While the Lions will not be having the perfect United Rugby Championship season, their win in opposition to Glasgow Warriors final weekend would have given them a lift and so they’ll come out firing in opposition to the Bulls of their Gauteng derby at Loftus Versfeld this weekend.
That’s in accordance to Bulls flank Marco van Staden, in addition to assistant coach Chris Rossouw.
The Lions are down in twelfth place on the URC points log and presumably out of the operating to make the knockout rounds, however in accordance to Van Staden, they’re a crew that may by no means be written off.
‘Come out firing’
“The Lions will come at us with a lot of energy this weekend. They’ll come out firing, play with a high tempo and will look to surprise us,” mentioned flanker Van Staden.
“We’re each below a bit of strain, for various causes … they’ve had a number of losses just lately and we want wins and good performances with the playoffs arising.
“It’s always a good competition when two South African teams clash and this weekend will be no different.”
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Rossouw added one shouldn’t look on the quantity of wins (six from 14) when judging Ivan van Rooyen’s Lions.
“The Lions are very harmful. They can beat anybody on any day and so they’re coming off an excellent win. They play good rugby.
“They’re a crew that don’t go away … they’ve been like that for years, it’s their mentality. They don’t surrender and that’s why we respect them a lot.
“The perception is that we should beat them and that’s why we need no motivation for this game.”
Stormers loss
But whereas the struggling Lions gained final weekend, the Bulls misplaced to the Stormers within the large north-south derby at Loftus Versfeld final day out.
“We’ve had a look at where we went wrong,” mentioned Van Staden. “We’ve taken some learnings from that sport. The large factor is we had alternatives to rating tries and didn’t take them.
“So, since that match we’ve targeted on our accuracy and ending off alternatives. It’s easy errors that value us that day, and we will’t proceed like that.
“We have the playoffs coming up in the next few weeks and need to start building some momentum towards the end of the season.”
Van Staden has been in good kind in latest occasions, one thing that will assist him preserve the Springbok selectors curious about his sport. And with a World Cup arising later in 2023, staying match and enjoying nicely will be key for the flanker.
“I feel like I’m back to where I should be,” mentioned the 27-year-old.
“But there’s always work to do and something to improve. But, I’m glad and happy to be playing again. I’m enjoying my rugby, and that contributes to one’s form. Whatever happens (with regards to the Boks) I’ll be happy with that.”
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