Lions ready for anything – Ruan
Lions utility back Ruan Combrinck says his team can match whatever the Bulls throw at them.
|||Isn’t it strange how quickly things can change in rugby? Just a few months ago the Bulls couldn’t buy a positive comment; now they’re the talk of the town, with their ball-in-hand, attack-minded approach winning praise from all across the country.
It’s quite justified because new coach Nollis Marais has, indeed, brought something different to what we saw from the Bulls in Super Rugby, but they and Johan Ackermann’s Lions – the team everyone was trying to emulate a few months ago – face their stiffest tests yet in this year’s Currie Cup when they clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
It’s the top of the table encounter fans in Gauteng have been waiting for. Both teams are unbeaten, with the Lions top of the standings with a fullhouse of 25 points while the Bulls have 24 points, having failed only to pick up a four-try bonus point against the Cheetahs last time out.
While the Bulls will push a star-studded team into the field, with quite a few Springboks, it’s the back three of Warrick Gellant, Travis Ismail and Jamba Ulengo who’ve grabbed most headlines. The three youngsters have become a dynamic and extremely dangerous attacking weapon for Marais’ side, but Lions utility back Ruan Combrinck says his team can match whatever the Bulls throw at them.
“All credit to the Bulls; they’ve been playing some excellent rugby and their back three have been exceptional. But I know if we stick to our processes and structures we can also deliver a good performance and that’s what we’ll be looking to do,” said Combrinck yesterday.
The Lions wing-cum-fullback has again been in good form for Ackermann’s team and with Courtnall Skosan and Andries Coetzee also have the ability to cause all sorts of problems for the Bulls.
“It doesn’t really matter where I play. If you consider the type of rugby we play at the Lions and the make-up of our structure it’s easy to slot in anywhere in the backline. I sometimes pop up in the centres as well. That’s what makes it so exciting.”
With the Lions in good position at the halfway mark of the round robin fixtures, the remaining five games will be crucial if they’re to push for a top two finish and a place at home in the play-offs. Combrinck says it’s vital his team now get the job done and finish strongly. “We’ve had a great start to the competition and, obviously, the top two places are what every team is chasing.
“Just go back a year. We played well at home in the semi-final against the Sharks. It made a big difference and a week later Western Province won at home. We’ve got to look to finish as high as possible now.”
Spoken about in some circles during Super Rugby as a contender for the Bok squad, Combrinck says he’s close to being at the top of his game.
”You can always strive to be better, but I’m not too far off where I want my level to be,” he says.
Ackermann will name his side for the Loftus match today. - The Star