Lions ‘going in right direction’
FERREIRA: WE HOPE TO START THE AWAY LEG ON A HIGH
Win over Stormers would give them a big boost in confidence.
Regarded as the heart of the Lions engineroom, big lock Andries Ferreira believes there is much more than what meets the eye regarding his team’s recent shortcomings in Super Rugby.
Ferreira, who is being rested for this afternoon’s clash at Ellis Park against the Stormers because of a heavy workload, compares it to the highest trees catching the most wind, almost like the Lions have become a target.
“I just think when other teams play against us they pitch up with their A-game, but we feel we are definitely going in the right direction,” he said.
“And we’re just maybe that one game off from finding the right gear to build on for the rest of the season and to get back on track.”
After losing three of their seven matches, Ferreira believes a win today could just be the missing ingredient before they embark on their away leg in two weeks time.
“I think if we can pick up the win before the tour it will start the away leg on a high,” he said.
“Because as a group we normally tour very well, we like to go away and spend some time together as friends.”
But Ferreira stressed they have to come up with a good plan against the Stormers lineout which normally functions very well.
“I don’t think there’s any pressure on us, but to beat the Stormers will be a confidence boost.
“We don’t focus too much on opposition apart from coming up with maybe something different where we feel we can attack them,” he said.
Ferreira said the maul is one of their strengths and something they try to use as much as possible, but the Crusaders contested really well and they couldn’t really get the maul going.
“We are just struggling to get the ball through that one extra phase. We are maybe forcing it a bit and we need to be a bit more patient and put the ball through more hands,” he said.