Modest Springbok contingent a blessing for the Lions
OPINION: The Lions have progressed to the quarterfinal round of the United Rugby Championship, and they did it despite having the fewest Springboks of all the South African franchises. But how will it impact them in the play-offs?
The Lions will face Leinster in a quarterfinal in Dublin after making history by securing their first-ever URC play-off appearance.
They did it with just one regular Springbok on their roster in scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, who has returned to South Africa for treatment on the bicep injury he sustained in their 17-24 defeat to Munster in the final round of the league phase, while utility forward Ruan Venter is also on the injury list and will undergo further assessment on the knee injury he picked up against Leinster a fortnight ago.
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The Lions’ modest senior national representation is in stark contrast to the rest of the South African contingent, with the Stormers, the Bulls, and the Sharks all featuring a significant Bok influence.
The downside to that Bok-heavy advantage is the disruption that comes when those Test internationals are unavailable due to national involvement and preparation or mandatory rest periods.
It’s a factor that doesn’t really affect the Lions, and while their achievements this season – like winning the South African Shield and making the URC playoffs – without a chunk of international talent is no doubt a praiseworthy feat, it could also come with certain challenges.
Leinster, despite being stacked with internationals, were pummeled by Bordeaux Bègles in the Champions Cup Final, losing 41-19, exactly one week before they run out against the Lions at Aviva -Stadium.
With the Champions Cup concluded, the reigning URC title holders will now shift their focus to the URC play-offs. They can now focus only on the Lions, a luxury they have not always been afforded during the business end of the URC.
With the competitions running concurrently, in recent years the Champions Cup final has often been played only after the URC knockouts, specifically the semifinals, or just before the URC last-four, demanding that teams who had progressed in both competitions split their focus.
It has proved a costly juggling act for Leinster on a few occasions in recent history. This time, however, there is no such scheduling inconvenience as they took to the field for the final of the premier European competition one week before meeting the Lions in the URC quarterfinal.
The international-laden Leinster will also draw confidence from the fact that they managed to beat the Lions two weeks ago thanks to a late surge during which they scored three tries in 10 minutes despite resting some players.
Seeing as Leinster went full strength for the Champions Cup final, they may opt to let those players recharge during the quarterfinal against the Lions and then return to full strength come the semifinals.
The Lions will have goals of their own, and while Leinster fielding a ‘B team’ against the Johannesburg team could, should they go that route, be seen as complacency, the Lions should use it as fuel.
After all, if ‘Leinster B’ – with not as many Ireland internationals – go up against the Lions, it will level out the playing field.
