If Ellis Park's seats are looking lonelier than a dieting lion at a buffalo buffet, Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie has a straightforward solution: Just win, baby. Speaking before the upcoming clash with Ulster in the URC, Fourie addressed the embarrassingly low attendance of 1,771 spectators at last weekend's match against the Scarlets. It seems even the allure of international visitors couldn't pack the stands.
Fourie, a former Springbok centre who's no stranger to the highs and lows of rugby, is banking on victory to cure the Lions' attendance woes. After snapping a three-game losing streak with their first season win, he's optimistic about turning the tide. "I think the moment you start winning, things will be different," he commented post-training.
"Then we will get people back into the stadium. That’s how it works."
The Lions are gearing up to face an undefeated Ulster team before they hit a month-long hiatus, with their next game not until the end of November against the Bulls at Loftus. Fourie highlighted the importance of entering the break on a high note: "If we can get another win before the break and then start rested in December when we play the South African teams, it will give us momentum and help us win back the fans." He admitted that consistent top performance is key, noting, "It’s difficult because you have to be at your best in every game to win."
The stakes are high, and with Ellis Park echoing more echoes than cheers, the Lions have their work cut out for them. Can they roar back to full strength and fill those stands? Time, and perhaps a few more W's in the win column, will tell.
Next URC fixtures for Lions: Ulster, Bulls at Loftus.
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If Ellis Park's seats are looking lonelier than a dieting lion at a buffalo buffet, Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie has a straightforward solution: Just win, baby. Speaking before the upcoming clash with Ulster in the URC, Fourie addressed the embarrassingly low attendance of 1,771 spectators at last weekend's match against the Scarlets. It seems even the allure of international visitors couldn't pack the stands.
Fourie, a former Springbok centre who's no stranger to the highs and lows of rugby, is banking on victory to cure the Lions' attendance woes. After snapping a three-game losing streak with their first season win, he's optimistic about turning the tide. "I think the moment you start winning, things will be different," he commented post-training.
"Then we will get people back into the stadium. That’s how it works."
The Lions are gearing up to face an undefeated Ulster team before they hit a month-long hiatus, with their next game not until the end of November against the Bulls at Loftus. Fourie highlighted the importance of entering the break on a high note: "If we can get another win before the break and then start rested in December when we play the South African teams, it will give us momentum and help us win back the fans." He admitted that consistent top performance is key, noting, "It’s difficult because you have to be at your best in every game to win."
The stakes are high, and with Ellis Park echoing more echoes than cheers, the Lions have their work cut out for them. Can they roar back to full strength and fill those stands? Time, and perhaps a few more W's in the win column, will tell.
Next URC fixtures for Lions: Ulster, Bulls at Loftus.