Minnie confident that Lions can combat Bulls up front
Emirates Lions to face the Vodacom Bulls in Saturday’s local Vodacom Super Rugby derby match.
Derick Minnie, Emirates Lions stalwart, is confident that they can counter any attack, whether it is upfront or at the back, coming from the Vodacom Bulls.
The Emirates Lions have returned from their highly successful tour in Australasia and will be meeting head-on with their near neighbours from Pretoria this coming Saturday April 4 in a Vodacom Super Rugby match.
The kick-off will be at 17:05 at Emirates Airline Park.
“We are coming off one of the best tours lately and this was merely because of hard work and a good game plan,” said Minnie, “There is definitely a different mindset when you are playing at home or away, but with good work we have to keep the ball rolling.
“There are still a couple of stumbles, but we are working on them, with good player management and focus on our play we can better our game. We are looking at playing the entire 80 minutes as good as we can.
“We know that the Bulls are a good team, they are especially hard up front, but we have our own players who don’t mind getting a bump or two in the front.”
“This is another game, so whatever has happened on tour, we now leave it behind and focus on the next game. We will see what they have to offer and will counteract accordingly. You are just as good as your last game, and we are planning to take them on in all the aspects of the game.
“We don’t think of the play-off yet, as that is still far off, but it is also a dream to get there,” said Minnie, who resides in Alberton, and will play at number six next to his captain Warren Whiteley at number eight.
“The team has come to maturity on tour and we are more confident when going into play, now we have no excuses coming off a successful tour aboard, and I think that the game on Saturday will be a good and exciting one, we are looking forward to it,” said Whiteley.
“Our team has more balance now, and all the credit to the players who did very well winning the three matches, it is a question of keeping the momentum going now,” said Head coach Johan Ackermann on their successful tour and the first match back at home.
Ackermann has named his 23-man side to face the Vodacom Bulls in Saturday’s local Vodacom Super Rugby derby match.
In the forwards, Ackermann has made just two changes, with Jacques van Rooyen starting at loosehead prop and Andries Ferreira earning a starting berth at lock.
Ackermann has also opted for consistency in the Emirates Lions backline, making just one change to his starting outfit. Anthony Volmink will earn his first Vodacom Super Rugby start of the year, having fully recovered from his long-term injury.
Tickets are still available via Lionsrugby.computicket.com from as little as R40.
15. Andries Coetzee
14. Ruan Combrinck
13. Lionel Mapoe
12. Harold Vorster
11. Anthony Volmink
10. Elton Jantjies
9. Ross Cronje
8. Warren Whiteley (c)
7. Warwick Tecklenburg
6. Derick Minnie
5. Franco Mostert
4. Andries Ferreira
3. Ruan Dreyer
2. Robbie Coetzee
1. Jacques van Rooyen
16. Armand van der Merwe
17. Corne Fourie
18. Julian Redelinghuys
19. Robert Kruger20. Jaco Kriel
21. Faf de Klerk
22. Marnitz Boshoff
23. Howard Mnisi
