Jacques Nienaber claims it’ll be tough going for Leinster on Saturday at Ellis Park, where the Lions “put their heart and soul into defending”.
Ivan van Rooyen’s men, who finally reached the URC playoffs last season before a quarter-final exit in Dublin, will host the defending champions in round one of the 2026-27 edition of the competition.
They beat the Irish giants 44-12 in Johannesburg two years ago, and fell just short to the All Blacks (41-35) on the Highveld last month.
“The Lions are a good team, and everybody would say that,” Leinster senior coach Nienaber said during a teleconference ahead of this week’s clash. “They won the South African conference [last season].
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“There’s been a South African team in the final in each of the last five grand finals, so it’s a tough task to come to South Africa, and to the Lions as well.
“It’s going to be a nice challenge for us, and one that we’re definitely looking forward to.”
The Pride bolstered its pack over the off-season, with prop Boan Venter returning from Edinburgh, lock Hyron Andrews arriving after a stint at Sale, and Bok loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe and lock JP du Preez back from France and Japan, respectively.
Asad Moos, Boeta Chamberlain and Daniel Kasende add depth behind the scrum, though much will still hinge on the established core of Francke Horn, Ruan Venter, Morné van den Berg, Chris Smith, Henco van Wyk and Quan Horn.
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“The Lions are a very proud team, and they’re a force to be reckoned with, as they showed when they played against the All Blacks,” Nienaber added.
“Ellis Park is a ground where they really put their heart and soul into defending. So it will be a nice challenge for us.”
The trip to the Republic also carries extra reward for the former Springbok boss: “It’s always nice to come back.
“You get the opportunity to meet up with friends around South Africa whom you probably haven’t seen for a long time.”
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Nienaber confirmed prop Andrew Porter and outside back Tommy O’Brien are in full training with a 41-man squad selected for the two-week tour that includes next week’s encounter against the Sharks at Kings Park.
Their involvement to be assessed by Thursday, while playmaker Joey Carbery is “probably in the same bracket as those two”.
Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Gallo Images
The post Nienaber nervous about entering Lions’ den appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Jacques Nienaber claims it’ll be tough going for URC defending champions Leinster on Saturday at Ellis Park, where the Lions “put their heart and soul into defending”.
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