Forum Home Forum Home > Rugby Competitions > Currie Cup
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - To beat the Bulls, Lions need their greyhounds to
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Events   Register Register  Login Login


The Lions next play the Ospreys in Swansea in the URC on 30 March 2024, kickoff is at 17:05

To beat the Bulls, Lions need their greyhounds to

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
Transvaal View Drop Down
Admin Group
Admin Group


Joined: 30-Mar-2016
Status: Offline
Points: 39038
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Transvaal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: To beat the Bulls, Lions need their greyhounds to
    Posted: 18-Jan-2021 at 12:09pm
https://supersport.com/rugby/currie-cup/news/210117_To_beat_the_Bulls_Lions_need_their_greyhounds_to_fire?utm_source=ss_social&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=
int__ss_generic&utm_term=facebook&utm_content=conversion&fbclid=
IwAR3SXBhCai6oUtMM89CS39rLSTiJOWt7aE5SdRQOkoXYAKoGlcPGMXvJJXA

The Xerox Lions haven’t exactly set the Carling Currie Cup alight this season, but they know they have a chance of winning the competition if they can get their greyhounds to fire.

Over the last decade the Lions have become synonymous for their free-flowing play and one thing many of the teams in the competition fear is if the Lions get on a roll – and gain momentum – they become almost unstoppable.

It was like this in the time of Johan Ackermann and Swys de Bruin and to a lesser extent lately. But it has been a factor that has carried the team through some tough times and to some unlikely victories.

The closest we have seen it this season has been when they faced Western Province, storming back at the end to win a closely contested game thanks to an excellent try by Stean Pienaar from a quick tap that swung things in their favour.

LIONS MUST SHOW ENTERPRISE

But to beat a Vodacom Bulls side on their home ground in a playoff match, the Lions will need to show a lot more enterprise than they have in recent weeks

While they have been disrupted by Covid more than possibly other teams, their play has been more focused on securing victories and gaining some seasonal momentum in the process.

In a way their approach is understandable. Given the find of the season, Tiaan Swanepoel can kick goals from within his own half, it is hard to criticise an approach that seems to be an easy three points whenever he lines up the ball.

But it does beg the question of whether it has lulled the Lions to rely more on Swanepoel’s boot of late than their own attacking game?

STRUGGLING FOR FLAIR IN MORE THAN SHORT SPELLS

Their pack has concentrated on their scrumming battles, which has dominated a lot of the competition talk this year and their clinical approach, perhaps in chasing the playoff spot more than looking to play their entertaining rugby, has seen them struggle to burst out flair in more than short spells.

By all accounts the Bulls have been working on their setpiece and hope to negate the problems they had last time out in this department, and if they do they will gain a lot of confidence from this part of the game.

One thing is for certain, with the brand of rugby that the Lions preach as their ethos, if they can get on a roll they will be very hard to stop.

We have seen more than enough examples over the past decade of Lions teams simply overwhelming opposition with momentum and exuberance and it is here that they are at their most dangerous.

TEAM SELECTION QUESTIONED

Their last trip to Loftus, as well as their win over the Pumas, showcased very little of this. At Loftus they succumbed to a young Bulls side whose defence was exceptional on the day. The team selection at ties could have been questioned, and in the end it made little sense to leave Wandisile Simelane – potentially their most potent attacking weapon – on the bench until late.

The Lions have the pace on the outside, but their rampaging ability lies more in the teamwork and the ability to unlock the likes of Jaco Kriel and Vincent Tshituka in space. Get that right and the speedsters will take over.

It sounds like an easy plan, and the Bulls will have a clear counter of their own.

But the Lions will know, unless they can get their greyhounds running, the Loftus Versfeld trip may be a really tough one for them to end the season on.

Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd.

This page was generated in 0.074 seconds.