How the Lions Plan to Turn the Tables in Their URC Derby Against the Bulls

The Lions are gearing up for a highly anticipated home United Rugby Championship (URC) clash this Saturday against their South African rivals, the Bulls. For the Lions, this match is far from just another game—it’s personal. With both teams coming off big wins, the stakes are higher than ever.

The Lions come into this derby full of confidence after a dominant 60-10 win against the Dragons, securing their spot in the Challenge Cup round of 16. Similarly, the Bulls are riding high after their impressive 48-7 victory over Stade Francais in the Champions Cup, also securing their place in the competition’s next stage.

Despite these encouraging results, the recent head-to-head record favours the Bulls, who have triumphed over the Lions in four of their last five URC encounters. The Lions’ struggles against South African opposition continued in their most recent URC match, where they suffered a 29-10 defeat to the Stormers in Cape Town. This makes Saturday’s clash against the Bulls even more important as the Lions aim to prove their mettle.

The Lions are determined to break their recent slump and are approaching this derby with a sense of urgency and focus. Lions attack coach Ricardo Loubscher acknowledged the significance of the occasion, though he downplayed the pressure to treat it as a normal match. “It’s definitely not a normal game; it’s always personal,” he said in a media conference ahead of the match. However, Loubscher emphasized the importance of staying true to their own style and not being overwhelmed by the occasion.

Lions’ Bok scrumhalf, Morne van den Berg, shared Loubscher’s sentiments, calling the derby “massive” for the players. “It’s fellow South Africans, it’s guys you know very well, that you play against, and it is personal,” van den Berg said. The intensity of a local derby always brings an added level of excitement, and van den Berg promised “extra energy” and “bigger collisions” as the Lions take the field.

Loubscher and his coaching staff have spent significant time analyzing their recent performances and identifying areas of improvement. In particular, the Lions’ previous matches against the Bulls have often seen the opposition dictate the pace of the game. Loubscher noted that they allowed teams like the Bulls to set the tone, but against the Dragons, they were able to impose their own style and play to their strengths.

“Going back to the Dragons, we had a big discussion as coaches,” Loubscher revealed. “We felt that the last couple of games we went away from that, and some of the learnings from the Stormers game, the Montpellier game, is that we need to play to our strengths to give ourselves a chance.”

Against the Bulls, the Lions will need to maintain their physicality, control the tempo of the game, and focus on their free-flowing, attacking style of rugby. They’ll be aiming to dictate play and avoid falling into the trap of a set-piece-dominated, kicking game that the Bulls typically thrive in.

The Lions have received a boost with the news that young flyhalf Sam Francis, who starred in their comprehensive victory over the Dragons, will be fit to face the Bulls after limping off in the second half. His presence will be crucial as the Lions look to implement their high-paced attacking game and maintain the momentum from their last outing.

With both teams having something to prove, Saturday’s match is set to be a thrilling contest. The Lions will need to show resilience and adaptability to overcome the physicality and experience of the Bulls. The match will not only have implications for their URC standing but will also be a chance to assert their dominance in a derby that has provided plenty of drama over the years.

The Lions’ strategy will center around focusing on their own strengths, controlling the game’s tempo, and maintaining discipline against a highly capable Bulls side. Whether they can turn the tables on their rivals and earn a much-needed victory will depend on their ability to execute their game plan and seize the initiative early.

The stage is set for a memorable encounter between two of South Africa’s top rugby teams, with the Lions hoping to prove that their best is yet to come in the URC.

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com