By Brenden Nel.
The Emirates Lions have surprised all already this season, but now, returning home to their Ellis Park base, they face one of their toughest tasks yet.
Ivan van Rooyen’s team have laid low since returning home on Sunday and are yet to be seen in public since then.
But while the focus has been on recovery and rest ahead of the task that faces them, Irish powerhouse Ulster have arrived in the country brimming with confidence and ready to try and take the Lions down a peg.
The Belfast team have made an impressive start, scored the second most tries in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship thus far and but for a blip against Leinster where they lost their only game this season at home, are chomping at the bit to take a bite at the Lions.
MAJOR TEST
That will be the major test for Van Rooyen’s charges. It is one thing to show grit and determination overseas and come from behind to win – and that should be applauded for the feat that it was – but it means little in the competition if you can’t back it up at home.
In many ways, Ulster are probably the toughest opposition that the Lions could face when getting home. They have a power forward game and have enough firepower out wide to trouble most sides.
And while three of their seven defeats last year came in South Africa, many will remember how well they played in the conditions and ran the eventual champions, the DHL Stormers close in both games.
The Lions do have belief and momentum on their side and those can be powerful weapons on home soil. The early 2pm kickoff and heat in Gauteng will also play in their favour, but it is clear Ulster are looking forward to the forward battle.
Ulster’s forward coach Roddy Grant was quite vocal about how they’re looking forward to battling the physical aspect of the tour that the South African teams will bring.
COMPETITIVE
“I suppose what I have been saying to the forwards, it’s so competitive now in the URC, whether you are home or away, all the teams are competitive,” Grant told Irish media before the team’s departure.
“Team-wise, forwards-wise, really good teams, really good packs, the South African influence is obviously there, pack-wise and physicality-wise.
“You have the added dimension of travel to a different country. So that’s really exciting as well. I think the mindset nowadays…pro sport is about preparing and performance.
“You prepare every week to play and win a title whether it is Italy, France, England – you prepare to win. I don’t think it is too much of a difference. It is a good opportunity to be somewhere different.”
Grant is also wary of the Lions and their form at the moment.
“The results speak for themselves. The Lions have beaten good teams…Edinburgh away at the weekend, third one away from home, they have done a lot of travelling and still managed to beat them,” he added.
“So, it will be a big challenge. They definitely are better than they were last season, they look to have done a lot of good things in pre-season. They got quite a few new players in, especially in the backline.
BIG CHALLENGE
“A big physical pack, they are mauling a fair bit, good set piece, so it is going to be a big challenge. Ellis Park as well…not many teams go there and win.
“I think there were only two last seasons in Edinburgh and Connacht, so it is a big challenge, and we are up for it.”
Either way, the Lions will know they face another challenge this weekend and if they are to continue their development as a team, and prove their gutsy performances abroad were no fluke, they need to repeat it at home.