Desire to win(WP) vs Nothing to lose(Lions)

Abe Williams

In the run up to the Currie Cup final between these two teams, one can’t help to wonder just how much of an effect they past success and failures would count come kick-off time on Saturday. In the Super Rugby competition, we have seen the Lions start prominently but fading as the competition progressed. The Stormers did not living up to the expectations of the Newlands faithful at all and were dismal.

However in the Currie Cup the Lions played with a nothing too loose mind-set and is prepared to let the ball do the work. There is a new found energy within their camp and that energy is visible in their style of play. On a few occasions Lions coach, John Ackermann, have said that he wants his team to express and enjoy themselves on the field and to play the situation. This same approach have seen them perform dismally poor in Super Rugby where the opposition is tougher. Yet it have seen them rise to the top of the domestic competitions and even out witting the Sharks in last weeks play-off encounter.

The Stormers ironically have applied a more conservative approach in Super Rugby and it was only after they knew that they do not have a chance of making the playoffs that they experience a drastic metamorphose in being more offensive minded that they began seeing positive results on the scoreboard.

The big question now is if these teams will progress with their open offensive style of play. Can the spectators look forward to see champagne rugby in the final or will both teams opt to play ‘out of character’ conservative and typical final rugby? Will the coaches’ change their game plan or will they make slight adjustments? The Bulls tried to dominate of front they can off second best. The Sharks tried play well organised and structured game against the Lions but they too felt the wrath of the untamed Lions and got hammered. The Stormers arguably have the most destructive backs but will they be utilised. Judging by this past weekend, the two losing teams were the ones that approached their matches with care but came up against teams with a greater hunger and desire.

Ultimately that is what it is going to come down to, hunger and desire. Another factor for WP would be that they are playing at home. Would they be able to handle that sort of pressure to give a win and trophy to a supporter base that demand that of them? The Lions won’t have that pressure on them and even if the game was played at Ellis Park, they have shown all season that they playing as if they don’t feel any pressure.

Critical areas where WP would need to be on their ‘A’ game is the scrums where Allister Vermaak, Scarra Ntubeni and Pat Cilliers/Brok Harris would to man up against the front row that demolished everything in front of them this season. They would need to keep their own lineout ball, Rynardt Elstadt must control his temper yet play his role of being the enforcer without conceding a yellow card. Nic Groom must play flawless. I say this as he is the better option between the two yet he makes silly mistakes still and in final rugby you want to eliminate your errors. The selection between Curt Coleman and Demetri Catrikilis is vital. Who would forget that dropkick of Catrikilis that won Province the Curry Cup against the Sharks in 2012 but no one would argue that Coleman is the pivot that distributes better and provides better attacking options for a deadly backline. Those are vital aspects that WP needs to get right. They must play with gusto like they have the desire to win as they are up against a Lions side that play with belief and as if they have nothing to lose.