Pretorius provides Force with inside knowledge

[travelling_gerry]

Pretorius provides Force with inside knowledge

NICK TAYLOR, JOHANNESBURG, The West Australian April 30, 2010, 4:32 pm








The Force can expect an early war of attrition from the Lions in tomorrow night's Super 14 clash in Johannesburg.


Then they will try and spread the ball wide and let the Highveld altitude take effect.
The prediction comes from someone who should know - Andre Pretorius who spent 11 years at the Lions, picking up 69 Super rugby caps along the way.


Unfortunately the former Springbok fly-half was not able to pull on a Force jumper after a hamstring was torn from the bone in a season-ending injury.
Pretorius was back in Johannesburg this week for the first time since signing with the Force.


"They (Lions) will vary their play but I expect from the start that they will come back to the forwards and there will be a bit of attrition," he said. "Then they will try and stretch the boys and spread the ball wide to get some tiredness into their legs.


"The altitude does have an effect, it does play a part."


Pretorius said if the Lions can get a good crowd behind them Ellis Park can be a hostile stadium.


"The way we are playing with confidence at the moment then I don't think that will affect them," he said. "What they have to do is focus and follow through with consistency week-in-week out."


Lions coach Dick Muir, who is battling an injury problem in his squad, said their 10-match losing streak has become a huge mental barrier.


He said his side had to get over the mental scars left by the second-half collapse against the Bulls last week.


"It's a huge mental thing," he said.


The Bulls ran in five tries in the last quarter of the game after the Lions had only trailed by 11 points.

He said the blow-out was due to a lack of experience from his players and the seasoned attitude of his opponents but his side were determined and desperate to get a first win.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/spo...ide-knowledge/

[GIGS20]

I think complacency is our biggest danger, we certainly seem to have high aerobic potential, we've been fighting to the end every match against some oppositions which have tired way before us.

The Lions will be desperate to secure a win and avoid a clean slate for the season whereas we've just destroyed the 'Saders run to the flag. If it was the last 4 seasons I would expect us to turn up on autopilot and expect the Lions to give it to us on a silver platter. This game will be a good indication of the maturity of our team for the future.

[brokendown gunfighter]

hardly inside knowledge,all you have to do is study footage of their previous games to know their game plan

[GIGS20]

Throw it around and miss tackles?

doesn't sound like much of a plan!

[BDAVEY]

Hes justifying himself and his wage!!!