The Lions take their six-match winning streak to the Aviva Stadium to face Leinster in a massive URC clash. With both teams locked on 53 points, can Jaque Fourie’s defensive "weapon" blunt the Irish attack? Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
A sound defensive effort will create the attacking opportunities the Lions need if they are to force a positive result against Leinster on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm) in a hugely important United Rugby Championship (URC) clash for both teams.
Currently third in the URC standings, the Lions find themselves on 53 points, with Leinster sitting on the same number of points in fourth. Only points difference separates the two franchises as they head into the penultimate matchday of the regular season.
Statistically, both teams are in the lower half of the defensive rankings according to the tournament’s numbers — the Lions have a 78% tackle success rate compared to Leinster’s 79%. It is perhaps for this reason that Lions assistant coach Jaque Fourie sees an opportunity to exploit an area of concern for the Irish giants, especially after his side's recent heroic defence against Connacht.
During that match, the Lions enjoyed only 38% of the possession and were forced to make 212 tackles. Although they leaked three tries in that encounter, the Joburgers kept the visitors at bay defensively for large stretches of the game, denying them the opportunity to truly make a contest out of the 33-21 result.
A similar lockout will be required this weekend in Dublin, a difficult proposition in the backyard of the defending champions.
“On defence, I am very proud of the guys,” Fourie said, on Tuesday from the Irish capital.
“I think we have grown leaps and bounds in the last four games. From that Bulls game, we had to change a few things, and it has just gotten better and better.
“We are hitting the right channels at the right time. You can see it means something to the team and the players.
"The way the guys have been defending,” the former Springbok utility back added, “we are using our defence as a weapon to score tries."
“The more we stay connected, the more we put teams under pressure defensively and the more we are going to get the ball back. If you look at our loosies, they are absolutely dangerous with ball in hand and we are going to punish teams."
The upcoming match has a similar feel to the one played last season at the same venue, although the expectations on the Doornfontein-based outfit might be somewhat tempered, despite their current six-match winning streak. Last season, during an early-season clash, both teams were the only unbeaten sides in what had shaped up to be a top-of-the-table encounter.
Unfortunately for the Lions, they lost that match 24-6, their effort falling away in the second half, after they fought hard to remain within touching distance at 10-6 at half-time. Fourie believes the team have a better understanding of who they are this time around, which could tip the fixture in their favour.
Fourie said: “We were in that game, but at the end, a penalty try made the score not reflect how we played.
"We have had five games at home now and built a lot of confidence. That is what you need when you come to play at Aviva Stadium."
“We have found our identity. We know how we want to play on Saturday and what we need to do to beat Leinster. Now, it is about fine-tuning ourselves.”
Leinster will be buoyed by a hard-fought victory over Toulon this past weekend in the semi-finals of the Champions Cup. That victory could have them daydreaming of higher honours, which the Lions must exploit if there is even an inkling of complacency. The Irish team will, however, look to rectify a shock loss to Benetton a week earlier in the URC.
The Lions, meanwhile, should be well-rested and well-prepared for the clash, having departed for Ireland this past week Saturday after a short hiatus away from the game last week.