Lions lock Ruben Schoeman is keen to make amends for his five-match ban when he returns to the second row for Saturday’s home United Rugby Championship clash against the Sharks (2.30pm kick-off), after serving a five-match suspension for ill-discipline.
The 28-year-old was shown a red card during his team’s defeat to the Stormers in round eight of the URC for a dangerous clear-out on Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok.
“I was banned after that red card and this is my first game back, so I’m very excited to serve the team again and get back in action. I think I let my teams down when I got that red card, so this is a chance to improve myself and make it up to my teammates,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of reflection the last few months, but in the moment, it’s a split-second decision that you have to make.
“And, if you go and look at it again, you’ll see where I went wrong. But in the moment, things happen so fast, so it was just bad luck.”
Two other red cards for foul play in the preceding 13-month period resulted in the lengthy suspension.
With his ban lifted, Schoeman was selected straight back into the Lions starting line-up on Friday by coach Ivan van Rooyen in place of Etienne Oosthuizen, partnering Darrien Landsberg in the second row.
In his absence, the Lions have lost three of their four URC games, including two Jukskei Derbies against the Bulls. The most recent of those was last Saturday’s 31-19 loss at Loftus.
Having had a chance to observe the Lions from the sidelines while banned, Schoeman has made some interesting observations.
“I think we make a lot of individual errors, discipline errors. We concede a lot of penalties. But it’s up to us to fix it,” he said.
“I think were trying to play an exciting brand of rugby, trying to keep the ball alive, be a bit dynamic in our attack. So, it’s exciting to look forward to on Saturday.”
The burly lock feels it will take a collective effort to counter the powerful Sharks pack.
“Just playing as a collective, especially when it comes to scrumming and mauling, the forwards need to pull together and do everything as a unit, because individually, we won’t be able to beat them,” he said.
“Work-rate is going to be massive for us on Saturday, especially for me: making your tackles, stopping momentum and also gaining momentum on attack.
“Positive ball carries, quick ball at ruck time... I think the little things are the big things. If you do them right, it’s going to be a good day.”
Former Blitzboks star JC Pretorius also makes a welcome return, slotting in at openside flank in place of Jarod Cairns after sitting out the Stormers and Bulls matches.
Star centre Henco van Wyk and fullback Quan Horn have been ruled out due to injury. Their absence will be heavily felt as they have been in sparkling form for the Lions. Centre Rynhardt Jonker returns on the bench, however.
Manuel Rass takes over from Van Wyk in the No 13 jersey, while Tapiwa Mafura steps into the fullback role in the place of Horn.
Rass is delighted to be getting regular game time of late.
“I haven’t been playing a lot this year so for me getting an opportunity every week has been special and I'm trying to do as much as I can with every opportunity that I get,” he said.
“Derby games are always special, always tough. It’s always good to go against your South African opponents. It’s always tough and brutal.”
Rass and midfield partner Marius Louw could face a challenging afternoon against a Sharks midfield boasting the likes of tackle-busting young star Jurenzo Julius and Springbok veteran Lukanyo Am.
Rass feels the Lions can still play their flair game by “focusing on forcing our game-plan onto them”.
He is happy to be renewing his partnership with Louw.
“Two years ago, we played a lot together, so I know what he’s strengths are, he knows what my strengths are. So, it’s gong to be really nice to be playing with him again, because I know he brings a massive work-rate, and it gives me confidence to have him on my inside,” Rass said.
“I think he’s more like that enforcer in the team. I think my role is more the link between the backs and the forwards… the distribution at the wings.”
The fourth-placed Sharks stunned the Bulls 29-19 in their last URC outing two weeks ago, and will be looking to build on that. The 12th-placed Lions will try to bury their derby woes and notch up another rare win against a South African team. They beat the Stormers two weeks ago.
Saturday’s encounter is followed by a repeat fixture at Kings Park down in Durban next weekend.
Lions Team
15 Tapiwa Mafura 14 Richard Kriel 13 Manuel Rass 12 Marius Louw 11 Edwill van der Merwe 10 Gianni Lombard 9 Morné van den Berg 8 Francke Horn (captain) 7 Ruan Venter 6 JC Pretorius 5 Darrien Landsberg 4 Ruben Schoeman 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye 2 PJ Botha 1 Juan Schoeman.
Bench: 16 Jaco Visagie 17 SJ Kotze 18 RF Schoeman 19 Ruan Delport 20 Sibabalo Qoma 21 Nico Steyn 22 Jarod Cairns 23 Rynhardt Jonker.