Homeground advantage and the altitude will certainly be key factors for the Lions as they seek to overcome the Waratahs in their Super Rugby semifinal in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
However, they must still do the business on the field as well if they want to beat a Waratahs side that has found a second wind in the business end of the competion.
The Lions blanked the Tahs when they met earlier this year in Sydney, but the Australian outfit will be a different beast altogether when the teams run out onto the perfectly manicured surface at Ellis Park.
KweséESPN looks at three key players and three gameplan factors that could be vital for the South African team if they are going to make a third successive Super Rugby final.
KEY PLAYERS
Lourens Erasmus
The Lions need a monster game from Erasmus. The big lock will be packing on the side of the scrum in the absence of the injured Clyde Brink, who has been one of the Joburg team’s unsung heroes this year. Erasmus must be the battering ram in the Lions pack, making metres with ball in hand, clearing bodies at the breakdown, and leave his mark on the Waratahs’ players on defence. He needs to do the dirty work, which will allow Warren Whiteley and Kwagga Smith to do their thing with ball in hand. The job is not the sexiest on a rugby field, but a very important one.
Harold Voster
Voster’s opposite number is Kurtley Beale, who is one hell of a player, and the Lions No. 12 must shut down the Waratahs playmaker. Beale has the ability to get big outside backs into the game with his wonderful distribution, but he is also very dangerous when he pins his ears back and runs at the opposition. Voster is solid in the No. 12 channel, and also a top player with ball in hand, but his reading of play on both attack and defence needs to be sharp if he is to come out victorious against the experienced Australian.
Ross Conje
This is a massive game for Cronje as far as his international prospects are concerned. The Lions scrumhalf started most of the Tests during Allister Coetzee’s tenure as Springboks coach, but he didn’t make the squad for the England series — Rassie Erasmus’ first series in charge of the Boks. Cronje didn’t have the greatest outing in last year’s final against the Crusaders, but this match is a chance for him to redeem himself. The Waratahs will try to put a lot of pressure on flyhalf Elton Jantjies, and it’s going to be Cronje’s job to give his No. 10 that extra second to play or take the pressure off him by kicking smartly.
GAMEPLAN
Slowing the Waratahs’ ball is key …
The Australian side has a number of top players in the backs, and there is nothing they like more than front-foot ball on a platter. They will test the Lions on attack, and that’s why it’s key for the home team to look after their own ball while also slowing the Tahs without giving away penalties. Hooker Malcolm Marx has been fantastic for the Lions at the breakdown, while Smith will do his own Springboks ambitions no harm if he puts in a top shift as the openside flanker. The Lions also need to exploit the absence of Waratahs kingpin Michael Hooper.
Kicking down Izzy’s throat is a big no-no …
South African teams for some reason love to test Israel Folau with up-and-unders; it’s as if they don’t believe the big fullback is one of the best in the world at catching the high ball. The Waratahs and Wallabies No. 15 hurts opponents who don’t kick accurately, as he is also one of the most devastating counter-attacking players in the game. The Lions must ensure that Folau doesn’t get the ball in space because he can also bring his fellow backs — who are just as nasty — into play.
The maul is going to be Lions’ friend …
The Lions have built a reputation for being a hard-running, entertaining team. They play with tempo and they are keen to attack from any angle on the field. They have the skills and they certainly back their attacking play. However, their maul is probably up there with the best in the competition. Marx has finished scored a number of tries this year by getting the ball at the back of a driving maul, and it’s one of the areas where the Lions dominated the Waratahs in their meeting earlier this year.