Lions scrumhalf Morne van den Berg has warned his side can't write the Stormers pack off after only one tough performance in which they struggled to dominate.
Edwill van der Merwe ripping it up for the Stormers against the Lions 👀
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This weekend, he'll be in the red colours and hoping to haunt his former side in their #VURC derby 🦁
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In fact, he expects the Cape side to hit back with furore this afternoon when the two sides clash at Ellis Park (2.30 pm start) in their return local derby of the United Rugby Championship (URC).
It's 1-nil to the Stormers after they won at the DHL Stadium in December, but key players who missed that match for the Jozi Pride will be back to help inspire their team to a first-ever URC win over their opponents at home.
Van den Berg will partner Gianni Lombard at halfback and the duo will lead the Lions' attack. Should their pack of forwards dominate the set-pieces, they can provide front-foot possession to the dangerous backs.
“I always back our pack (to dominate) and the boys can do an incredible job on the field.”
“I always back our pack (to dominate) and the boys can do an incredible job on the field,” Van den Berg said ahead of the clash.
“But, you can't not have respect for the Stormers' pack. They've always shown dominance. So, you can't after one game say they will not pitch up. I back my boys, but I expect them to bring 110%.”
The return of fullback Quan Horn and outside centre Henco van Wyk should provide some impetus to the attack. Horn's boot from the back, alongside that of Van den Berg and Lombard will also be crucial to getting them out of their danger zone when under pressure.
“In the bigger picture, this game is very important for us. But we can't let the pressure build on us. We want to put together a performance that our fans can be proud of. Then, the result will look after itself.
““It will be incredibly important to play for 80 minutes. We fought well for 50 minutes against the Bulls but then struggled in the final 30.”
“It will be incredibly important to play for 80 minutes. We fought well for 50 minutes against the Bulls but then struggled in the final 30. That has been happening this season. We have to go 80 minutes.”
Van Wyk reunites with partner Marius Louw in the midfield and they will be a handful for the Stormers defenders.
All eyes, though, will be on the scrums where the struggles of the Stormers were laid bare by the Bulls last weekend. The Lions' front row of Asenathi Ntlabakanye, hooker PJ Botha and loosehead Juan Schoeman will be licking their lips at the prospect.
On a Mission #ForOurCity! 😤
🆚 Stormers
🗓: Sat, 15 Feb
⏰: 14:30
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So too will the loose trio of captain and eighth man Francke Horn, and flankers JC Pretorius, and the hard-running Ruan Venter. They would've seen the Stormers' frailties at the breakdown in their last game and will hope to exploit it again.
On the bench, former Blitzbok and Free State utility back Lubabalo Dobela is in line to make his Lions URC debut.
There is excitement about what he can conjure up when he takes to the field with the home side utilising a five-three bench split in favour of the forwards.
He arrived with an injury at the Lions but recovered and slotted in at fullback when the side took on the Pumas recently.
"It was a tough and mentally straining journey getting here."
"It was a tough and mentally straining journey getting here," Dobela said.
"I spent my first few weeks in rehab, but showed that if you keep going at it, you could get somewhere. That hit-out against the Pumas allowed me to show what I have, although it wasn't the best team performance.
"But, I am confident I can grab the opportunity at this level."
Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn (capt), 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Juan Schoeman; Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Ruan Delport, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Nico Steyn, Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Manuel Rass