The Lions are determined to get back to their identity when they resume their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign against Montpellier in the south of France on Saturday (7.30pm kick-off).
The team from the highveld are known for their free-flowing, attacking rugby, and scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys admitted that they have often strayed from their blueprint, especially in wet conditions.
“For us, balancing the Lions way works really well if it’s dry – if it’s lekker warm conditions, then we can let the ball fly,” he told the media this week alongside wing Edwill van der Merwe shortly before the team’s departure for France.
“But if we are playing in the wet, we don’t want to become conservative, and sometimes we feel we do become conservative.
“And for us to still play dynamic (rugby), obviously we got to change a couple of strategic plans, but still be dynamic and still to play to enjoy, still to attack and guys to express themselves.
“We want guys like Edwill and the outside backs to get the ball in hand, and if we play conservative, they never see the ball and he gets frustrated…”
While the Lions are renowned for spreading the ball wide, they also want to bring greater balance to their play.
That is where key figures such as halfbacks Nico Steyn, Sam Francis and Sanele Nohamba must bring the necessary direction to the attack.
Your Emirates Lions touring squad heading to Montpellier for Round 3⃣ of the EPCR Challenge Cup.#ForOurCity
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“We saw against Pau when we were playing here and the ball was also wet – but we still played, and if we play, it gives us energy. So, it is a little bit different... you have to be a little bit smarter,” Redelinghuys said.
“Smart teams play in the right areas, so (it’s important) for us to find a balance from when we are going to be dynamic and attack and when we are going to just kick for space.
“And, of course, there’s different spaces to attack: sometimes it is with the foot, sometimes it is with the ball in hand, and for us to find that balance but still play Lions style, I think that’s important for us.”
The Lions beat Pau 43-35 as Ellis Park in the Challenge Cup second round, after losing 30-14 to the Ospreys away in round one.
They are fourth in the pool topped by Montpellier, who have won both their games in the competition so far.
“Obviously we had it tough. We had a good start with two home games, then two away wins, which is great. And then we had Leinster, Munster, Stormers away, which are three tough games, if you just look at the URC.
“And then if you look at EPCR, we had Pau here and Ospreys away… We basically won two out of the five, which we obviously can’t be happy with,” Redelinghuys said.
“We feel if a team beats you and you didn’t have a chance, you almost like okay... But we felt if we just did a couple of things better, we could’ve had a good chance, especially that Munster game.
“So for us, (the) focus now going into this is a bit staggered that we’ve now got Montpellier and then come back and got Dragons at home, then we’ve got Bulls at home – so that’s a block of three games.
“And then there’s another week off or two weeks off, and then we go into another block with just SA games, so there’s a lot of good games for us to look forward to.
“Fortunately we had a couple away games, so now it’s looking at the home games, which obviously we are excited for, playing at Emirates Airline Park.” | Independent Media Sport