Battered Lions may go for broke
COACH SWYS WANTS TO END ON HIGH NOTE With hooker Marx returning home, it just got tougher.
The Lions might have to throw caution to the wind when they face the Highlanders in their fourth and final match of their Super Rugby away leg in Dunedin this weekend.
Having started their tour on a high note beating the Waratahs 29-0 in Sydney, they came unstuck in their next two matches by going down 27-22 to the Reds in Brisbane and 28-19 to former champions the Hurricanes in Wellington last weekend.
While they still managed to get one point out of the Reds match, having finished within five points, they walked away without a single point against the Canes having lost the encounter by a nine-point margin.
But Lions coach Swys de Bruin said they remain upbeat ahead of their final game on tour and stressed there was a lot more energy and intent against the Canes than was the case the previous week against the Reds.
“We will work hard this week as we prepare for the game against the Highlanders and we are looking at concluding the tour on a very high note,” said De Bruin.
They will however be without their biggest star in hooker Malcolm Marx who was set to return yesterday to South Africa with a groin injury picked up early in the Hurricanes clash.
While his replacement Robbie Coetzee played his part in all other departments he struggled with his lineout throws going deep too often into the swirling wind at the Westpac Stadium.
The Lions still lead the SA Conference with six wins from 11 games and on 31 points, but have seen their advantage shrink.
The Jaguares are starting to lay big claims, having won all four matches on Australasian soil and with 24 points are just seven adrift of the Lions.
The Sharks (23), the Stormers (22) and the Bulls (20) are also still in the hunt with the Sharks and the Bulls having played a game less than the other three.