Zak Burger says the Vodacom Bulls, on a run of three successive victories, believe they can repel Lyon’s avalanche and get a positive result in France.
On the back of an opening-round Champions Cup victory over an international-laden Saracens at Loftus Versfeld, the Bulls will switch slip-slops for snowshoes as they travel to Lyon amid France’s winter.
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With two tough Vodacom URC derbies coming up after Saturday’s match, Jake White will likely take a mixed squad and spare some of his star players the long trip to France, as the Lions did in their first-round clash with Perpignan.
Bulls scrumhalf Burger was part of the team that played at the Stadium de Gerland last season in January, which ended in a 31-7 loss for the visitors, but is confident ahead of their return to France.
“I watched a bit of the Lions game, they took their chances and got a very good result,” Burger said. “Going over there, we are swapping the warm December summer for a cold Lyon, but we must just make the best of it.
“Travel might be an issue for the bigger guys, not the smaller guys, but that’s something we can’t control. We must just make the best of the opportunities we have and pitch up on Saturday.”
Burger identified former Sharks winger Thaakir Abrahams, who scored a brace of tries in Lyon’s first-round loss to Bristol Bears, as a particular threat the Bulls will have to keep an eye on.
“The French love their rugby. They bring something else too, they generally have very big packs and very exciting backs,” Burger said.
“Just thinking about Thaakir Abrahams, who is playing for Lyon now. He is a hot-stepper. Arno Botha is someone who was at the Bulls, who is very physical. They also have Semi Radradra who plays for Fiji and is at inside centre.
“So they have very exciting players and it is going to be a very good challenge to turn up against them in Lyon.”
While Lyon will have the home-ground advantage, Burger said that the last three victories – including bonus-point wins against experienced Connacht and Sharks teams – have filled the Bulls with the belief they can conquer France.
“We got three massive results against Connacht, the Sharks and Saracens. So we are going to Lyon to get a result,” Burger said. “It will be hard, but we will fight until the end. Hopefully, we can get a very good result in France.”
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