Why local is not so lekker for Lions
REACTION: From December 4 to March 13 – three months and five matches – the Lions went through a barren spell.
However, they are now on a three-match winning streak and certainly looking like they belong in the United Rugby Championship.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen puts that down to the ‘familiarity’ that South African teams have with each other – with four of those six defeats having been in domestic derbies.
In fact, the Lions have just one win from five starts in SA derbies – with four consecutive defeats.
Against South African teams the Lions have scored just 107 points and conceded 153 – an average loss of 21-31.
The encounters with foreign opposition have delivered vastly different stats – four wins from eight starts, 188 points for and 178 points against, for a winning margin of 24-22.
The Lions will look to make it a four-peat when they face Edinburgh this coming Saturday.
“We’re almost playing against the unknown,” Van Rooyen told a post-match media briefing after his team’s 45-15 demolition of the Ospreys at the weekend.
“With the South African derbies, it was slightly tougher mentally to get up for the challenge,” the coach added.
“I think with the international teams, the uncertainty, currently, is actually good for us.
“However, mentally, we’re in a good place.”
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He said recovery is vital this week, given the quality of the opposition – an Edinburgh side that became the first foreign team to win on South African soil.
“Edinburgh probably will play all of their internationals.
“Ospreys’ internationals were on the sideline. Edinburgh will select their internationals.”
The Lions coach also expects the Scottish capital outfit to come with a “big attacking game”.
“It is a different challenge next week,” he said, adding they will work hard this week and focus on their own game.
The Lions coach said there is a reason why Edinburgh is fifth on the standings.
They also have a number of South Africans in their touring squad – including former Lions flyhalf Jaco van der Walt, fullback Henry Immelman, props Pierre Schoeman, Luan de Bruyn and Boan Venter.
Lions URC stats
“It [playing at Ellis Park] won’t be brand new for them,” Van Rooyen said.
“There are also one or two Monnas [Hoërskool Monument] guys that will come back home,” the coach said of Van der Walt, who comes from captain Burger Odendaal’s alma mater in Krugersdorp.
“Someone like Jaco [van der Walt] knows the stadium and the players well.
“They also have international players throughout their team.”
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