Johannesburg - They only lost to Western Province, the Bulls and the Sharks this season, all away from home, but they’ve been unbeaten at Ellis Park and, in fact, hardly been troubled at their home base.
And it’s this small comfort – playing in front of their own fans and in a stadium they know so well – that will be the Lions’ 23rd player when they host the Sharks in the first Absa Currie Cup semi-final on Saturday afternoon.
At home this season, the Lions have run in plenty of tries, registered win after win, and even got the better of the log toppers, Western Province; comfortably beating the side who’ll host the Bulls at Newlands later on Saturday for the other place in next week’s final.
Coach Johan Ackermann’s Lions go into Saturday’s match on the back of a resounding win against the Cheetahs (47-7) at Ellis Park, something Lions captain Warren Whiteley said boosted the side significantly this week.
“Of course it helps (coming off a win like that),” said Whiteley.
“Being confident going into a game like this is massive and that’s what that win has given us. We’ve been playing really good rugby recently and being able to just stick to what we do each week is nice.
“We’re a settled team and even the youngsters have been playing well; they’ve all stuck up their hands and produced the goods. There’s nothing we’ve had to change or specifically focus on this week, and that’s a good thing for us.”
Indeed. The Lions have backed their gameplan without hesitation this season and Ackermann has hardly had to think about changes in selection from one week to the next.
The players are comfortable with what Ackermann wants from them and they’ve repaid him with quality rugby – and many victories.
The Lions have been all-powerful up front, their scrum particularly effective and the loose-forwards just as destructive, while at the back they’ve played with width and pace, scoring plenty of tries.
They have few weaknesses, if any, and will have to be bullied up front if they’re to be beaten on Saturday.
The Sharks have the potential to do just that. They have an equally strong set of forwards and some powerful backs, but Brad Macleod-Henderson’s team haven’t been as consistent as the Lions this year and don’t seem to have the killer-instinct the current Lions team possess.
The last time the sides met – in Durban two weeks ago – the result went the way of the hosts, but on that occasion the Sharks were fired up to ensure that veteran flank Jacques Botes enjoyed a winning send-off in Durban, while the Lions might argue they were harshly dealt with by referee Pro Legoete.
Only a few points separated the teams, a result that will not have any impact on how the teams approach today’s clash.
Ackermann, though, is fully aware a knock-out match is very different to a round-robin encounter and he’s taken notice of the Sharks’ strong finish to the league phase.
“It took them a while to settle down without Jake (White) being in charge, but they’re now playing with self-belief and a lot of unity,” he said. “Their set-pieces have especially been good of late, so it’s going to be a big challenge.”
Man for man, there’s very little between the teams. The Sharks probably have more experience, but the Lions have the team thing going for them.
And, crucially, when they get on a roll, in front of their own fans, they know how to deliver a serious hiding.
Ellis Park is in for a thriller.
Saturday Star