On guard against an unpredictable Racing 92 driven by Springbok back Warrick Gelant, the Lions will stick to their fast-running approach in Saturday’s Challenge Cup playoff in Johannesburg.
The Lions go into their European last-16 playoff with a spring in their step, on the back of four wins in all competitions, including three in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
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Picks: @mark_keohane is going Racing while Zel takes his chances with the Lions when the sides clash in the Challenge Cup. pic.twitter.com/XJFoVAZVxd
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) March 30, 2023
Back at home after a couple of Vodacom URC games on the road, the Lions will host a star-studded Racing 92 side that currently sits in seventh place on the Top 14 table, after winning 11 out of 21 domestic games.
It has been a similar rollercoaster season for the French outfit, losing games against teams fighting relegation from France’s top flight, but also beating Parisian rivals Stade Francais and running table-topping Toulouse close in a 74-point thriller.
“If you look at the way their national team plays, you can definitely see that influence is filtering down into their clubs,” Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher said.
“We need to prepare for a massive kicking game, but also prepare for a team that is willing to run from their own 22. It is hard to prepare for that.”
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Most recently, the Lions secured an incredible come-from-behind victory over Benetton in Trevisio, where their high-risk rugby paid off with three quickfire second-half tries.
Loubscher said that while the Lions will have to adapt to whatever Racing throws at them, the hosts won’t move away from what has worked for them this season.
“We know they are a team that plays off the cuff, and that they can create something out of nothing. Defensively for us, we will have to make sure we handle that.
“They have a long kicking game and how we are going to deal with that is to make sure our back fiel is organised. Maybe we can put them under pressure with our style – ball-in-hand – and with our kicking game.
“The biggest mistake we can make, when you play an important game like this, is to move away from your strengths. We are going to stick to what has worked for us over the last few games.
“It will also come down to decision-making. If they put us under pressure with a great defence, then our kicking game must come into play.
“If they don’t allow us to play around the fringes, then there must be space somewhere else.”
Monsieur Emmanuel Tshituka calling out all Lions fans to come and witness @ChallengeCup_ knockout rugby against @racing92 at Emirates Airline Park this Saturday evening. Merci beaucoup.#LionsPride? pic.twitter.com/OaMEklGXSa
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) March 30, 2023
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix