Ivan van Rooyen will allow his Lions players to mentally reset this week ahead of a gruelling two-week tour to Ireland where they will face Leinster and Munster in the final two rounds of the URC league phase.
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The Lions will give their players another mental break ahead of two challenging final overseas fixtures in Ireland next month.
Following a sixth straight United Rugby Championship (URC) victory at Ellis Park, head coach Ivan van Rooyen will stick to the approach he has implemented this season by allowing the squad a complete break from rugby for the next couple of days. It will help them to reset and refocus on their goals ahead of the tour.
It is a strategy that has served the Lions well during the tournament, and Van Rooyen will hope it delivers similar results as they prepare for away clashes against Leinster next weekend and Munster the following Saturday on May 16. It is a daunting tour, but one where they could secure their place in the URC play-offs by collecting valuable points.
While South African teams typically depart for overseas URC matches in the week of the game, the Lions are set to leave for Dublin on Saturday, signalling their intent to adapt to Irish conditions as early as possible. This will afford them a full week of training in Ireland, particularly if preparations only resume later this week.
Teams rarely give players extended time off at such a crucial stage of the season, but the Lions could be in Europe for up to six weeks if they do not secure a home play-off. That, along with the need to manage sore bodies, is why Van Rooyen is keen for his squad to spend meaningful time at home with their families.
“We will take off until Thursday to sort out niggles and freshen up mentally, and then come in for a Lions session where we will focus on ourselves,” Van Rooyen said, about their week.
“Friday, we will preview Leinster and have a session that focuses on them and on Saturday evening, we will fly out. There is also a SA Under-23 Cup game where we can look at some players to potentially add to the travelling group.
“We can easily speak about a six-week tour when we get together, but we are only looking at this as a two-week one. It is only about Leinster and Munster, and we must prepare for them as best as possible.
“Our first goal is to crack the Top 8, and if you get there, you can allow yourself to challenge for silverware. Munster and Glasgow showed that you can win the tournament away from home. So, if you give yourself that chance to reach the play-offs, then anything is possible.”