Lions ready to rise from mire of mediocrity
INTERVIEW: The Lions do not need reminding that 2022 is threatening to become their annus horribilis.
The Lions host the Sharks at Ellis Park on Saturday, hoping to end a winless run of 10 matches for their teams in both the United Rugby Championship and Currie Cup.
Not only are they winless in the 2022 Currie Cup season - following defeats to Western Province (36-48) and Pumas (9-50) - but their last win in the country's premier domestic competition was a 45-42 squeaker against Griquas on August 6 last year.
You have to go back to December 2 last year to find their last win in any competition - a 37-19 URC triumph over the Stormers.
"We, as a union, are well aware that we need to get some positive results coming our way," Lions Currie Cup coach Mziwakhe Nkosi told @rugby365com in an interview this week.
"It goes without saying, we are incredibly desperate.
"It has been a tough time for the union as a whole.
"We are hoping for a good result against the Sharks to lift the spirits in Johannesburg and our supporters."
Nkosi spoke of having 'upskilled' the youngsters since their humiliating seven-try loss to the Pumas on their home turf a month ago.
"What was more important for us, was getting a bit of synergy," Nkosi told @rugby365com in an interview in the build-up to Saturday's outing.
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He added that having had to provide additional resources to the URC team, the changes to their spine is what cost them dearly against the Pumas.
Changes at No.2, No.5, No.8, No.9, No.10 and No.13 meant the Currie Cup team was not up to the challenge of a determined Pumas outfit.
But they will continue to play second fiddle to 'big brother' in terms of access to resources.
"We are there to serve," he said of providing additional resources to the URC team, adding: "It is all about managing that situation.
"We had to give a couple of the URC fringe players an opportunity and that disrupted our synergy.
"We are well aware we need to start getting some wins on the board."
Those wins will not be handed to them, as they face two unbeaten teams - the Sharks this week and the Cheetahs in a fortnight.
"Our preparation has been good and we are ready to 'mix it up' with the Sharks," the coach said.
He spoke of youngsters coming through - the likes of Simao Gongalves Dionisio, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ruan Venter and Quan Horn - that will improve as the season moves along.
However, some of the players will be on call for the URC squad.
"We are serving the system," he said of players being available for the trip to Ireland and the URC showdown with European giants Leinster in Dublin next week - February 25.
"The URC team has a litany of injuries," Nkosi said, adding that the already threadbare second row resources have been further diluted by an injury to utility forward Ruhan Straeuli - which follows injuries to Pieter Jansen van Vuren and Willem Alberts.
"A few of our guys will be on duty for the URC team [in Ireland]."
Nkosi is adamant that his team will not throw in the towel and will be a stern test for the Sharks at Ellis Park this week.
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