Circle the wagons, folks! The Lions are gearing up for what could be a bruising encounter at Ellis Park this Saturday. They're facing off against the Stormers in a Vodacom URC derby that’s expected to be a real slugfest, particularly in the set-pieces. Lions’ scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys is buckling up for an intense showdown, predicting that the game will hinge on the battles up front.
Redelinghuys, a veteran of the scrum wars, didn’t mince words about the upcoming clash. “Another local derby and it’s against the Stormers who are a quality team. We are expecting a massive battle from them, a strong set-piece battle, strong physicality battle, strong kicking battle. We are aware of what lies ahead for us, but we’ve been preparing well this week so far. We need to pitch up on the day. It’s another game at home which is always nice to have,” he stated, clearly aware of the high stakes.
"At the set-piece, there were a few things against the Sharks that we weren’t happy with. We scored a maul try, but then we conceded two maul tries and at the scrum we conceded too many penalties – two of those off our own ball. It’s aspects that we’ll need to get right when we play the Stormers."
Coming off a victory against the Sharks, one might think the Lions would be riding high, but Redelinghuys was quick to highlight areas needing improvement. Despite the win, the Lions’ scrum and maul vulnerabilities were exposed, giving the coach plenty to ponder ahead of the Stormers match.
The Stormers, known for their formidable pack, will undoubtedly test the Lions' resolve. Redelinghuys, who has faced many a hard hitter in his time, is not just anticipating but relishing the challenge. “Looking forward to the scrum battle. You want to test yourself against the best guys and obviously playing the SA teams, who have the strongest packs in the competition. Great to have that challenge,” he remarked with a mix of anticipation and respect for his adversaries.
As the URC SA Shield looms large and other teams falter, this match could be pivotal for both teams. With the Lions looking to iron out their set-piece creases and the Stormers bringing their A-game, Saturday at Ellis Park promises to be more than just another game—it’s a heavyweight bout dressed up as a rugby match.
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Circle the wagons, folks! The Lions are gearing up for what could be a bruising encounter at Ellis Park this Saturday. They're facing off against the Stormers in a Vodacom URC derby that’s expected to be a real slugfest, particularly in the set-pieces. Lions’ scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys is buckling up for an intense showdown, predicting that the game will hinge on the battles up front.
Redelinghuys, a veteran of the scrum wars, didn’t mince words about the upcoming clash. “Another local derby and it’s against the Stormers who are a quality team. We are expecting a massive battle from them, a strong set-piece battle, strong physicality battle, strong kicking battle. We are aware of what lies ahead for us, but we’ve been preparing well this week so far. We need to pitch up on the day. It’s another game at home which is always nice to have,” he stated, clearly aware of the high stakes.
"At the set-piece, there were a few things against the Sharks that we weren’t happy with. We scored a maul try, but then we conceded two maul tries and at the scrum we conceded too many penalties – two of those off our own ball. It’s aspects that we’ll need to get right when we play the Stormers."
Coming off a victory against the Sharks, one might think the Lions would be riding high, but Redelinghuys was quick to highlight areas needing improvement. Despite the win, the Lions’ scrum and maul vulnerabilities were exposed, giving the coach plenty to ponder ahead of the Stormers match.
The Stormers, known for their formidable pack, will undoubtedly test the Lions' resolve. Redelinghuys, who has faced many a hard hitter in his time, is not just anticipating but relishing the challenge. “Looking forward to the scrum battle. You want to test yourself against the best guys and obviously playing the SA teams, who have the strongest packs in the competition. Great to have that challenge,” he remarked with a mix of anticipation and respect for his adversaries.
As the URC SA Shield looms large and other teams falter, this match could be pivotal for both teams. With the Lions looking to iron out their set-piece creases and the Stormers bringing their A-game, Saturday at Ellis Park promises to be more than just another game—it’s a heavyweight bout dressed up as a rugby match.