The Lions will have to show a marked improvement in the line-outs if they’re to pick up a win against the Brumbies.
It’s the one area where Johan Ackermann’s team have been found wanting in 2015. But in spite of a wonky line-out the Lions have managed to pick up seven wins, the last coming against the Highlanders, which has kept them in touching distance of the top six teams and in contention for the play-offs.
Some will argue they got lucky against the Highlanders considering they lost five line-out throws, but when they did get it right they also showed how powerful they can be from first phase ball. The tries scored by Jaco Kriel and Harold Vorster came after first Warren Whiteley and then Franco Mostert had won their ball in the line-out to help the Lions to get back into the game at 22-23 before Elton Jantjies knocked over two late penalties to seal the deal.
It could, however, have been a far more comfortable win had Ackermann’s men taken two further line-outs late in the game inside the Highlanders’ 22m area – but the jumpers were missed and the Highlanders were allowed to escape.
The line-out has been a concern for some time now; against the Bulls the week before last the Lions also lost five throw-ins. Overall they’ve managed only a 79.4percent success rate so far – the second worst in the competition. And, it’s made little difference who’s been doing the throwing in – Armand van der Merwe did the job against the Bulls and this past weekend it was the turn of Robbie Coetzee.
Whiteley said his side would work hard this week to fix the line-out. “We shouldn’t blame one individual,” said Whiteley. “There’s been too much miscommunication in the line-outs and it’s something we need to work on. All eight of us who’re involved in the line-outs must take responsibility.
“It’s a vital area of the game and we can’t afford overthrows or wrongly timed jumps ... especially in tight games. We’re lacking at line-out time and it’s up to us to fix it.”
One can assume the Lions have spent a great deal of time on the training ground this week trying to figure out just what has gone wrong. And they’ll need to be spot on come Saturday when they host the Brumbies at Ellis Park; the visitors having the best return in throwing the ball into the line-outs this season – a success rate of 90,9percent.
Missed line-out ball or even scrappy possession could hurt the Lions, especially as they’re up against a team who’re among the best in competing for breakdown ball. “They’re not a team who play as expansively as the Highlanders, but defensively they’re very strong, while they’re very competitive in the breakdown. If they don’t spoil your ball and slow it down, they turn it over,” said Ackermann ahead of the match.
The Lions though will continue to back their instincts and look to play an exciting, open brand of rugby against Australia’s best team at the moment.
“The Brumbies are a well organised team but if we can move the ball around and keep it alive I know we’ll be able to create opportunities,” said Ackermann. “It’s going to be a case of getting the balance right against them, that is knowing when to attack and when to play a more tactical game, but in Elton (Jantjies), Marnitz (Boshoff) and Jaco van der Walt we’ve got the men to play both types of games.”
It would hardly be surprising if Ackermann again looked at Van der Walt to be Jantjies’ back-up at No10 this week, with the coach also likely to again rotate his front row forwards. Ackermann will name his team tomorrow. - The Star