VIDEO: Lions' key focus areas to nullify Sharks
SPOTLIGHT: After a 17-52 hammering by the Bulls three weeks ago, there were areas of concern in that performance that the Lions will address in their rescheduled Round Eight United Rugby Championship clash against the Sharks at Ellis Park.
After being physically bullied, out-muscled and disrupted in the line-outs by their neighbours across the Jukskei River, the Lions’ main focus will be to fix those areas against a Sharks team that has been dominant in those areas as of late, according to lock Reinhard Nothnagel.
Against the Bulls, the Lions managed to hold their own in the scrum on their own feed, but it’s in the line-outs where they became unstuck, winning merely 69 percent of their own ball.
The Sharks disrupted the Stormers’ line-out in their last two outings, and for Nothnagel, this will be a key element of their own set-piece if they were to do the double against the Durban-based outfit.
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“Set-piece is a massive part of their game. Their line-outs are really good under coach Warren Whiteley.
“I played with the Tshituka brothers, and Emile [Van Heerden] was here [at the Lions] on loan for a bit.
“We know them a little bit, but yes, they have a very good line-out system and put teams under pressure contesting-wise, and they’re good on their own ball.
“It [line-outs] will be a massive battle for both teams to win their [own] ball.”
Nothnagel admitted that their performance against the Bulls wasn’t up to their own standards.
The towering lock also said that they’ll need to physically impose themselves against a Sharks team full of bruisers to create attacking opportunities for their exciting backline players.
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“After the loss to the Bulls, we had a good look at ourselves. We know we weren’t up to standard on the day.
“Physicality hasn’t been an issue for us throughout the season, so we need to make a step-up against the Sharks.
“We know it’s a South African derby, so everything starts with physicality. If we can win that battle as a forward pack, we can lay a great platform for our backline players.
“We’ve got exciting backs that can score amazing tries, but it will definitely start up front.”
