If the Lions are to truly be taken seriously as top-eight contenders in the United Rugby Championship this season, then they will first have to convince by conquering the war at home.
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Truth be told, the Lions’ record over the past three seasons in the tournament against their South African counterparts has been poor.
Eighteen derbies have been played between the Joburgers and the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers, respectively, and the Lions have won only three – the last occasion against the Durbanites in the previous campaign.
Against the Stormers, whom the Lions face on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium (3.45pm kick-off), one has to go back to the 2021/22 season to note a victory.
They beat the Capetonians away 37-19 then, but in the subsequent five matches, have not been able to win a match.
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Indeed, the Lions have conceded 186 points to the Stormers, and have scored only 134. The average score between the two teams in the URC is 31-22 in favour of the Cape side.
It is perhaps the Lions’ biggest failing in that they have been unable to effect positive results against their neighbouring competitors, and it is a record that they must begin to rectify post haste in the coming weeks and months, starting this weekend.
“We need to win the derbies,” Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie agreed this past week. “Even if you can just pick up bonus points away against those teams, it’ll also be massive for us.
“At that stage, we want to win every game. We don’t want to be in that situation again where we leave it up to another team to win or to lose before we get into the top eight.
“Come the end of the season, you already want to be in the top eight and you want to secure that early on in the season. So for us, it’s very important against the South African teams to perform well.“
The Stormers, meanwhile, are in desperate need of a win.
They are currently on a four-match losing streak, and are expected to welcome back the likes of Deon Fourie (flank), Frans Malherbe (prop), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (flyhalf) and BJ Dixon (flank) to boost their flailing confidence on Saturday.
Old hand, but new Lions recruit, Juan Schoeman, is especially looking forward to the possible battle against Bok Malherbe at scrum-time.
It is perhaps the one area where the visitors could have the upper hand, as the third-best scrummaging unit in the tournament.
The 33-year-old loosehead prop revealed that there was plenty of motivation within the pack to dominate the opposition, while praising the Young Turks within the unit.
“We started with a Currie Cup, and that was a bit disappointing,” he explained, “but that’s now used as fuel for the URC and the EPCR Challenge Cup.
“Scrumming with those guys, still young, vibrant, backing our own culture, it’s amazing.
“I enjoy every day at the Lions with the coaching staff. They’re exceptional, world-class. It’s a great environment to be in, and they look after us very well.
“It definitely excites us as a pack here at the Lions,“ he added, turning to the upcoming battle upfront.
“We want to test ourselves against the best, and we are looking forward to the opportunity this weekend.”
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Schoeman was also unperturbed about the physical struggle that awaits the team across the park, insisting the Lions have the firepower to out-gun the Stormers.
His sentiments reflected those of Fourie, regarding winning derbies.
Said Schoeman: “We know the Stormers at their home ground. They’re going to want to prove a point, especially with the last few games that have been upsetting to them.
“We want to fight in the local derbies as well. We know their line-speed in defence. We know about their speed in the back row, and the tussle upfront.
“It’s going to be a proper test for both teams, and especially with the weather, but also the fans.
“Everyone’s on holiday. So, it’s going to be a great day and a great opportunity,” he concluded. | Independent Media Sport
Previous URC Lions results v Stormers
2023/24 – Lost 29-24, Lost 35-33; 2022/23 – Lost 40-8, Lost 31-22; 2021/22 – Lost 32-10, Won 37-19
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