“We need to show the sort of character expected from a team of this caliber – and we’re looking forward to the match against the Crusaders this weekend,” Auto & General Lions coach Muir said on Wednesday.
“We had a good week of training and really prepared well,” said Muir, “but that said, so did we last week before that loss.
“We have done a few things differently this week and are confident.
“The guys are looking forward to the match. We have to accept that we didn’t play well, but without looking for excuses, there were perhaps a few extenuating circumstances.”
Among other things, he pointed out, was that the Waratahs were “red- hot” in this match. “We’re not overawed by the Crusaders. They too have had some changes in their structures, and we have confidence in that we know what we’re capable of,” Muir said.
Muir has made six changes to the starting side that lost 73-12 to the Waratahs last weekend for Saturday’s
Super 14 match against Crusaders in Christchurch. He is resting two Springboks in wing Tonderai Chavanga and prop Heinke van der Merwe as well as former All Black Carlos Spencer.
The Lions will have two new props when they run on with JC Janse van Rensburg replacing Van der Merwe and Ross Geldenhuys coming in for Kevin Buys. A third change up front sees Willem Stoltz move to the bench with George Earle getting his second
Super 14 start.
On the front row changes, Muir said that it was a mixture of “getting the balance of the front row right and our rotation policy.” He said Van der Merwe will “play a big part in this game.”
Behind the scrum, there is a new halfback combination. Emerging Springbok Jano Vermaak replaces JP Joubert and Burton Francis comes in for Spencer, while Wigan Pekeur gets his first
Super 14 start in place of Chavanga.
The Lions have the daunting task of playing the top side in Super Rugby’s history on Friday (6.30am SA time) after coming off a 73-12 drubbing against the Waratahs last weekend.
The Lions side is: Earl Rose, Wigan Pekeur, Walter Venter, Doppies la Grange, Wandile Mjekevu, Burton Francis, Jano Vermaak, Todd Clever, Derick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt.), Franco van der Merwe, George Earle, Ross Geldenhuys, Hannes Franklin, JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: Charles Emslie, Heinke van der Merwe, Willem Stoltz, Robert Kruger/Jacques Lombaard, Jacques Coetzee, Carlos Spencer, Michael Killian.
