Swys: One step at a time

COACH: WE CAN’T TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT CANES WILL DO US A FAVOUR

The Lions will know exactly where they stand at kick-off.

Lions coach Swys de Bruin has cautioned his players not to take anything for granted prior to their Super Rugby semifinal against the hungry Waratahs at Ellis Park this afternoon.

By the time of their kick-off they will know whether they can still play for a home final if the Hurricanes do them a favour by stopping the formidable Crusaders in the earlier semifinal.

“If the Hurricanes end up doing us a favour it will count for nothing if we can’t go and finish the job against the Waratahs,” said De Bruin.

“It’s first of all a big honour to make a semifinal, that’s always fantastic and if you can go and complete the job it’s obviously fantastic.”

It is expected the Lions will initially use their big pack to subdue the Waratahs to try and take their dangerous backs out of the equation, like they did when they won 29-0 earlier in Sydney.

“But we can’t even think about that game, in fact I didn’t even show those clips to the team. The Waratahs have been on the up since and they know how to find the way to your tryline,” he said.

De Bruin said they are very humbled to have a third home semifinal but said it was only part of the job for them.

“There’s a perception that we were fortunate to get a home semi because of the conference system, but we never moaned about travelling for four weeks when they only travelled for two.

“So it’s a case of just getting on with the job.”

While the Tahs have named big hooker Talu Latu as a counter to Malcolm Marx, Lions captain Warren Whiteley said they’ll “do what they do”.

“Malcolm (Marx) has been phenomenal, so has Kwagga (Smith).

“We have got guys who make good decisions at the breakdown, but also don’t want to flood the breakdown because then we will be short on numbers.

“Defensively we have to be sound. They pose a big threat and tactically they will kick smart.”

He said though it was very difficult to call the Waratahs and the Highlanders last week.

“It was quite tough, home advantage does play a role, but like we saw in that second half, if the Waratahs start getting front-foot ball they are extremely danger-

Picture: Gallo Images STERN EXAMINATION. The Lions will have to be at their best if they are to clear today’s hurdle against the Waratahs at Ellis Park. A third Super Rugby final will then await coach Swys de Bruin’s in-form troops.