- The Lions are looking forward to the unknown quantity that is Stade Francais when they meet at Ellis Park this weekend.
- Assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher believes the draw with the Dragons last week was partly down to URC familiarity, meaning the two teams had deciphered each other.
- The Lions hope they can use the experience of some men in their ranks to good effect, notably former Stade stalwart Willem Alberts.
The Lions are expecting the unexpected when they tackle Stade Francais in a European Challenge Cup meeting at Ellis Park this weekend, which – ominous as it sounds – isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Indeed, the men from Doornfontein argue that playing against the two teams’ unfamiliarity with each other could be more beneficial on the basis that a second meeting in three weeks with the Dragons last weekend merely delivered a deflating 31-all draw.
“From my side, my experience has taught me it’s always tough to play the same team twice or three times in a short space of time,” said Lions assistant coach Ricardo Loubscher.
“We knew that was going to be a challenge because [we were now familiar with each other]. We came up with a plan, they came up with a plan and did their homework on us. That’s why it was so tight.
“At least It will be different this week.”
Despite the two teams playing in what’s considered the Europa League of rugby, they’ve been in excellent form in their respective leagues to date.
The Lions are sitting pretty in 5th on the overall URC log, while Stade are 3rd in the French Top14.
Evenly matched sides then, so what might prove the defining factor in determining who walks away with the laurels?
Perhaps the hosts could bank on some of their stalwarts’ experience at the club previously.
Loubscher himself was Stade’s backline coach during the shot-lived Heyneke Meyer tenure, while the wily Willem Alberts’ spent five years in Paris.
A revitalised Andre Warner was also in the French capital on loan three years ago and even scored bonus-point try against Perpignan.
“I was there for three months, and I think Willem was there for three or four years, so he will probably chip in a lot,” said Warner.
“It’s a completely new setup they have now – new coaches, and there are only a few guys I know that still play there. I can talk about their rugby culture – they throw the ball around.
“The French, they are known for that. If we can help, we will and I think Willem will have the bigger input.”
Loubscher, perhaps prudently, is also far more focused on what’s currently in front of them and not relying from intelligence in 2019 that’s now become stale.
“If you look at the Top 14 log, Stade are definitely in the top four,” he said.
“If you look at their DNA, how they want to play the game, it’s about playing a massive kicking game and putting you under pressure by forcing mistakes. On attack, they got some brilliant runners.
“Our discipline needs to be good. They got a No 10 who is a good goal-kicker. If your kicking game is not on the money, they are going to hurt you on the counter-attack from anywhere.”
Moreover, the former Springbok assistant coach isn’t about to have sleepless nights over how the local contingent of Vincent Koch, JJ van der Mescht and James Hall might help the visitors with insight.
“You can’t single out any players,” said Loubscher.
“We know what Vincent can do and then there is the rest of the pack with some Georgians. They got some physical guys. They scrum well and they can put you under pressure with ball in hand, so the big thing for us is to pitch up physically.
“Physicality is a big thing for us going into this game. We saw the Clermont-Stormers game. If your physicality is not there on the day, then they can hurt you.”
Kick-off on Friday is at 19:30.
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