“We had to draw a line in the sand at some point and say, ‘We must give the Currie Cup a good go’,” said Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi yesterday.
Now, after 10 regular-season rounds, Nkosi and Co can happily declare that they have done so, after having secured a home semi-final and quite possibly a home final if they beat the Free State Cheetahs at Ellis Park tomorrow (2.30pm kick-off).
Of course, Nkosi would never admit openly to such lofty dreams, instead insisting that the team is concentrating on the here and now.
Nevertheless, after a tough run in the cup in recent years, there can be no hiding how pleased Nkosi should be at present.
Indeed, since 2021, the Lions have made the play-offs of the competition only once.
Last season, the Joburgers finished sixth, the year before last, seventh, which was a repeat of their 2021 performance, too.
Earlier that year, they contested a semi-final against the Bulls, which they lost 26-21.
Moreover, the last time the Lions played in a final was in 2019, and the last time they won it was in 2015.
This season, they managed to secure their play-off berth without much fuss, losing one game out of 10 on their way to the post-season.
So, it’s easy to understand why Nkosi and his players are excited, even though they remain pragmatic about it.
“Any franchise that you speak to, everyone is excited about the weekend,” Nkosi admitted.
“It is an important one for us in the bigger scheme of things. We’ve played a large part of the competition with Under-21s – the Nico Steyns and Renzo du Plessis – so it has been a successful Currie Cup in that respect.”
It was a sentiment shared by Lions captain Jaco Visagie.
“My father always said you need a ticket to get onto a train. So, we’ve worked hard, and we’ve got the ticket. As a squad, we are excited.
“If you are on the train, you have a chance. For a lot of guys it is a first semi-final in the Currie Cup, so it is a big milestone for many. We are really happy to have made it this fast.”
Defending champions the Cheetahs, meanwhile, have not had a pleasant year.
Financial woes have beset the union and threatened the team off the field, while they have scant opportunities on it. They did manage to win five of their games to get to the Ellis Park semi-final this weekend.
They might not have the form and confidence of previous years, but they certainly do have the knockout rugby credentials to remain a threat. Nevertheless, earlier this season, the Lions beat them 38-21 in Bloemfontein.
Grind Mode, let's get it!🔥
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) September 12, 2024
🆚 Cheetahs Rugby
🗓: Sat, 14 September
⏰: 14:30
🎟: https://t.co/b2Hvo478Q9
🏟 : Emirates Airline Park
🏆: The Currie Cup#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/Unft0t9bsl
“Like any team, they hit a dip in form at a crucial stage of the competition, but they remain a quality team ... We expect them to try and come here and tear the skin off our backs,” Nkosi admitted,
Visagie agreed: “The Cheetahs are quite an experienced side and they have a lot of older guys.
“A few of them have played in the semi-finals and finals, and they have won the Currie Cup a few times in the last few years, so we know what is coming.”
At training, the usual suspects that have guided the Lions to the play-offs were taken through their paces. Wholesale changes then, are not expected, although there will be a strong United Rugby Championship presence in the team.
The Joburgers will definitely be without Morné van den Berg for the clash. ‘Krappies’ has been called up to the Boks as a replacement for the injured Grant Williams, and will depart with the national team to Argentina tomorrow.
That might force a rethink within the halfbacks, particularly in the second half, with a carefully considered interchange between Steyn, Sanele Nohamba and Kade Wolhuter on the cards.