The 10bet Lions are three months into a new defensive system, and while their play was disappointing in their big 57-15 loss to the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday, once they iron the kings out, they will be a lot better.
That’s the view of Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen, responding to the side’s loss in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship Jukskei Derby against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfels on Saturday.
The Bulls scored nine tries to two in a one-sided contest, dominated the collisions and left little on the positive side for the Lions to cling hope to, especially as they have a tough opening Investec Champions Cup trip to La Rochelle this weekend.
The Bulls direct play saw them make eight line breaks in the first half, as Morne van den Berg’s yellow card swung the momentum firmly in the favour of the home side, something from which the Lions simply never recovered.
And Van Rooyen doesn’t see it as a train smash, but rather something that can be worked on.
“ I think we made two individual errors for those two tries in that period. So we can fix that,” Van Rooyen said after the game.
“I think, and again, they've got this play where they want to go through your guts around the breakdown. Last time at Ellis Park, they really hurt us there. I think we were a lot better there today.
“But again, there were other areas that got them into the game. So just felt the last 15 we went penalty, penalty, penalty. Then it's tough,” Van Rooyen said.
NEW DEFENSIVE SYSTEM
Van Rooyen pointed to the new defensive system that still needs ironing out.
“We are three games into a little bit of a different system. Historically, it takes you about three months to get used to that system. So we are going to make one or two errors.
“We know that. Hopefully the work rate covers that up and today they capitalise on it. They scored two or three tries with kicks isolating us at the back. That's probably a bit of positional fixes we need to get to go there. New centre combination for the game. Some good things there, but also some fixes there.
“So big lessons learned today, but we don't have a choice. We have to get up and get going.”
The Lions will move to France for their clash with Ronan O’Gara’s side which houses former Bulls midfielder and brother of Richard Kriel, David. From there they face the current two front runners in the URC - Edinburgh and Glasgow before the November break.
And the Lions know that they need to be ready for their introduction to Champions’ Cup rugby, as they qualified for the first time this year since South Africa’s entry into the competition. As Van Rooyen says they have a big three weeks ahead of them.
FIRST GAME IN CHAMPIONS CUP
“I think one of the biggest disappointments today is that we didn't manage to score four tries to at least get a try scoring bonus point. First game in the Champions Cup for us next weekend. So obviously we would like to start strong - we are flying Monday night already,” Van Rooyen explained.
“And then we've got Edinburgh and Glasgow, the two Scottish teams, which seems to be wet and cold already on that surface. So we spoke about today and next week being a really physical test. And then the last two games, we know it's going to be quick and it's going to be a little bit of a different game.
“So like I said, we need to respond well. We need to learn quickly on Monday. We need to get on the plane and collectively we've got a big three weeks ahead of us.”
And Van Rooyen reiterated how the Lions respond to this is up to them.
“I think it's up to us to make a decision. We can really sulk about this or we can collectively pull in and not make a decision because there's no decision to be made. It's just get collectively back onto the horse and jump on the plane and go fight that battle.
“We lost this one today. Now it's up to us to see what we can do for the next three.”
Lions fans will be watching, and hoping those kinks in the defensive system are ironed out for a big week in France.