'The best we've played': Lions put down big URC marker ahead of Durban trip
REACTION: The Lions will be looking to build on their “best performance of the season” when they head to Durban next weekend.
Ivan van Rooyen’s side dominated all areas of the game on their way to a convincing 38-14 victory over the Sharks in a United Rugby Championship Round 12 clash at a wet Ellis Park on Saturday.
The two sides will meet again next weekend at Kings Park in a rescheduled Round One clash and Van Rooyen is expecting the Sharks to come out firing, especially with the South African Shield still available.
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Match Summary
“It was four games in a row against a South African team. After this week we’ve got a bye or two, so we can really get stuck into prep this week,” said Van Rooyen.
“They [Sharks] are a proud team and we know that they are going to fight back with everything that they have.
“After that, we’ve got two more away games in the URC and a European [Challenge Cup] game again.
“Hopefully, we can win that Round of 16 game and then it’s either stay there [for a quarterfinal] or it’s back here.
“We can’t control that, but what we can control is our prep, our mindset and understanding what we are doing well currently.
“Just mentally they [the Sharks] are going to be 10 to 15 percent better anyway, so it’s a big week in prep for us.”
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Defence
Van Rooyen was impressed with the way his players managed things on the field, especially in wet conditions.
“I am unbelievably proud of the workrate,” the coach added.
“It’s probably the best we’ve played in terms of game management plus understanding how we want to play.
“We’ve put a huge emphasis on workrate this week.
“They showed against the Bulls that they are fit, they are tough and they are quick, so I am really proud of the effort.”
When asked if this was his side’s best performance of the season, Van Rooyen added: “If you look at the weather and you look at the week we’ve had with one or two injuries, then probably.”
Meanwhile, Van Rooyen is hoping that he can use Quan Horn and Henco van Wyk in next weekend’s outing in Durban.
The duo missed Saturday’s clash due to injuries, while loose forward Ruan Venter is also a concern after he was replaced in the 29th minute at Ellis Park.
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United Rugby Championship
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