VIDEO: How Jaco 'fired up' the Lions
The Lions are determined to ‘stay grounded’ despite their bonus-point win over Cardiff this past weekend.
With Irish powerhouse Munster arriving at Ellis Park this coming Saturday, the Lions were tempering the post-match talk of the 37-20 triumph against Cardiff being a ‘turning point’ in their season.
Wing Edwill van der Merwe scored twice in a blistering start for the home team, who held off a determined Cardiff fightback at Ellis Park.
The result ended a five-match, three-month losing streak – their first win since their 37-19 demolition of the Stormers in Cape Town on December 4.
Then followed a COVID-enforced break, before an arid period – losses to the Sharks (37-47), Bulls (10-34 and 13-21), the Stormers (10-32) and Leinster (13-21).
Coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted the pressure of not having won since December got to the players after a good start at Ellis Park this past Sunday, resulting in some ‘frantic’ play and individuals forcing the issue.
“The preparation and training for the last few weeks have been really good and we were desperate to end the losing streak,” Van Rooyen told a media briefing.
Captain Jaco Kriel revealed that some inspiring pre-match words seemed to have done the trick for a franchise in desperate need of a positive outcome.
Kriel is in doubt for the Munster clash, after feeling the effects of literally putting his body on the line.
He admitted his elbow, caught awkwardly in a tackle, is a “bit sore”, adding that they will assess it on Monday and make a call later in the week.
Kriel, like the coach, said the relief of finally ending the losing streak numbs any physical discomfort.
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“We owed ourselves a good game at home,” the Springbok loose forward said.
“Lately we haven’t played well at home.
“I told the guys to remember the day you fell in love with rugby. I told them: ‘Go out and play for that moment.’
“Everybody showed that character and work ethic.
“It is great for a captain to get that response from his team.”
The 32-year-old loose forward, who played the last of his 11 Tests against Australia in Perth in September 2017, admitted there are several aspects of their game they will have to “work on” and improve ahead of the rescheduled Round Seven encounter with Munster this coming Saturday.
Like the coach, he spoke of the need to get their scrum dominance back after they struggled to assert themselves in the set pieces, especially the scrums.
The biggest improvement, according to Kriel, was the change in attitude from the players.
“A few weeks back we sat here [in a media briefing] and we said we are not happy with the attitude,” the loose forward said, adding: “The is the first time in a while that we can say in two consecutive games the guys brought good effort and showed good attitude.
“It is really good to see the response from the players and the hard work paying off.”
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He described the win as a “building block” looking forward and said it was “reward” for all the hard work of the last few weeks.
“It is important that we are consistent and continue to put it the effort in training.
“We should focus on this being a ‘turning point’ of the season, but rather build on it.”
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