Lions to block Cooper's channel
The Reds' propensity to attack the flyhalf-inside centre channel has resulted in the Lions temporarily discarded the practice of playing Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies at inside centre.
The Lions conclude their Australasian tour when they take on the Reds in Brisbane on Friday, with coach Johan Ackermann making a number of backline changes.
The most significant of those are in the No.9, No.10 and No.12 channel – where Jantjies was shifted back to flyhalf, after playing at inside centre against the Rebels last weekend, with Harold Vorster having returned at No.12 and Ross Cronje back in at scrumhalf.
Ackermann, speaking to rugby365 from the team's base in Australia, said they had a good look at the Reds, who were also boosted by the return of a number of Wallabies from injury – including Quade Cooper at flyhalf and James O'Connor, who often comes in on first receiver, named on the left wing.
"We feel they will attack that [No.9, No.10 & No.12] channel a lot," he said, adding: ""That is why we opted to put Harold [Vorster], who is a specialist inside centre, back in his place. We also named Elton [Jantjies] where he is comfortable on defence. Ross [Cronje], statistically, is one of our best defenders.
"Those selections will make that channel a bit stronger.
"In the game we can still move Elton to No.12, when we bring Bossie [Marnitz Boshoff] on – that could make an impact."
The Lions mentor said that from a defensive point of view, for this game, this will be a good combination.
"Further down the line there may be a game where we can use the Bossie-Elton combination, which worked well for us last week [in the win over the Rebels]," he told rugby365.
The coach said those returning Wallabies players like Wallaby prop Greg Holmes, Cooper and O'Connor – will significantly strengthen the Reds.
"We took that into consideration when we made our selections," he said of those returning Wallabies.
"Also, while Elton defended very well [at inside centre last week], he hasn't had much time to settle in the combination with Bossie.
"It is within our grasp to win three out of four on tour, which will make it a great trip.
"That is why we have to ensure all the players are comfortable in their respective positions. That is why we went for established players at No.10 and No.12, because we know that is where the Reds will attack."
Ackermann also explained his decision to change his front row, where Robbie Coetzee will be starting at hooker in place of Armand van der Merwe.
"Robbie had a good break and somewhere down the line we will have to give him another, then we will look at Akker [Armand van der Merwe] to start again. However, for this game we will rely on the impact Akker gives us off the bench, as he has done so often in the past.
"Robbie is solid in the set pieces – that will hopefully lay a solid foundation for us and later in the game when fatigue starts to set in Robbie can come in and lift the tempo for us ."
The coach felt his bench could make a huge impact if they are still in the game around 50-minute mark.
"We can send our impact players on, like Akker and Faf [Francois de Klerk], then we could possibly pull it off.
"There could be a question mark over the match-fitness of those players coming back."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
