Lions ready for final - rain or shine
Lions coach Johan Ackermann wants his players to continue to play the expansive, attack-minded game that has got them to the Super Rugby final.
|||In spite of unfriendly weather conditions awaiting the Lions in their Super Rugby final against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday (9.35am SA time kick-off), coach Johan Ackermann wants his players to continue to play the expansive, attack-minded game that has got them to this stage.
The Lions go into the match having scored more tries than any other team in the competition - 81, including seven in the quarter-finals and semi-finals - and they look set to hunt for tries again this weekend.
“If the weather is bad, we must adapt to it,” said Ackermann from Wellington yesterday.
“We can’t go into our shells just because it’s wet. This is a once-off opportunity and I want the guys to go out there and enjoy it.”
While the Lions scored seven tries in the knockout rounds - against the Crusaders and Highlanders - in good conditions, they’ve also shown they can play an expansive game in poor conditions.
Just two weeks after they were given a hiding (50-17) by the Hurricanes in the regular season, they came up against the unpredictable but dangerous Blues, and on that evening the heavens opened up and rain fell freely on Joburg.
It was an icy cold night and it was wet and the Lions still dazzled.
Lionel Mapoe scored a hat-trick of tries as the Lions dotted down seven times in total, the final score being 43-5.
Ackermann’s men never backed down in the wet and they say they won’t do so this weekend, either.
“We showed against the Blues we can play our normal game in the wet too,” said prop Julian Redelinghuys yesterday. “The weather’s not going to influence us, we’re not going to change our plans, we’re going to enjoy the occasion.”
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, who’s been such an instrumental figure in giving his backs swift, clean ball, also said the weather wouldn’t affect his game.
“We know it’s going to be wet so we’re going to have to kick smartly, tactically well.
“We might have to vary our tactics a bit, especially the nine, 10 and 15, but the conditions won’t influence my speed of service.
“What will be important, though, is the forwards’ rucking to ensure quick ball.”
The Lions enjoyed a ‘walk-through’ in Wellington yesterday to ‘get the bodies moving’, according to Ackermann.
“It was a light session and everyone looked to be well. We’ll up the intensity of the training on Wednesday (today) to get the energy levels up.
“There’s a lot of excitement in the squad but the players are also quite calm.
“They’ve travelled as a group for three years now and know each other well. They enjoy getting out,” said the coach.
Captain Warren Whiteley, meanwhile, has been provisionally cleared to take up his place in the team after missing last week’s semi-final because of a calf injury.
“I’m positive he’ll make it into the (match-day) 23,” said Ackermann.
“He’s still got two days to go before we make the final call, but he’s looking good.”
Meanwhile, the Westpac Stadium has been sold out, meaning there will be 36500 fans cheering the Hurricanes on.
Former Super Rugby star Glen Jackson will take charge of the match as referee. - The Star