AUDIO: Lions ready to shift into overdrive
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The Lions, having won the South African conference for the third year running, but they know the real work starts now.
The Lions, with the assistance of some fortunate results elsewhere in the competition, sneak past the Waratahs into second place in the tournament standings.
They will host the Jaguares in the quarterfinal at Ellis Park this Saturday, as they aim to reach the Final for the third successive year and finally end their Super Rugby trophy drought.
Their only Super Rugby title was in 1993 – when Transvaal beat Auckland in a Super 10 Final.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley admitted there is “a lot to work on” ahead of the visit by the South Americans.
“I still think we have an extra gear,” Whiteley said, adding: “We know in the play-offs each and every opportunity is like gold.”
He admitted the could the Lions must be “more ruthless” this week.
“I feel at times, defensively, we can be sharper.
“We can get there, [but] I feel we are on the right path.
“The curve is upwards.”
While Whiteley described the Jaguares as a “very dangerous” side and pointed out that they have won away from home often enough this season.
“It won’t faze them to play away [at Ellis Park],” the Lions skipper said.
Coach Swys de Bruin echoed these sentiments.
He said even though the Lions have won all three their previous encounters with the South American franchise at Ellis Park, they will be a much bigger threat than the Bulls were this pasty weekend.
“Their system is different and the way they play off their flyhalf, with their runners, is different,” he said.
“We will have to put in a massive defence effort, to pressure them to get the ball back. That will be a main work-on, how we can apply pressure on their attack.”
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