The Emirates Lions are expecting a backlash from Springbok hardman Frans Malherbe when they face the DHL Stormers in their derby match this Saturday in Johannesburg.
Malherbe, who hits a milestone 150th cap for the Stormers this week, will still be smarting from the mauling that the Vodacom Bulls pack gave the Stormers in the scrums, which surprisingly saw him backpedal a number of times.
While scrumming is an eight man job, and one player cannot be expected to hold up the entire power of an opposing pack, Malherbe isn’t the type of player who will take that sort of scrumming performance lightly, and will want to rectify it as soon as possible.
The Lions are therefore bracing themselves for a backlash this weekend and know their setpice needs to be in top form to give themselves the platform to attack from.
Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said he didn’t expect anything less from the player nicknamed “the Buffalo” and “Bud Spencer” when he gets to Joburg this weekend.
Asked about the backlash waiting, Redelinghuys winced and said he expected it.
“That goes without saying. If it doesn't go well in a particular department in a game, you throw extra focus that way when you prepare for the next,” Redelinghuys answered.
“Given the proud pack that they are, they'll definitely work hard and have a hard review to find out why things didn't go their way. They will come out with a massive drive to be better this weekend.”
“We played the Bulls the previous week and they do have a tough pack. If you don't get your stuff right on the day you will go backwards.”
Redelinghuys knows Malherbe well and at a stage before his own neck injury was competing against him for a place in the Bok squad.
So when he rates him as one of the best in the world it comes from a place of respect, and one where he has seen up close what Malherbe can do.
'A CHAMPION OF SA RUGBY'
The former Bok tighthead was full of praise for Malherbe when asked about him hitting the milestone.
“One of the unsung heroes of South Africa. I can say I had the privilege to play with him at the Springboks. What a gentleman. He is one of the heroes of South Africa and doesn't get the credit. Recently he has been getting more credit,” Redelinghuys explained.
“He is such a champion of South African rugby. It is a great achievement. What does it take to get to 150 games? I don't know, I didn't get there.
“He has just been so consistent over the years. He was one of the players I had to compete against to become a Springbok but he was one of the guys I really admired. His workrate, off the ball stuff. You can look at his scrums and he is solid there. His workrate and the way he serves his teammates for me is what has been most impressive about him.”
The Lions will name their side on Friday but will know they will have their work cut out to stop the double World Cup winner.