EXCLUSIVE | URC: Lions recharged and ready for Glasgow challenge at Ellis Park

The Lions head into their clash with Glasgow Warriors with fresh legs and a sharp focus, as they look to deliver another spirited performance at Ellis Park and keep their United Rugby Championship (URC) momentum ticking over.

The past fortnight has been about mental and physical preparation for what the table-topping Scottish side will bring to Johannesburg on Saturday. Head coach Ivan van Rooyen afforded his squad a week to recover before returning to the grind on the training field.

Now, they are ready to channel that break into the upcoming challenge as they aim to maintain or even improve their current fifth-place standing. They will know by kick-off (4pm) what they must do to jump up the log.

While Glasgow arrive licking their wounds after a surprise Champions Cup exit to Toulon, the Lions are under no illusions about the task in front of them.

Captain Francke Horn told Independent Media that the squad is recharged and ready to take on what lies ahead. And while there may be a temptation to look beyond the immediate, their focus remains firmly on the Warriors.

“We’ve put ourselves in this position and we’re all really looking forward to the next two matches at home,” Horn said.

“It could put us exactly where we want to be when the playoffs come around. But the idea of taking it game by game really rings true for us. Sometimes you can get caught up thinking too far ahead, and then your focus slips from what’s right in front of you.

“That’s why our priority is Glasgow this weekend. It doesn’t matter whether they bring a full-strength side or not. We’ll concentrate on what we need to do to put ourselves in a strong position. We know where we want to be after these two matches, but it’s about taking it one game at a time.”

Horn added that the recent break came at the perfect moment. Having missed out on the EPCR Challenge Cup play-offs, the Lions had valuable time to regroup ahead of facing Glasgow. It allowed players to rest, spend time with family, and recover from minor knocks ahead of the final stretch.

Springbok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg missed the last match with a niggle, while powerful tighthead Asenathi Ntlabakanye was unavailable amid his ongoing doping case.

Both could return this weekend to bolster the side.

“For the first week and a half, we had some time off, which meant we could spend Easter weekend with family, and that was really good. The break also gave guys a chance to sort out their niggles and step away from rugby mentally, which I think helped the team a lot.

“Last week, we were able to sharpen up parts of our game plan, while also analysing Glasgow and what they might bring on Saturday.”

The Lions’ final home fixture will be against Connacht, who take on the Stormers in Cape Town this weekend. They then depart for Ireland where they will face Leinster and Munster in their final regular season games.