Lions’ home semi bid
WP FANCIED: DEFENDING CHAMPIONS BACKED TO WIN ELLIS PARK CLASH
Dobson’s men have a game in hand over Van Rooyen’s charges.
The Golden Lions are looking to move a vital step closer to hosting their first Currie Cup semifinal since 2015 when they welcome Western Province at Ellis Park today.
While the Lions have scored three bonus-point victories and are in great form this season, Province have a game in hand heading into the match and are viewed by many as the hot favourites to retain the title they won last year.
The Lions have only two away games left after today’s fixture, against the Sharks and the Pumas, and they are looking to make their final regular home match a big one at Ellis Park, where they have won their last five Currie Cup matches against the Capetonians.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen was obviously a happy man after their third straight victory against the Cheetahs last week, but he was also willing to admit the Province challenge could be a completely different scenario.
“Province are a team that have been hitting very good form and one must remember that they are the defending Currie Cup champions, so the game could shape up as a real humdinger,” Van Rooyen said.
Province coach John Dobson loaded his pack this week, with lock Ernst van Rhyn named on the blindside flank, and he believed the Lions’ ambitious backline stars needed to be taken on up front.
Province backs like wing Sergeal Petersen, centre Ruhan Nel and fullback Dillyn Leyds, combined with the grunt of lock JD Schickerlingh, could really test the waters for the Lions.
Van Rooyen, however, believed the hosts were not just relying on free-running stars like No 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, wing Sylvian Mahuza and flyhalf Shaun Reynolds.
“I think against the Cheetahs our forwards operated very well, especially in that first half,” he said.
“We have one or two exciting backs in the fold so it was important to provide them with frontfoot ball in order for them to operate the way they did.”