Lions get player boost ahead of Zebre

Still licking their wounds from their Currie Cup campaign and their loss in the opening round against Cardiff, the Lions are hoping for a significant boost with the return of three key players to their side ahead of the clash with Italian side Zebre on Sunday night.

The extra day off has been welcomed by the Lions, who have not had the start they would have wanted to this season and will be hoping to rectify that against an improving Zebre side.

The Italians beat Edinburgh in their opening game and won’t be an easy team to beat in Italy.

But the Lions have got three big names back, confirmed by Jaque Fourie in the team call on Monday.

The biggest is their regular captain Francke Horn, who is an inspirational leader for the team and leads from the front, certainly someone the pack can fall behind and will be a key player for the Lions all around with his leadership abilities.

Then there is their new recruit, veteran Chris Smith, who suffered a concussion in the Currie Cup and has been on the mandatory stand-down for the past few weeks. He will return to action and the Lions will be hoping a cool calm experienced head can guide them forward against the Italians, while Smith’s boot has the ability to dictate the game if his forwards give him good ball.

The third is another new recruit - the injury-prone Eduard Keyter - who joined the Lions from the Sharks after not playing much in Durban because of injuries. His return gives the Lions a boost on the wing as they have firepower to work with now against the Italians.

“We’ve had a lot of big injuries, if you have a look at all our props, our hookers,” Fourie said on a team call from Parma.

“Horn is fit again and we’re probably looking at getting him in on the weekend. Chris is also back.

"He’s been very important for us at 10. You need someone to drive your team to play in the right areas, so he’s also looking good for this weekend. And then Keyter is also back, so hopefully we can give him a run.”

Fourie was also serious about the threat that Zebre pose for the Lions, and their newfound form over the last 12 months is a massive concern for the Lions. The fixture is no longer an easy five points, and the Lions, with their own challenges in terms of form in the URC, have a lot to work on.

“There’s no easy team in the URC. Every team that you play at home is going to be tough, so you’re going to have to rock up 100 per cent ready physically and mentally for the game to play and perform,” said Fourie.

“I think if we look at Zebre the last three years, they’ve improved immensely. They are a team that plays with freedom. They had a good game against Edinburgh. The Italian sides play with a lot of passion. We know they’re a side that never gives up.

"I think the first time we played them here, we were ahead 35-0 at halftim,e and they came back very strong, so they will always fight, they will always play. They’re a side that plays with a lot of confidence and we just need to take that confidence away very early on.”

The Lions will need to show their decision to concentrate on winning the Currie Cup was no mistake and take the momentum forward to get themselves on the winning road again.