Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen says while his team isn’t yet ready for the new Vodacom URC campaign, they are eager to test themselves against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Tuesday night.
New Zealand have dominated South Africa’s URC clubs during the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, putting 54 points past the Sharks and 50 past the Bulls. The Stormers provided the toughest challenge in going down 38-21 in the Cape Town opener.
The Lions are also in pre-season, but have had more preparation time than their fellow URC teams and will field an almost full-strength side.
Scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, named on the Bok bench for Saturday’s second Test in Cape Town, is the only absentee, with fullback Quan Horn and prop Boan Venter (set to make his Lions debut) both released from the national squad.
“I would be really nervous if the URC had to start next week, but for this occasion, we were willing to bite the bullet a little bit,” Van Rooyen said on Monday.
“To be involved in the game is obviously a privilege. Where we are as a group, we’re excited.
“We haven’t had too much collision, but we’re really excited to not just play against the All Blacks but to test ourselves, test our systems, test ourselves individually.
“If it has to happen tomorrow night that a miracle can happen, then that will be an unbelievable achievement from our side.”
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Van Rooyen expects the All Blacks to adopt an approach similar to that used against the URC clubs rather than the one that helped them beat the Boks 33-16 in the first Test at Ellis Park.
“They painted a specific picture in the first three games, and they changed the picture quite considerably against the Boks,” he said.
“My gut tells me it’s going to be similar to what the Bulls, the Sharks and the Stormers have faced.
“I think the identity, how they want to play in terms of tempo … I think their breakdown work is absolutely world-class.
“Tempo, physicality, that’s how they want to play. The team that they’ve picked is really physical with a lot of experience.
“So for us, physicality, tempo and decision-making will obviously be under pressure, but again, it’s such a good occasion for us that we’re excited about it.”
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The post Lions ‘bite the bullet’ for All Blacks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen says while his team isn’t yet ready for the new Vodacom URC campaign, they are eager to test themselves against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Tuesday night.
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