New-look Lions to face unpredictable Lyon

Assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys has confirmed that the Lions will rest players for Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup match against Lyon at Ellis Park.

The Joburg-based side is coming off a confidence-boosting Vodacom URC win against the Sharks in Durban, which ended a run of three defeats, including their first two matches of the Challenge Cup.

Lyon are also winless in Europe, having gone down to the Newcastle Red Bulls and the Dragons. They upset Pau in the French Top 14 over the weekend but remain 12th on the log.

“The difficult thing about the French teams is that you never know which team you are going to play,” Redelinghuys said on Tuesday. “Home or away, you can never be sure of who is going to be selected.”

What is predictable, Redelinghuys added, is how French sides build pressure once they find early rhythm.

“They are very good when they get momentum at the beginning,” he said. “They play a very good kicking game.

“The French are smart with when they shoot up and they are careful in their own half until they feel they can make an attack. For us, we know we have to be awake.

“It is difficult to stay up to date with specific players because you know they are not going to travel. But you prepare in general for their style of playing.

“Obviously they bring a massive set-piece focus. They pride themselves in that.”

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With changes also expected from the Lions, Redelinghuys was quick to shut down any suggestion that they will field a weakened side.

“Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to give players who have played a lot a chance to rest, while giving opportunities to players who have practised well.”

Flank Siba Qoma reinforced that message.

“I wouldn’t necessarily call us second stringers,” he said. “There are always players who don’t get as much opportunity, and opportunities like this do come around to show your talent.”

Qoma also pointed to the Lions’ growing physical identity as a platform for belief.

“I think our pack has become the team that is setting the benchmark for physicality,” he said. “That’s one of the things we’re priding ourselves on.”

Photo: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images