Lions must tighten up by Saturday
THE Lions have no time to bask in the glory of topping the Super Rugby points table.
Their coronation as league winners was confirmed with a 27-10 victory over the Sharks.
However, the match laid bare the need for some urgent revision before the knockout stages, starting this Saturday with a rematch against the Sharks at Ellis Park.
Coach Johan Ackermann’s message ahead of the quarterfinal was simple: “We have to improve massively.
“I don’t think we played with good enough intensity compared with other games played at the weekend.
“I think we have a lot of hard work to do if we want to go further.”
While it improved towards the end‚ the Lions’ set pieces were far from accurate‚ and the coach also lamented his team’s propensity for losing the ball in contact.
“It wasn’t good enough. We have to look at the penalties we gave away at scrum time. “We’ve got a week to fix it.” Overall‚ however‚ Ackermann was relieved that his team went one better than last year, when top honours went to the Hurricanes.
Topping the log means they will have home-ground advantage in the semifinal and the final too‚ should they get there.
“I am very proud of the guys for being top of the log and being in the playoffs. It is now in our hands.”
Although the Lions achieved a league double over the Sharks this season‚ he warned that it would count for nothing on Saturday.
“Last year, the Crusaders beat us in the league stages at Ellis Park‚ but we replayed them in the quarterfinals and beat them.”
Despite two wins against the Sharks and the Durban side’s log position‚ Ackermann was not convinced that the visitors would come into the clash with less pressure or expectation.
He gave the near fist-thumping reassurance that his team would continue their attack-orientated style.
“There is pressure on all the sides‚ especially those hosting.
“Our mindset will remain the same. We want to honour God for the talent he gave us and we want to score tries.
“The players must enjoy the game. “We will still do that on Saturday and the result will look after itself.
“We will live and die by playing an exciting brand of rugby.”
Lions loose forward-skipper Jaco Kriel, who was among the try-scorers, said: “It is an amazing feeling to finish top of the overall standings.
“Our preparations this week were normal with nothing special, despite the match in Durban having huge significance.
“What we must not assume is that our match against the Sharks will be similar to the one we have just played.
“They will be a much more difficult monster to tame, even though we will enjoy home advantage at Ellis Park.”