee today’s Crusaders-Hurricanes semifinal, while Jackson takes charge of the Lions-Waratahs game.