The Lions team has a tendency to turn promising performances into sharp dips, and if they do not correct this instability in the game, they will never become a top-tier team in European competitions.
The recent crushing victory of Bulls with a score of 57:15 at Loftus Versfeld stadium reminded of the team's vulnerability. Now Lions must prepare for one of the toughest tests in European rugby—a Champions Cup match against two-time champions La Rochelle at the French stadium Stade Marcel-Deflandre.
Lions are capable of demonstrating destructive rugby, similar to what was seen in the loss at Loftus. In March and April, they secured convincing victories over Edinburgh with a score of 54:17 and Glasgow Warriors with a score of 54:12 at Ellis Park stadium. However, these strong results are juxtaposed with a series of heavy defeats that reveal their inconsistency.
Earlier, Bulls defeated the team with a score of 52:17 at Ellis Park in January, and in May, Leinster taught a harsh lesson in the URC quarter-finals in Dublin, winning 59:10. The last 50-point defeat at Loftus means that in the last year in the URC, Lions have conceded at least 50 points three times, although the team itself exceeded this threshold twice.
The problem is not a lack of attacking power, but an inability to maintain their best level of play when pressure increases.
Lions assistant coach Ricardo Lubschher believes that the result at Loftus does not reflect his team's true abilities, but he understands that the answer must come on the field, not in the dressing room. 'On Monday we conducted a difficult, honest analysis of what we need to improve,' stated Lubschher.
He emphasized that everything comes down to fulfilling one's role and duties. 'Did we fulfill our tasks? Did we fulfill our roles as well as we could? Obviously, no.'
Lubschher noted that Lions must refine their offensive and defensive plans, but more importantly, restore the determination that was absent against Bulls. 'It was good to leave this meeting knowing that from our perspective we were not ourselves, not good enough, and made too many mistakes against Bulls. We know that the upcoming weekend presents a different challenge for one of Europe's leading teams, so our main goal is to get a reaction from the team. We know that collisions will be a big part of the game, and our execution must reach a new level.'
This is easier said than done, especially against La Rochelle, whose home ground is famous for an atmosphere that can make life unbearable for visiting teams. The French giants thrive on the energy of their supporters, and Lubschher, who worked in France with Stade Français, knows about the importance of surviving initial clashes.
'One of the important things in France is the atmosphere before the game; there is huge energy, and French teams play with great passion,' he said. 'For us it is important to start well and ensure we drown out the crowd because they love supporting their fans.'
Lubschher expects conditions to play a significant role, but insists that Lions must focus on what they can control: their own decision-making and execution. 'They like to play unstructured rugby and score touchdowns all over the field, but from our point of view, it all depends on our intent; on what we bring to the game, and our execution must reach a new level.'
For Lions, the task is to turn their analysis into a tangible response. 'The main focus against La Rochelle is simply to ensure that we play according to our various plans,' he concluded. 'There is an attack plan and a defense, but it all comes down to our intention regarding the execution of our tasks. If we can do this correctly, achieving greater consistency and clarity in how we play, we can turn these opportunities into points.'
