The Lions are set to face a desperate Edinburgh side in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash at Ellis Park on Saturday, with the Scottish team chasing a spot in the knockouts. The Lions have the perfect opportunity to strike while the iron is hot, with winning momentum, homeground advantage, and the return of Springboks Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Ruhan Venter to boost them for the match.
According to head coach Ivan van Rooyen, Edinburgh will take momentum from Scotland’s performance in the Six Nations, and will likely play an exciting brand of rugby. The Lions will also be wary of the Edinburgh scrum, with Bok loosehead Boan Venter waiting on them. Venter is heading to Ellis Park next season to join the Lions, but Van Rooyen believes he will have something to show on Saturday.
URC Log Standings
The Lions are currently seventh on the overall URC log, and the next four home games will be critical for the Joburg side as they chase an elusive first playoff spot and Champions Cup qualification. The team has been working on improving their consistency in the game, and will look to build momentum against Edinburgh.
Key Player Matchups
One of the key matchups to watch will be between Ntlabakanye and Venter, who will face off in the scrum. This duel could set the tone for the rest of the game, and will be an interesting battle to watch. The Lions will also be looking to scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, who will be bringing up 100 matches for the team.
The Lions have a good chance of winning the match, but will need to be careful not to underestimate Edinburgh. The Scottish team has been performing well in the URC, and will be desperate to get a win on their two-week tour of South Africa. As the United Rugby Championship heats up, the Lions will need to be at the top of their game to come out on top.
Here are some key facts about the upcoming match:
- The match will take place at Ellis Park on Saturday at 2:45pm
- The Lions are currently seventh on the overall URC log
- Edinburgh are chasing a spot in the knockouts
- The Lions have won their last two matches, including a victory over the Stormers
