The high-flying Lions will be aiming for a fourth URC victory in succession ahead of the arrival of Dragons in Johannesburg on Saturday
To Win
Lions | Draw | Dragons
Handicap
Lions | Dragons
Match context
Ivan van Rooyen’s charges are better placed than they have ever been at this stage of a URC season, occupying seventh spot and in a prime position to lock down a coveted top eight berth. With just five matches of the regular season left, and three of those coming at Emirates Airline Park, one would think this is the year the Pride finally cracks the quarterfinals.
Another thing working in their favour is the fact that they have no European rugby left after having been knocked out of the EPCR Challenge Cup, meaning that they will have a crucial two-week bye period after this Dragons clash ahead of their 18 April date with Glasgow Warriors.
Last week, the SA Shield winners romped to an impressive 54-17 win over Edinburgh, with a five-try first-half blitz meaning the writing was on the wall early on for the Scottish outfit. If the Lions can replicate that intensity, or even come close, they should have far too much firepower for Dragons on the highveld, despite the latter’s highly encouraging effort against the Stormers in Cape Town in round 13.
Filo Tiatia’s men produced a fantastic display in the Mother City before ultimately succumbing to a 29-21 defeat, and it’s a shame they couldn’t secure what would have been a much deserved losing bonus point. For a team ranked second from bottom, with just two wins to their name, it really was a great game from them, but it may have little bearing at altitude this weekend.
Players to watch
Angelo Davids (Lions)
The former Stormers man bagged a brace last week, his first five-pointers of the campaign, and should get even more try-scoring opportunities on Saturday given the context of this encounter. He may stand at just 1.78m, but Davids is supremely powerful in contact, something which many of his would-be tacklers continually underestimate.
Although his 55% tackle success rate may let down his overall game, there’s no question that the Stellenberg High School product can turn on the magic with ball in hand, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see him add to his total for the season against the Welsh tourists.
Harrison Keddie (Dragons)
The tireless Keddie was everywhere for his club against the Stormers, finishing the match as the top tackler with 19 after an enormously industrious 80-minute performance. The 29-year-old former Wales U20 loose forward will again have a big role to play for Dragons in Johannesburg, especially given the home team’s penchant for expansive, ball in hand rugby.
If he’s not too knackered after last week, coach Tiatia will be banking on Keddie to do a similar job and shut down as many Lions attacking chances as possible – not to mention the Pride’s dynamic loose trio themselves.
Tactical overview
The scrum was a massive area of frustration for Dragons against the Stormers, with the Welsh club having no answers to a comprehensive all-round showing from the Capetonians.
It could be a similar story for them against a physical Lions pack, though the outcome of the Asenathi Ntlabakanye doping hearing, said to be taking place this week, could have a bearing on that aspect of play. If the giant tighthead is absent for the hosts, Dragons could benefit.
Elsewhere, the visitors won’t have to contend with any Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu magic this week but will still be wary of an offload-heavy Lions backline that can score from practically anywhere. The start of the encounter will be particularly crucial, and if Dragons can prevent the Lions from racing into a big lead as they did in the last round, they may be able to keep it as close as they did against the Stormers.
Unfortunately though, the altitude factor is likely to play a part with Dragons having conceded 140-points in their three previous matches in Johannesburg at an average of 46 per game. Against a Lions team purring along nicely, and with so much momentum behind them, they may struggle.
Prediction
The Lions to rack up a handicap-clearing win over the visitors inn Johannesburg and advance their playoff cause.
