As big as a Test match. That’s how the Lions are viewing their final Super Rugby match against the Stormers at Newlands.
With a place in the knockout rounds on the line, Lions boss Johan Ackermann is expecting a noisy, Test-like atmosphere to greet his team come 5pm. His side have to win to have any chance of sneaking into the play-offs; a victory for the Stormers would guarantee them the SA Conference title and a spot in the knockout rounds.
“It’ll be as close to a Test as you can get,” said Ackermann yesterday. “They’ve got a real opportunity of playing in the play-offs; we need other things to fall into place if we’re to make it.
“So, with all the heavy rain they’ve had in Cape Town this week (and the likelihood of the field being affected) I’d definitely play a conservative, tight game if I were in their shoes. All they need to do is win the game, regardless of how they do it.”
The last time the Lions visited Newlands they suffered a heartbreaking loss to Western Province in last year’s Currie Cup final. Ackermann says the only thing his team would have taken out of that game is his men will now know what to expect of the atmosphere. “It was October then and dry, now it’s June and wet, but the one thing we would have learnt is that the atmosphere will be like a Test match. It’s a unique venue, with a unique atmosphere. It was a sell-out crowd then and there was pressure on all the players ... so we know what’s in store.”
Besides that, there’s little from that game and the one earlier this year when the teams met at Ellis Park (won 22-19 by the Stormers) that’ll be of any benefit to the Lions tomorrow. “It’s 14 weeks later and both teams have grown tremendously since then,” said Ackermann. “We made mistakes that day and let the Stormers back into the game. But we’ve also added a lot to our game since then, as have the Stormers. For us, this is just another game.”
A win for the Lions, and denying the Stormers a bonus point, would take Ackermann’s men to the top of the SA Conference and leave the Stormers having to beat the Sharks, or pick up a bonus point (or two, depending on whether the Lions win with a bonus point this weekend), next week if Allister Coetzee’s men are to advance.
Ackermann said he wasn’t even thinking of the permutations.
“I expect the players to do what they’ve done every week this year and that’s to stay focused and in the moment. We just want to play a good game and let the result take care of itself. If it means we win, then so be it, if it means we get a bonus point, we’ll take it as a bonus.
“The Stormers are a quality side and deserve to be where they are. If we’re good enough to beat them and if we get over the line, then I’ll be satisfied. But I’m not thinking beyond us just playing our final game. We’ve had a good season regardless of the result this weekend. I just want us to enjoy it, like we’ve done every week this year.”
The only change to the team that beat the Waratahs a week ago is in midfield where Alwyn Hollenbach returns for the injured Lionel Mapoe, who misses out, with Harold Vorster shifting to outside centre. And on the bench Howard Mnisi returns for the injured Stokkies Hanekom.