Bok-laden Lions will be confident – Gold
Cell C Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold believes the Lions will be riding high on confidence when the two sides clash this weekend in Johannesburg.
The hosts have a few more Springboks in their ranks after the June Test series against Ireland and the Sharks boss believes that will give the Lions extra confidence this weekend.
Julian Redelinghuys, Ruan Combrinck, Franco Mostert, Faf de Klerk and Jaco Kriel all played their first games for the national side after impressive form in Super Rugby this year. All five players stepped up to the occasion and proved they were ready for higher honours.
Gold believes they will carry that confidence into this weekend’s clash.
“The confidence they will have will carry on from how they played against the Bulls. More than 50 percent of the team got rewarded with Springbok caps and obviously the factor that they played in helping the Springboks overcome the Irish, of course they’ll be confident from that,” Gold said.
“Ackers coaching the SA A team was also a nice gesture for his work, so they’re a lethal team. I said the other day that I think these guys are the biggest threat we’ve had to date and that includes the five New Zealand teams. They’ve made Ellis Park a fortress, it’s a difficult place to go and play and they’re a difficult team to play against because of their style, pace and intensity.”
“We always say New Zealand teams set the benchmark and it’s nice that one of the South African teams is setting a benchmark with the way they are playing.”
Both teams will be without their talismanic captains this weekend. Lions captain Warren Whiteley faces six weeks out with a shoulder injury while Sharks skipper Pat Lambie is still struggling with concussion symptoms.
Gold admitted that Lambie and Willie le Roux’s absence this weekend made life difficult but he was optimistic that his charges could get what really is a win at all costs result.
“It is a blow because they’re world class players but we have spent most of the season without Pat so it’s about adapting. One of the things that has helped us this year is our continuity in selection and that is going to break up a bit now.
“It’s an exciting opportunity for the likes of Garth April to step up in Pat’s place, which he did really well in New Zealand.”
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