Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie believes the team’s improved defensive performances have turned into an attacking weapon for them, as they prepare for one of their biggest challenges of the season, against United Rugby Championship (URC) defending champions, Leinster, in Dublin on Saturday.
The Lions are in incredible form, having won six games on the trot, stretching back to their last defeat in late January, and much of that has been down to brilliant attacking performances, backed by superb defence.
Speaking ahead of the weekend’s match, Fourie explained how the team have been using their defence to aid their attack, and they will be looking to do the same against the Irish giants, as they look to seal their place in the URC playoffs with a game to spare.
“We are using our defence as a weapon to go and score tries. The more we stay connected and the more we go up and put teams under pressure defensively, the more we are going to get the ball back,” said Fourie.
“Even our loosies are dangerous with ball in hand, and we are going to punish teams. For us, it’s all about putting teams under pressure and getting the ball back and then converting that pressure into points.
“We know we haven’t achieved anything yet. We still have two big games. Our biggest challenge is Saturday in Dublin against Leinster.”
Top defence
Heading into a match against an internationally laden Leinster team who have dangerous players across the park, the Lions will be buoyed by a top defensive in their 33-21 home win over Connacht a week and a half ago.
In that game they were forced to defend for long spells, with Connacht boasting 62% possession and territory, while the Lions were forced to make 212 tackles, and found themselves on the wrong side of the refs whistle, with nine penalties to the visitors five, but still outscored them five tries to three.
In all, over the past few months, the Lions attack has sparkled and defence has been solid, ever since their heavy 52-17 loss against the Bulls at Ellis Park in late January, with them since winning all their matches, scoring 34 tries along the way while conceding 16.
“From a defence point, personally for me, the guys have been doing well and I’m very proud of them. I think we’ve grown in leaps and bounds over the last six games. After the Bulls game, we came back that Monday and decided we had to change a few things and since then it’s just gotten better and better,” explained Fourie.
“So I think we’re hitting the right strings at the right time. I think you can see that it also means something for the team and for the players.
“You can have all the systems, all the stuff in the world but if there isn’t the commitment, you won’t get anywhere. You can really see that it means something for these guys when they go onto the field and how they work for each other. So I’m tremendously proud of them.”
