Lions must keep evolving, says Cronje

Stand-in Lions captain, scrumhalf Ross Cronje, says they must keep evolving to stay in touch with the high demands of Super Rugby.

Cronje will lead a Lions team this afternoon at Wits against a SupaBaabaas XV still missing the big guns with a mixture of youth and experience as the top Lions players are kept wrapped in cotton wool until the Stormers clash next weekend.

“Obviously you have to adapt in rugby,” said Cronje.

“That’s what our coaches have always done from the beginning, you can’t keep playing the same game otherwise opposition teams are going to start reading you.

“There are places up for grabs, but at the end of the day we are one team with a common goal and the kind of culture that the senior players and the coaches have created.”

There is major interest in the return from injury of centre Harold Vorster (left), while lock Andries Ferreira gets a run after returning from France.

“We have focused on the simple things in pre-season and we have tweaked one or two areas in our game and we will leave it up to the people out there to see come the first game of the year,” said Cronje.

The Lions could have a lot to prove returning to Bloemfontein for their opener after they were mauled there by the Cheetahs in last year’s Currie Cup semifinal.

“It wasn’t the best way to end the year last season, but there’s something more to play for us now, I’m very excited to be part of this group,” said Cronje.