Lions prepare for match against undefeated Glasgow Warriors in Glasgow

The Lions team is preparing for a match against Glasgow Warriors, attempting to restore pride in the final game of the United Rugby Championship (URC) round on Friday evening. After a crushing 31-10 defeat to Edinburgh last Friday, the Johannesburg-based team has one more game before the November international break to put their URC season back on track.

Facing former champions Glasgow, the Lions must improve their play following setbacks in two previous away matches, otherwise, their season could begin to rapidly decline even before the official start.

Over the past two weeks in the round, the Lions have experienced a difficult period, complicated by the death of teammate Hyron Andrews in France before his debut in the Champions Cup. Despite the challenging circumstances, the team showed enough fight to achieve a sensational victory in the final match.

However, Lions head coach Ivan van Rieven warned that if they continue to play as freely and poorly, especially defensively, as in the match against Edinburgh, they face a tough battle.

He noted: 'We know that Glasgow is a team that wants to play, and if your discipline is not good, they will kick the ball into the corner and press you with 10 or 12 players. Therefore, discipline is important next week.' He added that 'we made three bad defensive decisions against Edinburgh, and all three led to touchdowns. So it is obvious what we need to work on this week.'

Furthermore, he mentioned attacking issues: 'In attack, we also lost some structure and did not gain momentum at the start. This makes playing in wet conditions difficult. If you do not gain momentum in attack, you have to switch to kicking game and hope to regain possession or rely on favorable outcomes. Thus, we need to work on many small details this week.'

The Lions also hope that large forward Etienne Oosthuizen will be healthy and available for the upcoming match. Oosthuizen was a very noticeable figure in defense and in attacking ball retrieval, but left the field due to injury.

During the game, he successfully snatched the ball from Edinburgh on the ground, made strong tackles, and carried the ball in wet conditions. However, after his substitution, the Lions faced difficulties in defending possession during rucks.

Van Rieven emphasized the player's value: 'His abilities and weight in these conditions were invaluable to us.' He continued that Oosthuizen has played in Europe for a long time, so he is familiar with local rugby and physical demands. 'His weight in the out-lines and in scrums is worth gold, and his loss was a huge blow. Etienne is playing very well now.' He also noted that 'Dylan (Sjoblom, forward) is an excellent athlete and brings a different dynamic, but we missed Etienne's weight against Edinburgh.'

Despite the sudden death of teammate Khairon Andrus, the Lions team demonstrated immense courage by deciding to continue the game against La Rochelle in the Champions Cup on Saturday at 18:30. Instead of withdrawing from the match, the players chose to honor the memory of their deceased teammate by taking the field and playing for him.

The Lions team was shocked by the discovery of Andrus's body in the hotel room bathroom on Friday morning. Following this, they had to make the difficult decision of whether to play before the match or somehow shift their focus to the game.

It is unknown whether Andrus was included in the starting lineup selected internally earlier in the week, but Ronan Delport will take position number 5 against the French team. In the absence of injured Frank Horn, Chris Smith will lead the team, with other changes also occurring in the squad. Morne Brandon will start the game at hooker, and Conrad van Vuren will return to the tighthead prop position.

Former Springbok player Sikumbuzo Notshe debuts in the Lions' starting lineup at number 8 after transferring from the French club Montauban, replacing Horn. Siba Mashashe will play on the open flank. In the attacking line, Bronson Mills returns to the inside centre position after a long injury layoff, and prolific scorer Erich Kronge once again plays on the left wing.

Earlier on Saturday, the Bulls host Stade Français, with coach Johan Ackermann making significant adjustments to the squad that lost to the Lions in the United Rugby Championship match last week. Despite the changes, the Bulls remain a formidable force. Handre Pollard returns to the flyhalf position instead of Kurvin Bosch, and all eyes will be on debutant Luan Gilimee at fullback, who was promoted after transferring from the Sharks.

The author predicts that the Bulls should have enough strength to overcome the French team, which has struggled away from home, and bets on the home team winning by 15 points or more.

Between the Bulls match, which starts at 14:00, and the evening Lions game, Stormers will face Bristol Bears in Cape Town at 16:15. John Dobson has named the squad consisting of current Springboks players again, although the visitors are not expected to give up easily. Bristol is an adventurous team that plays exciting rugby, but the Stormers should possess enough quality to secure a victory by 10 points.

In the second division of the Champions Cup, Sharks begin the game against the Lions at 14:00, which unfortunately coincides with the Bulls match. J.P. Petersen kept six Springboks at home, but the Sharks still look like a competitive squad. Nevertheless, the home advantage of the Lions may prove decisive, and the French team is expected to win by five points or more.