Lions star: We start from zero
NEW BOK KNOWS HE WILL BE A MARKED MAN Currie Cup defeat against the Cheetahs ‘means nothing’.
Lions centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg believes the team will be measured against the success of last season when they open their Super Rugby campaign against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein this weekend.
There are high expectations for the Lions to even go one better, but Janse van Rensburg believes all the teams start at zero again.
“The first game is always a good measure where you stand as a team,” he said adding that the heavy Currie Cup semifinal defeat to the Cheetahs last year will count for nothing.
“Super Rugby is completely different to the Currie Cup,” he said. “We are working very hard on certain aspects of our game and we really want it all to come together nicely on the day,
“But it’s important not to look past the weekend. It’s our last week where we can put in all the hard work, so we are looking forward to get it behind us and to look ahead to the opener.”
Janse van Rensburg, still only 22, who made his long-awaited Test debut after a brilliant showing against the Barbarians, said he is expecting to be a marked man this season.
“Becoming a Bok at the end of last season is going to be a challenge and we have spoken about it in the team concept,” he said.
“Now that you have achieved something in a way, people will look more at you with a magnifying glass. It’s a great challenge, pressure is not something you must drive into the ground, you have to rise above that.”
But the burly 109kg Lions star doesn’t take his place in the side for granted especially now that the injuries to the highly regarded Harold Vorster are something of the past.
“It’s great to have a healthy competition and if there are six or seven centres it’s always great to know there’s somebody that can fill your shoes at any time,” he said.
“So every day when you train you know that if today you didn’t have a great session, there’s a chance you might not play.”
Quintin Immelman has been appointed to officiate the 3.05pm clash between the Cheetahs and the Lions this weekend.