The Emirates Lions take on Irish club Connacht Rugby in Round 13 of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at the Sportsground in Galway this Saturday evening. The team from Johannesburg are currently 12th in the log standings, a mere one point behind their hosts who are eleventh.

Emirates Lions Defence Coach Jaque Fourie

“Looking back at last week’s game, it’s important for us ahead of Connacht to put together two good halves and start playing positive rugby again.”

Fourie is familiar with Saturday’s venue having played at the Sportsground in Galway for the Springboks in 2007 ahead for the Rugby World Cup.

“Playing in Galway especially in these conditions will be tough- it’s going to take 23-man effort to achieve a positive result for us. We’ve had a look at the Connacht side, and we know they are tough side at home. The goal is to come out firing and as I said, put together two good halves of rugby and hopefully beat them on Saturday night.”

Fourie likens playing in these types of conditions to test match rugby where a different approach is required, and Saturday against Connacht will most likely be the case.

“It’s almost like playing test rugby, explains the former Bok centre. You have to take your chances; you need to grab your points and build scoreboard pressure. Of course, playing in the right areas of the field becomes important. At times, you’ll face winds of around 30km/h which makes kicking into the wind difficult meaning teams need to keep the ball for longer phases,” he concludes.

Notable changes sees flanker Sibusiso Sangweni slot into the six jumper with Stean Pienaar getting his opportunity on the right wing, with Quan Horn moving to fullback.

Kick-off is at 21:35 SA time.

Connacht
TBC

Emirates Lions

1. JP Smith
2. PJ Botha
3. Asenathi Ntlabakanye
4. Willem Alberts
5. Darrien Landsberg
6. Sibusiso Sangweni
7. Emile van Heerden
8. Emmanuel Tshituka
9. Andre Warner
10. Jordan Hendrikse
11. Edwill van der Merwe
12. Marius Louw (c)
13. Henco van Wyk
14. Stean Pienaar
15. Quan Horn

Replacements
16. Michael van Vuuren
17. Morgan Naude
18. Ruan Smith
19. Pieter Jansen van Vuren
20. Jaco Kriel
21. Morne van den Berg
22. Manny Rass
23. Andries Coetzee