Super Rugby: Joel Stransky has ‘horrible feeling’ about the Lions

Fear the New Zealand factor, Lions.

That is former Springboks flyhalf Joel Stransky’s stark warning to Johan Ackermann’s troops as they prepare for Saturday’s Super Rugby semifinal against the Hurricanes at Ellis Park.

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It’s been pretty smooth sailing for the Lions in this year’s tournament after they topped the overall log and only lost once.

But they haven’t played against a New Zealand team once.

And that’s a concern for Stransky.

“I’m really concerned that they haven’t played any New Zealand teams yet,” he told Radio Sport in New Zealand.

“The Sharks were very clever in the way they applied pressure and went about things in last weekend’s playoff. The Hurricanes would certainly have learned from that.”

The Lions were indeed discomforted by the Durbanites’ abrasive tactics in a narrow 23-21 victory and at times seemed to lack the flexibility to deal with it.

Compounding the situation is the fact that the Hurricanes possess a man with a keen understanding of South African rugby: assistant coach John Plumtree.

He was a very successful head coach of the Sharks from 2008 to 2013.

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“John Plumtree would have studied that inside out, knowing the Sharks and Lions very well. The Hurricanes coaching team are very smart,” said Stransky.

“They’ll have picked out what Sharks did really well, where weak points are. I’ve got this horrible feeling Hurricanes might come here and win. It’s going to be a really tough game for the Lions.”

What should give the Lions hope though is that they managed to win two very testing playoff games in 2016’s edition – against the Crusaders and Highlanders.

Yet are they “out of practice” against New Zealand teams perhaps?

Stransky’s answer is simple.

“If you’re not playing the best teams, like the Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders you’re not testing yourself.

“You’re not stepping up when it matters and when you do have to play those teams in a one-off knockout game it’s going to be very tough. You have to catch up with the pace of game, style of play and different set of pressure that comes your way.”

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