Lions fix their gaze on the Waratahs
• Tactically, the Sydneysiders ‘play a smart game’
They had barely vanquished the fiery Jaguares when the Lions turned their gaze to the Waratahs‚ whom they play in a Super Rugby semifinal at Ellis Park on Saturday. /
They had barely vanquished the fiery Jaguares when the Lions turned their gaze to the Waratahs‚ whom they play in a Super Rugby semifinal at Ellis Park in Joburg on Saturday.
The Waratahs’ game plan is likely to be more cerebral than that of the Jaguares‚ and the Lions will be required to fight battles on different fronts.
Lions captain WarrenWhiteley expects the Lions’ back three to come under aerial bombardment from the Tahs.
“Tactically, they play a smart game‚” Whiteley said. “They will probably kick a lot more.”
He expects their outsidebacks will come under pressure from the high balls, particularly from Israel Folau‚ so they can expect some “contestables”.
Game management is something at which the Waratahs are particularly adept.
In the closing minutes of their 30-23 win over the Highlanders they controlled the tempo and flow of the game‚ perhaps even pulling the wool over the eyes of Australian ref Angus Gardner.
“They’ll probably try and slow the game down as well.
“They will try and buy some time‚” said Whiteley in anticipation of the effects of altitude and long-distance travel taking its toll on the tourists.
“The Waratahs have a lot of international players who have cool heads‚” noted Lions coach Swys de Bruin.
“They were down and out and they came back [from 23-6 against the Highlanders]. The yellow card helped them but we anticipate a Waratahs team that is right up there.”
Clearly‚ the Tahs have redeeming characteristics.
“They scored 73 tries in the league stages and were third.
“They know how to find your try line‚” said De Bruin‚ wideeyed as ever to movement on the try-scoring charts.
“When they get front foot ball they are extremely dangerous‚” observed Whiteley.
“They are direct‚ they have some good‚ strong ball carriers who are direct and give players like Kurtley Beale flat ball from which to attack. When he gets flat ball he is dangerous.”
The Sydneysiders also pack a punch in the wider channels.
“They’ve got [Taqele] Naiyaravoro on the wing and Folau.
“Again the breakdown is going to be a contest‚ as well as the tackle fight and slowing down their ball. Of course the set piece as well. If you starve them of ball you don’t give them an opportunity‚” said Whitely.
The Lions may have home ground advantage and they may have kept the Waratahs scoreless in their most recent clash in Sydney earlier this season‚ but Whiteley and De Bruin are wary of the vagaries of knockout rugby and of the visitors’ prowess. “That game was honestly one of the perfect days for us‚” said De Bruin of their 29-0 win earlier in the season. “Everything went our way‚ every bounce of the ball. It was a great game for us. They’ll be up for it. They’ll come here wanting to rectify their mistakes.”
“In semifinals rugby you can’t just say somebody is going to win it‚” said Whiteley.
“We know they are going to come here guns blazing‚ with nothing to lose.” /