Lions reveal their 'Plan B'
Lions coach Eugene Eloff has his big guns on “standby” to launch into attack in their final Super 14 pre-season outing, against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.
Lions coach Eugene Eloff has his big guns on “standby” to launch into attack in their final Super 14 pre-season outing, against the Sharks in Durban on Wednesday.
While Sharks coach Dick Muir has, with the odd exception, named his frontline players for the game, Eloff has opted to give the back-up members of his squad a run at the Absa Stadium.
This means players like props Heinke van der Merwe and Eugene Maqwelana, flank Cobus Grobbelaar, scrumhalf Jano Vermaak, flyhalf Louis Strydom, wing Rayno Benjamin, centre Jaco Pretorius, wing Dusty Noble and fullback Louis Ludik are all on a 14-man bench.
Strydom, one of those who expects to get some game time off the bench, explained the rationale behind the coach's decision not to field his first-choice selection.
He said the short turnaround between last Saturday's physical outing against the Bulls in Windhoek and Wednesday's encounter with an equally brawny Sharks means some players need a break.
“We [the benched players] will definitely get some game time [in Durban],” Strydom told rugby365.com, adding that it all depends on how things go during the game.
“We know the Sharks are playing their best team, so we'll see how it all pans out. If things go well [for the Lions], then we'll go on in the last 20 minutes.
“However, if the team is struggling we're likely to go on earlier in the game,” he said, adding that it also means every player is being given a fair shot at getting enough game time ahead of the start of the Super 14.
The Lions will start their campaign against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein next Saturday, February 16.
He added that it also allows some of the to rest ahead of the competition proper.
“To play on a Saturday [against Bulls in Windhoek] and again on a Wednesday [against the Sharks] is tough on the body,” the 27-year-old fly-half added.
He said he expects the Sharks, with their frontline selection, to “have a full go” at the Lions.
“They are a very powerful combination and would also like to finish their pre-season preparations on a sound note,” he said, adding that the Lions will take a similar approach into the Durban game as they did in Windhoek against the Bulls last Saturday.
“We had a look at how our game plan works last week [in Windhoek] and how our phase play is coming along, and that worked out fine.
“Against the Sharks we will again see how we can stick to our systems and game plan.
“If our game plan doesn't come off, the key is how do we adjust and what alternatives we put on the park … that is important to us.”
Strydom said the key to the Lions is being “very flexible” and that playing the Sharks will be a “good test” for the Johannesburg-based outfit.
“You have to test yourself against the best if you want to know what you are capable of in the Super 14,” he added.
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Francois Steyn, 14 Stefan Terblanche, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Bradley Barritt, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 AJ Venter, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 Johan Ackermann, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Beast Mtawarira.
Replacements: TBC
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 12 Thabang Molefe, 11 Heini Gordon, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 RW Kember, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Wilhelm Koch, 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements (from): Heinke van der Merwe, Ashton Constant, Eugene Maqwelana, Alten Hulme, Roland Bernard, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Louis Strydom, Rayno Benjamin, Walter Venter, Doppies la Grange, Jaco Pretorius, Dusty Noble, Louis Ludik.
Date: Wednesday, 6 February
Venue: Absa Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
By Jan de Koning