VIDEO: Are the Lions now too easy to read?
The Golden Lions, not too long ago, was held up as the beacon of innovation in South Africa.
However, at the end of their Currie Cup campaign, there are suggestions that they lack the ability to outfox the opposition.
Western Province coach John Dobson, speaking after his team's 19-5 demolition of the Lions in the Currie Cup semifinal at Newlands at the weekend, suggested there are a couple of areas where the Lions are 'easy to read'.
Dobson was asked about his team's dominance in the set pieces, especially the line-outs, and suggested that Lions are expecting a miracle from Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx, but are not giving him enough to work with.
"I was pleased with the contesting," Dobson told a post-match media briefing, adding: "We have worked hard on it.
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"You ask a guy like Malcolm [Marx] to come on the field and there is one [just] out-and-out jumper on the field, in Marvin [Orie].
"[Fellow lock] Andries [Ferreira] is not at the top [in the line-outs]. He has other skills, but we put the pressure on [Orie in the line-outs]."
Dobson also suggested the Lions are easy to read when they attack.
"The thing with a team like the Lions, when you get in front, they will not test you too much kicking wise," the Province coach said, adding: "It makes it a bit easier to defend.
"We were worse off earlier in the game with Ross Cronje's box kicking, when they were pretty accurate.
"Once we got ahead and they started to chase, we were a lot more comfortable."
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
