Good vibe in Lions’ den
Visitors will manage to match Cheetahs for staying power in Cup final, says Orie
EXPERIENCED Springbok lock Marvin Orie is confident that anything and everything the Free State Cheetahs ask of his team in the Currie Cup final on Saturday, the Golden Lions will be able to match and answer.
The teams meet in the showpiece match of the 2019 domestic season in Bloemfontein from 5pm, with the home team, the Cheetahs, the big favourites to go all the way.
Franco Smith’s team finished top of the log and have shown plenty of desire in recent weeks by coming from behind in their games to win handsomely.
Orie said the Lions would be able to match the Cheetahs.
“We’re definitely going to have to play for the full 80 minutes, but I know we can. We saw what the Cheetahs did against Western Province and then the Sharks, but I’m confident we can match them.
“At the end of the day it’s going to come down to which team pitches up, so hopefully it’s going to be a good day for us.”
Orie, like most of the Lions players, is chasing a first Currie Cup winner’s medal, but unlike many of his teammates, he knows what it’s like to play in a final and lose. That happened three years ago when he was a member of the Blue Bulls team that lost 36-16 to the Cheetahs in the final, also in Bloemfontein.
“I came close (in 2016),” said Orie yesterday.
“It’s super exciting (that
I can play in a final again). The Currie Cup has so much history in this country; it’s the main competition locally, and I definitely want to win it. I take the competition very seriously and this weekend is an opportunity to bag it.”
He added there was plenty of excitement in the Lions squad.
“With all the youngsters in the group there’s been a good vibe and plenty of excitement all season long. For a lot of the guys it’s a first final at this level, so there’s a buzz and lots of positive energy. It’s going to be good; I’m looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, Cheetahs captain Tian Meyer said he and his teammates were also excited about the opportunity in front of them.
“I think all the guys know what’s at stake, that there’s a Currie Cup final awaiting them. The vibe in Bloemfontein is really lekker, but the players also know the job isn’t done yet. We’re definitely not happy to just be in the final; we didn’t come all this way, put all the hard work in, just to compete.
“It’s hard to tell the guys to not make a big thing about it, but it is big... it’s the final and we’ve got a job to do.”
Smith confirmed he had no injury concerns after last week’s semi-final and would consider the same players for this weekend’s match, while there are also no new injury worries in the Lions squad.