LIONS SEEK TO MAKE HISTORY ON HARD TURF OF CHRISTCHURCH
De Bruin’s men look to history against Crusaders
Super Rugby finals are notoriously tough, yet it could be argued they don’t come any tougher than against the Crusaders, on a 14-match unbeaten run.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin was in no doubt about what his team needs to do to break with history in Saturday’s Super Rugby final against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
“We have to bring our A-game and more. We have huge respect for them‚” said De Bruin about the eight-time champions who are this weekend defending the title they won at Ellis Park last year.
The Crusaders are on a 14match unbeaten run and have won all 20 playoff matches ever played in Christchurch.
While the Crusaders have history pointing firmly in their favour‚ the Lions have not much to go on.
They lost all their four matches against New Zealand opposition this season.
Last year they beat the Hurricanes and lost the final to the Crusaders‚ but they chalked up three wins against New Zealand opposition en route to the final in 2016.
“We have huge respect for the Crusaders‚” captain Warren Whiteley soon echoed.
Whiteley‚ however‚ seemed to be in full embrace of the challenge facing his team.
“What an opportunity for us. In New Zealand‚ in Christchurch. What more do you want? This is why you play the game‚” said the Lions captain.
When he announced his team for the final De Bruin was asked about the comments of Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd‚ who had installed the Crusaders as favourites after his team lost in the semifinals in Christchurch last weekend.
“He’s not far off‚” said De
Bruin.
“However‚ everyone can be beaten. The fact that they are favourites is no lie.”
Whiteley who missed to two previous finals the Lions had featured in said he was honoured to now get an opportunity to play in the tournament’s climax.
He’ll also get the opportunity to measure himself against All Blacks’ captain Kieran Read who for long has been the globe’s standard bearer in that position.
“He’s the world’s best No8‚ he’s a great leader‚” said Whiteley.
“He’s consistent. He’s all round phenomenal. He’s a player I’ve always looked up to him. He’s come back from huge injury. He’s a guy I respect.”
De Bruin confirmed that Johan Ackermann‚ under whose tutelage the team reached the previous two finals‚ had sent the team a message wishing them well and good luck in the final.
Meanwhile, Aphiwe Dyantyi will have to save his potentially explosive impact for the second half in Saturday’s final after he was named on the bench for the Lions.
They take on the defending champions the Crusaders with a team that shows two changes from the one that beat the Waratahs in the semifinals. Having sat out the second half last week with a hamstring injury‚ Dyantyi will this week make room for Courtnall Skosan in the starting lineup‚ while Cyle Brink returns to flank in the place of Lourens Erasmus who drops to the bench.
Brink has recovered from the shoulder injury that kept him out of action last week. Brink with his slightly lower centre of gravity than Erasmus‚ will be one of the Lions’ go-to ball carriers in what is expected to be a damp Christchurch on Saturday. His confrontational defence should be equally valuable in stunting the home team’s momentum.
With him back on the side of the scrum the Lions pack has a familiar look to it.
That familiarity has been built over the last few years as Whiteley reminded.
“The continuity we’ve built is unheard of in South Africa‚” said Whiteley.
“It is indicative of the culture we’ve established at the Lions. We love what we do.”
The backs too have a familiar look about it‚ especially with Skosan‚ who scored a late try last weekend‚ back in the No11 jersey. Dyantyi’s tiptoeing jet shoe act will be reserved for the second half‚ as will the chaos flank Marnus Schoeman inflicts on the opposing defence.
The Lions however‚ will have to do the bulk of their grunt early on if they want to keep the Crusaders in check.
The Lions team is: Andries Coetzee; Ruan Combrinck‚ Lionel Mapoe‚ Harold Vorster‚ Courtnall Skosan; Elton Jantjies‚ Ross Cronjé; Warren Whiteley (capt)‚ Cyle Brink‚ Kwagga Smith; Franco Mostert‚ Marvin Orie; Ruan Dreyer‚ Malcolm Marx‚ Jacques van Rooyen.
Substitutes: Corne Fourie‚ Dylan Smith‚ Johannes Jonker‚ Lourens Erasmus‚ Marnus Schoeman; Dillon Smit‚ Aphiwe Dyantyi‚ Howard Mnisi. —
However‚ everyone can be beaten. The fact that they are favourites is no lie