The Emirates Lions need to be more aggressive, take more chances and not be as passive if they want to break their duck against other South African franchises.
That’s the view of head coach Ivan van Rooyen, who is under pressure as the side sits 13th on the log and has slumped to a number of poor performances in recent months.
Van Rooyen, whose side faces the Cell C Sharks in a United Rugby Championship derby at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday, says his side need to learn to “chance their arm” a little more and be aggressive on attack.
“We firmly believe the difference between us playing the South African and European teams - the other South African teams match physicality but they actually play a bit. If you look at the Stormers, the Sharks and Bulls, even though they attack you differently, they keep you pinned there,” Van Rooyen said.
“We know we will have to chance our arm a little more on attack. We have to force them to make tackles, to take the attack to them, because if you are just going to sit back and kick and defend - especially with the speed on attack of all the outside wings - they’re probably going to punish you.”
PASSIVE ON DEFENCE
Van Rooyen said his side was guilty of being too passive at times, and especially on defence needed to be more in the faces of the opposition.
“Every team’s defensive system is slightly different. I also believe we are working very hard currently to honour our attacking system. It is a little bit of a combination between confidence and chancing your arm - to go for that 50-50 pass and not just force another ruck.
“I think the South African teams are pretty similar to what Ulster and Leinster can do to you - if you are just going to continue forcing rucks, the defensive system and defensive collusion is big enough to force the turnover.
“We know we can’t just play from ruck to ruck, we have to be more dynamic in attack and also in the kicking game. If you look at where the top teams in the competition are - the point of difference is their attacking kicking game as well as their defensive kicking game.
“It has been a work-on for us on tour because of the conditions and circumstances but particularly at home we’ve worked hard on that.”
LACK OF SPRINGBOKS
The lack of marquee players in the Lions was compounded by the news of injuries to Jordan Hendrikse and Henco van Wyk and it is no secret the Lions are a few steps behind when it comes to game-breakers in their squad.
“You don’t have to elaborate more than the fact that the local teams you play against five to 12 Springboks, and we don’t have current Springboks yet. I do think that makes a bit of a difference. But the Irish teams and South Africans are the most complete teams, and they can damage you on attack and defence.
“I think it shows against the South African teams that we are not there in all those areas yet, we are striving to get there, and it is important for us, on attack especially to gain momentum but also chance our arms, and in defence we need to stop that momentum as soon as possible.”
Whether the Lions can stop the Sharks waits to be seen, but the pressure is mounting on them, despite the long injury list, to make a stand.
Otherwise the season will end in a whimper, rather than a bang.