The FidelitySecuredrive Lions were given a massive boost this week with the news that two of their Springboks - scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, have been cleared for their important Vodacom United Rugby Championship match against leaders Glasgow Warriors on Saturday.
Van den Berg, with an injury, and Ntlabakanye, who was withdrawn because of his doping hearing at SAIDS, both missed the Lions last game a fortnight ago against the Dragons, which the team won to move up into fifth spot on the URC log.
There was a further boost for the side with the news that scavenger flanker JC Pretorius is fit again and will be ready for the game. Given Glasgow’s game is built on a fast ruck and momentum that comes from quick ball, the Lions will be targeting the breakdown in the game to see if they can do themselves, and all the other South African teams chasing a top eight spot a favour by getting a home win against the form team of the competition.
Glasgow’s last outing against the Lions was a very one-sided affair in the Scottish city, with Franco Smith’s side winning 42-0 in an awful night for the Lions. But few will argue that this is the same Lions team that played there, and more frankly, this side are playing with a lot more determination and confidence this season than they were last time out.
That makes the breakdown so important, and the key to the game, with the Lions lucky enough to be able to choose between Pretorius, Renzo du Plessis and newcomer and upstart Siba Mahashe for the ball chasing role.
Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher confirmed that Pretorius was ready to go and keen to get out onto the park on Saturday.
“He can’t wait to get going,” Loubscher smiled.
“He was available for the Dragons game. We will see what is needed on the day. As coaches, it is a discussion between us. It is good to have him back. He is ready to go, he is ready to go.”
That bit of enthusiasm in the attack coach’s voice isn’t unwarranted. Pretorius regularly topped the turnover count when he was playing last season and his value for the side cannot be underestimated.
Glasgow will want to put their disappointment in losing to Toulon in the Investec Champions’ Cup behind them and are desperate for some success in the URC - with the South African tour key to their hopes in the competition.
Loubscher reiterated the breakdown during the discussion, as if the Lions know this is the key to success.
“The big focus point will obviously be the breakdown. If you watch the Toulon game and their game against us last season, whoever is going to win that battle will be in with a good chance to win the game.
“That is why we are excited about our loosies at the moment whether it is Siba, Renzo or JC. Our defensive breakdown is probably the area where we feel we can get purchase.”
The last game in Glasgow still has some terrible memories for the Lions, ones they are keen to erase. Their game just went from bad to worse and in the end the scoreline was a humiliation, something they are keen to get off their backs this weekend.
“That first half they just played us off our feet. Part of their DNA is to play with a lot of tempo. They want to speed up play and they want to go through quick rucks.From our point of view, it is really about stopping momentum.
“They are going to come here and they are not going to go away from their DNA. We have to be there for 85 minutes and be in the moment. They will want to speed up the game, while we must force our strengths onto them."
The Lions will name their side for the clash on Friday.