Lions ready for ‘lekker’ clash against Benetton

LIONS supporters should not expect any major changes to the matchday 23 that will face Benetton this weekend, and that can be ticked down as a positive development ahead of their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash.

The Lions squad to face the Italian franchise tomorrow (kick-off 3pm) is almost entirely made up of the players that recently beat Glasgow Warriors and the Bulls.

There are one or two additions, such as the return of Reinhard Nothnagel and Jaco Kriel but yesterday, Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys let it slip that the team will be looking for continuity.

“It is nice to have a guy like Notties back,” Redelinghuys said.

“Kriella, I don’t think will make it this weekend but what is nice is that we can have the same starting line-up as we had against the Bulls. When you get that continuity, it is just so much easier; it gives a lot of the guys confidence and it builds on that continuity.”

Sitting next to Redelinghuys during the briefing, flanker Emmanuel Tshituka reflected that belief, saying: “Getting those wins two weeks ago was important for us.

“We took a lot of confidence from that. We have always felt that the ability has been there.

“We had a couple of hiccups (but) we want to focus on the things that makes us a team and focus on our identity by keeping those things and ticking the boxes that makes us keep going. Those past two games have been a confidence booster for us but I think it is more important to get a couple more wins under the belt.

“Two wins doesn’t really mean much. We really need to build on what we did in the past two URC games.”

The season has entered its desperation phase where the threat of failure has become a significant motivation to succeed and Benetton are not immune from this effect.

Currently, the Italians sit ninth in the standings on 38 points, one point behind Connacht and three points behind the Sharks. They are pushing for play-off spot and will be desperate to beat the visitors.

The Lions, meanwhile, hold onto slim hope that they can win their remaining matches and a host of results elsewhere go their way to make the top eight. They still have EPCR Challenge Cup honours to play for, so building momentum, confidence and consistency for that tournament remains their motivation to close out the season on a high.

As such, Redelinghuys and Tshituka are expecting an exciting spectacle tomorrow, weather permitting.

“Coming to Italy,” Tshituka explained, “we all know they are quite an emotional people.

“They have a very strong supporter base, so coming here is always a difficult game. They play a very expansive game and an attractive brand of rugby as well.

“They are great on the counterattack. It is similar in how we want to play the game as well.

“It is going to be quite a difficult game (but) we came here to get the points and our focus is going to be on that – to get the win.”

Former Springbok prop Redelinghuys concurred with the 22-year-old’s assessment.

“What is lekker, is that Benetton likes to throw the ball and we also like to throw the ball, so I think it is going to be a nice game to watch.

“The team that is more accurate and who can absorb the pressure, will do well. Last year, when they played at us, it was one of the most physical games we played and that is what we are looking forward to,” he said.

“We are playing against a quality team. They have a couple of players who played in the six nations that could come back this weekend … that is what we are expecting.

“It is going to be a good battle and game to see where we are at.”

The Lions name their matchday 23 today.