Lions prepare for Sharks backlash

There is an outside chance the Emirates Lions may have their two backline stars back for their return Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby against the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban this weekend, but either way they expect a massive backlash from the coastal side.

The Lions big win at Ellis Park has buoyed them for the challenge of heading to Durban for their fourth consecutive derby in as many weeks, and having already recorded three straight wins over John Plumtree’s side over the last year or so, they are now looking for their fourth straight.

And given the way they played on Saturday, who is likely to believe they can’t go to Durban and pick up another win?

The Lions expect a backlash from the Sharks, as any team would after such a performance, and know they will need to be better going into that game.

“They’re a proud team and we know they’re going to fight back with everything that they have. Just mentally they’re probably going to be 10, 15 per cent better anyway. It’s a big, big week in prep for us,” coach Ivan van Rooyen said at the post-match press conference on Saturday.

The prognosis on both Springbok fullback Quan Horn and SA A midfielder Henco van Wyk remains a bit murky, as Van Rooyen didn’t talk about their injuries, or the extent of it, other than to say they, as well as another Bok in Ruan Venter, had an “outside chance” of making the squad for the Durban clash.

But if they didn’t make it, they would be ready for the Lions next fixture, which is their two week overseas tour where they face Cardiff and Glasgow - both games which could be crucial to their top eight hopes.

THE START THEY WANTED

This weekend though, things did click into action very quickly for the Lions, and they got the start they wanted after conceding three tries in the opening 15 minutes in their previous game against the Bulls.

Captain Francke Horn was delighted, saying the start set the platform for the victory.

“For the whole week we spoke about a good start,” he said. “Last week we were 17-0 down after 10 minutes. And to see that type of intensity and physicality the first 10 minutes was really rewarding. And then to score two tries obviously is rewarding for all that amount of work.

“I think the playmakers, especially the backs, put us in the right areas of the field and we got away almost every time with points, so really proud of that effort.

"There was just a feeling of hunger and focus. Credit to the guys, they really played well today.”

The Lions are now ninth on the log, one point outside the top eight and six points behind the fourth-placed Sharks. A win in Durban would go a long way to cementing their top eight spot.