Julian Redelinghuys, the Lions' forward coach, is not mincing words about the significance of their upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup game against Benetton at Ellis Park. Coming off a historic victory over the Bulls, the Lions are fired up and focused, with their sights set squarely on clinching home advantage for the playoffs in this short and sharp four-game pool stage.
"You need to end high up in your pool to have a home round-of-16 and quarter-final," Redelinghuys stated, underlining the importance of each match. "Benetton here, Newcastle away, Lyon here, Perpignan away—these are the clashes that will determine our fate. We're gunning for Ellis Park to be the battleground for the knockouts."
Benetton's earlier season thrashing of the Lions serves as a stark reminder of what's at stake. Despite the painful 41-15 defeat, Redelinghuys insists that this rematch isn't about settling scores. "We just want to focus on our process. We know what to expect and we’re keen for the challenge," he explained.
"Not conceding a penalty in that many scrums was massive. But Benetton is another good scrum challenge."
The Lions' scrum prowess was a highlight in their recent triumph and will again be crucial. Their ability to maintain discipline in the scrum against the Bulls' formidable pack was a key factor in their win, and they aim to replicate this performance against Benetton's equally challenging setup.
However, Redelinghuys also reflected on the need to tighten up their game during the critical closing stages, recalling a lapse in their last outing: "We were up 43-17 with five minutes left. We can't concede soft moments like that. Big moments win games, and we’re getting better but that’s an area to fix."
Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, fresh from Springbok duty, spoke about the impact of their break and the importance of consistency. "It was good to see the hard work pay off. To win at Loftus for the first time since 2023 was massive. But we can’t be a one-performance team. We have to prove we can go back-to-back," he emphasized, noting the importance of bringing international level detail back to club play.
With the season heating up and critical away games on the horizon, Redelinghuys highlighted the strategy ahead: "This is the part of the season where in the past we haven’t always been good. We’re treating it differently this year. Now we must show it on the weekend. Every game is huge, this isn’t a marathon. It’s a sprint."
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Julian Redelinghuys, the Lions' forward coach, is not mincing words about the significance of their upcoming EPCR Challenge Cup game against Benetton at Ellis Park. Coming off a historic victory over the Bulls, the Lions are fired up and focused, with their sights set squarely on clinching home advantage for the playoffs in this short and sharp four-game pool stage.
"You need to end high up in your pool to have a home round-of-16 and quarter-final," Redelinghuys stated, underlining the importance of each match. "Benetton here, Newcastle away, Lyon here, Perpignan away—these are the clashes that will determine our fate. We're gunning for Ellis Park to be the battleground for the knockouts."
Benetton's earlier season thrashing of the Lions serves as a stark reminder of what's at stake. Despite the painful 41-15 defeat, Redelinghuys insists that this rematch isn't about settling scores. "We just want to focus on our process. We know what to expect and we’re keen for the challenge," he explained.
"Not conceding a penalty in that many scrums was massive. But Benetton is another good scrum challenge."
The Lions' scrum prowess was a highlight in their recent triumph and will again be crucial. Their ability to maintain discipline in the scrum against the Bulls' formidable pack was a key factor in their win, and they aim to replicate this performance against Benetton's equally challenging setup.
However, Redelinghuys also reflected on the need to tighten up their game during the critical closing stages, recalling a lapse in their last outing: "We were up 43-17 with five minutes left. We can't concede soft moments like that. Big moments win games, and we’re getting better but that’s an area to fix."
Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, fresh from Springbok duty, spoke about the impact of their break and the importance of consistency. "It was good to see the hard work pay off. To win at Loftus for the first time since 2023 was massive. But we can’t be a one-performance team. We have to prove we can go back-to-back," he emphasized, noting the importance of bringing international level detail back to club play.
With the season heating up and critical away games on the horizon, Redelinghuys highlighted the strategy ahead: "This is the part of the season where in the past we haven’t always been good. We’re treating it differently this year. Now we must show it on the weekend. Every game is huge, this isn’t a marathon. It’s a sprint."