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Lions do their lineout homework

Pieter Jordaan

Johannesburg – It was no fluke that the Lions’ lineout jumpers got the better of Andries Bekker and Co at the weekend.

The belief in the Lions camp is that hard work, as well as thorough homework about the Stormers’ jumpers, are the reasons they got the better of the Cape side in that department.

Bearded Lions flank Josh Strauss, who dominated his opponents in spite of his side’s 16-19 defeat, says that the lineouts had been planned that way.

“Johan Ackermann, who coaches our lineouts, does a lot of research about other teams’ lineouts and we are working very hard at competing,” said Strauss.

Website ruggastats.com shows that the Stormers won only 64% of their lineout throws, while the Lions had a 100% success ratio on their 12 throws.

That is a huge feather in the Lions’ cap, especially as Bekker is seen as one of the top lineout jumpers in Super Rugby.

Strauss added that the Lions had to continue working hard in the lineouts.

They are playing the Blues at Coca-Cola Park on Monday night.

“There were those rolling mauls from the lineouts (by the Stormers) that we could not stop. We will have to work harder. If we can bring those two aspects together, we will make life difficult for other teams.”

The Stormers’ only try by Pieter Louw was scored from a rolling maul.

Lions coach John Mitchell agrees with Strauss.

“The disruption of the lineouts happened thanks to good homework and execution,” said Mitchell.

“But I’m not going to give our lineouts a tick because our discipline with that last one was a problem that we have (subsequently) discussed.”

Like several other teams, the Lions have also regularly conceded penalties and free kicks at the scrums the last two weeks. Strauss does not believe that this is due to a technical problem with the Lions scrum.

“It is tough for referees because they have been told to keep a close watch on the scrums. If you look at the games, you can see how different teams have been penalised for different transgressions,” said Strauss.

The 2011 season started well for 24-year-old Strauss. People are talking about his beard, but he has said that it will be shaved as soon as his girlfriend moves to Johannesburg.

“It would have happened much sooner, but the sale of her salon in the Cape is taking longer than anticipated,” said Strauss explaining the reason why his beard was growing by the day.

Strauss is not too concerned about the Lions’ two narrow defeats to date.

“We are staying positive and nobody is down. Everybody believes in one another and in what is happening here. It will take a lot more than that to get us down.”

Lions v Blues, Johannesburg 19:10

Lions:

15. Jaco Taute, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies La Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Josh Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Patrick Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg.

Substitutes: Martin Bezuidenhout, Kevin Buys, Dries van Schalkwyk, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana.

Blues:
15. Isaia Toeava, 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Jared Payne, 12. Benson Stanley, 11. Sherwin Stowers, 10. Luke McAlister, 9. Alby Mathewson, 8. Peter Saili, 7. Luke Braid, 6. Jerome Kaino (captain), 5. Ali Williams, 4. Kurtis Haiu, 3. John Afoa, 2. Tom McCartney, 1. Tony Woodcock

Substitutes: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Charlie Faumuina, 18. Anthony Boric, 19. Daniel Braid, 20. Toby Morland, 21. Stephen Brett, 22. Rene Ranger


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