Fourie: Zebre hunt no 'walk in the park'
10/16/2024 02:46 AM
Jaque Fourie says while Lions are excited for next weekend’s clash with eight-time Vodacom URC champions Leinster in Dublin, they can’t take their eyes off Saturday’s match against giant-slayers Zebre.
The Lions have made one of their best starts to a Vodacom URC campaign, following up back-to-back home bonus-point wins over Ulster and Edinburgh with a 23-19 victory over Dragons in Newport to start their three-match tour.
This comes on the back of an excellent domestic campaign that saw the Lions progress to the Currie Cup final, while growing their depth in key positions. It’s exciting times for Lions fans, who have had to get used to the former Super Rugby finalists settling for the South African wooden spoon over the last few seasons.
Next up for the Lions is a clash with Zebre in Parma, before they travel to Dublin to finish their tour against URC giants Leinster.
Former Springbok centre Fourie, who serves as the Lions defence coach, warned over looking too far ahead and taking their attention away from Saturday’s match against an improving Zebre.
"We've got a very exciting squad, and we've got a few guys coming back from injuries. It's about creating the excitement again for the team that's going to play," defence coach Fourie said.
"It's an unbelievable opportunity this weekend to play Zebre, and then next weekend, we play the team on top of the log.
"As players and coaches, those are the teams you want to play against, to measure yourself. If and when we win this weekend, next weekend is probably a top-of-the-table clash against Leinster – so we will give it our all against them next week.
"But we first need to do the job this weekend. Zebre are not an easy team, and if we are going in with that mindset – that it's just going to be a walk in the park – we will be making a big mistake."
Italian minnows Zebre have made a solid start to their own campaign, running Cardiff close before producing one of the early-season shocks by beating 2023 champions Munster 42-33.
While losses to the DHL Stormers and Glasgow Warriors have followed, Zebre have shown enough of a threat to cause the Lions to have a bit of a re-think of how they will approach Saturday’s match.
"We do put a lot of emphasis on attack, and in a few instances, you are going to have unstructured defence also," Fourie said.
"So, our challenge is to get into the defence structure as quickly as possible to put the teams and their skill-sets under pressure. Hopefully, this weekend against a team like Zebre, they like unstructured attack.
"So, we'll have to force them into structured attack and get the ball back again – especially against a team like Zebre. It is going to rain a lot, so the conditions are not going to allow us to play an expansive game.”
The Lions have tested their options at flyhalf this season, with Kade Wolhuter donning the No 10 jersey, before former Junior Bok scrumhalf Nico Steyn stepped up in his injury-enforced absence.
"It's not the first time that we played Nico at 10, and the good thing about Nico is that we only have a few of those players who have the ability to play in any position,” Fourie explained.
"They are just natural rugby players. I thought he did quite well… It's just that intercept pass that he gave that could've happened to anyone.
"I thought he directed (the team) quite well. It's a different level – it's URC now, it's a different speed, and it's something he has to get used to. But he did quite well under the circumstances.
"They said earlier in the week already that it is going to come down with a lot of rain, so we are quite comfortable to go into a kicking battle and playing in the right areas of the field – and then also to keep the ball through a lot of phases to score tries when we are in those areas."
Photo: Chris Fairweather/Gallo Images
The post Fourie: Zebre hunt no ‘walk in the park’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
