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Cape Town - Former Springbok flyhalf Braam van Straaten has warned the Bulls not to underestimate the Lions in their Super Rugby clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.
Van Straaten, who is the current kicking coach for the Wallabies, feels the Bulls played well for most of the season and their 32-10 loss to the Sharks last week was largely due to the quality the Durbanites showed on the night.
"The Sharks had a good recovering defence and took the Bulls on up front from the get go. That's how you should play against them," he told Beeld.
He believes the Lions' forwards have enough bite to replicate what the Sharks did last week, especially after their own impressive performance against the Sharks on June 2. The Lions upset the bookmakers' odds when they stunned the men from Durban 38-28.
"I think so yes," said Van Straaten when asked if he believes an upset is possible at Loftus.
"They're a team that can beat any other team on any given day and the Bulls definitely shouldn't take them lightly.
"There may have been disturbances in their camp recently, but I think they've put that behind them."
The clash at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:10 on Saturday night.
The Bulls won the first match between the two teams 32-18 at Coca-Cola Park earlier in the season.
The men from Pretoria are currently in fifth spot on the overall log with 54 points, well in contention for a top six playoff berth, while the Lions are last with 25 points.
Van Straaten, who is the current kicking coach for the Wallabies, feels the Bulls played well for most of the season and their 32-10 loss to the Sharks last week was largely due to the quality the Durbanites showed on the night.
"The Sharks had a good recovering defence and took the Bulls on up front from the get go. That's how you should play against them," he told Beeld.
He believes the Lions' forwards have enough bite to replicate what the Sharks did last week, especially after their own impressive performance against the Sharks on June 2. The Lions upset the bookmakers' odds when they stunned the men from Durban 38-28.
"I think so yes," said Van Straaten when asked if he believes an upset is possible at Loftus.
"They're a team that can beat any other team on any given day and the Bulls definitely shouldn't take them lightly.
"There may have been disturbances in their camp recently, but I think they've put that behind them."
The clash at Loftus Versfeld kicks off at 19:10 on Saturday night.
The Bulls won the first match between the two teams 32-18 at Coca-Cola Park earlier in the season.
The men from Pretoria are currently in fifth spot on the overall log with 54 points, well in contention for a top six playoff berth, while the Lions are last with 25 points.
