‘Best team in the land’

Crusaders wary of Lions in tonight’s clash

THERE are few verbal accolades bigger than three-time Super Rugby-winning Crusaders captain, now coach, Todd Blackadder calling you, unequivocally, the best team in South Africa.

That’s the respect the Lions have garnered from the seventime champions and all of New Zealand before their clash at Ellis Park at 7pm today.

It is all because of the bravura Johan Ackermann’s men have shown this year: giving the ball air, not relying heavily on lineout drives, which is an aberration for South African teams.

When they beat the Chiefs in Hamilton for the first time, gushing New Zealand commentators could not help declaring that the Lions had shattered every South African rugby stereotype imaginable.

“The Lions are by far the form team [in SA],” Blackadder said.

“They have a lot of threats across the field and it is going to be a big challenge for us.

“They’ve got so much variation to their attack and within their game. They aren’t one-dimensional, too. They’ve got a very good No 10 [Elton Jantjies] and their forwards are a hard-working unit.

“The Lions keep the ball the most in this competition and they love to run the ball from anywhere and that tells me they are pretty good.

“To me, they are by far the best team in the land and anyone that plays against them or does his homework will tell you that.

“They’ve had a good week off and they’ll be waiting for us. It is going to be a mighty challenge and we are going to have to be at our best.”

Ackermann was flattered by Blackadder’s plaudits, but although flattery may get you far, as they say, it won’t win you rugby games.

The Lions still have to go out and nullify the threat posed by Fijian behemoth Nemani Nadolo.

Off the field, he is mild-mannered and enjoys a quiet card game with teammates before training, which belies the wreckage he causes on it.

He will be running straight at Lions opposite number Ruan Combrinck, who, to his credit, managed to subdue another big Fiji-born winger, Waisake Naholo, when they beat the Highlanders at home last year.

“If you focus on one player then you are veering in the wrong direction,” Lions captain Warren Whiteley said.

“You need to focus on yourself, your team and what you can do on your day. It’s dangerous to focus solely on Nadolo, no matter how good he is.

“He’s a threat, but we must focus on what we need to do.”

There is also the not-so-small matter of Matt Todd pilfering ball on the floor and Kieran Read’s impeccable leadership and gain-line destruction.

In the second row, the Crusaders have rested Sam Whitelock, who will be on the bench.

But the Lions also pack a mighty punch, especially with Jaco Kriel having recovered from the concussion he suffered in the early minutes against the Cheetahs two weeks ago.

And Warwick Tecklenburg’s return from suspension signals the reunion of the Lions back row that is the envy of most South African teams.

“Defensively it is going to be a bigger challenge for us and we have put a lot more time into our defence this week,” Blackadder said.

“Playing at the right end of the field will be important.”