Lions ready for running of the Bulls

The Lions are gearing for a massive backlash from the Blue Bulls when they meet in the opening round of the Currie Cup on Saturday.

Having finished ninth, their worst position since 2008 (10th), the Bulls are determined to make amends for a disappointing Super Rugby campaign.

And the Lions, 12th place for their best season ever, are aware that this trans-Jukskei derby will have some added spice.

"No doubt they will be bitterly disappointed with their performances in Super Rugby," Lions coach Johan Ackermann told rugby365 in an interview ahead of the clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.

"They will look to use the Currie Cup competition to elevate the Blue Bulls back to the top," he said, adding: "We are expecting a massive onslaught."

And it is not just redemption that will drive the Bulls and make them a difficult foe.

"The squad that they listed in the media is a damn good team,"the Lions mentor said.

"They have a settled front row, good locks, they have their Super Rugby loose forwards, at halfback they have in [No.9] Piet van Zyl and [No.10] Jacques-Louis Potgieter lots of experience.

"They also have JJ [Engelbrecht] who was axed from the Bok team.

"They will arrive [at Ellis Park] with a very powerful team and we will have to be on top of our game."

Ackermann told rugby365 that all the teams in this year's Currie Cup competition will be close and it will be a huge challenge.

However, his own team has suffered a number of setbacks – having lost several key players in training last week.

"We've obviously had some major disruptions," he said, adding: "We have worked hard with a core group of players the last few weeks, but we'll have to make some adjustments.

"The new guys will have to be brought into and trained into our systems.

"We will have to focus on what we want to do and not worry too much about the Bulls."

By Jan de Koning