The Lions head into Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final in Dublin with a clear reference point – Bordeaux Bègles’ big win against Leinster. DYLAN JOHNSON reports.
On Tuesday, scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys and flanker JC Pretorius both pointed to execution and physicality as the keys to overturning a Leinster side still stinging from their 41-19 Investec Champions Cup final defeat in Bilbao.
Pretorius reflected on the Lions’ 31-7 league-stage loss to Leinster three weeks ago.
“The guys wanted to put up a good performance and we let ourselves down a bit,” he said. “If you look at the game, it was very close for long periods. They scored a few tries in the last few minutes, but throughout the game it was very close.”
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Redelinghuys agreed, pointing to missed opportunities as the big difference on the night.
“You won’t get a million opportunities against quality teams,” he said. “Finishing the opportunities that you do create is really important.”
Both men looked to Bordeaux as the model for how to do exactly that.
“Bordeaux managed to get opportunities and then use them. They ended up scoring 41 points, whereas we could only score seven in our last outing against Leinster,” said Redelinghuys.
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Pretorius pointed to Bordeaux’s defensive effort as equally instructive.
“Bordeaux made 250 tackles,” he said. “That’s how you put teams under pressure that want to play quick rugby, by making the right choices at the right time and not getting stuck in the breakdown when the defensive line needs you.”
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Redelinghuys also highlighted the importance of dominating the collision.
“The team that goes forward when contact takes place has a better chance, whether it’s attack, defence or set-piece,” he said. “We know what we want to achieve this weekend, and we believe if we get that right, it will give us a good chance.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
The post Lions look to Bordeaux blueprint appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The Lions head into Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final in Dublin with a clear reference point – Bordeaux Bègles’ big win against Leinster.
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