AFTER MAULING THE SHARKS, LIONS COACH VAN ROOYEN WYSES MANNE TO BE WARY OF HURT STORMERS

LIONS coach Ivan “Cash” van Rooyen says just because they mauled the Sharks 34-22 on Saturday, it doesn’t mean they will beat the Stormers at Ellis Park die week.

The Stormers lost to the Sharks in back-to-back games in the United Rugby Championship – their first defeats of the tournament – and according to Cash, the Kapenaars will be hurt.

Van Rooyen wysed: “The Stormers, after playing the Sharks twice, didn’t get the wins.

“We know how proud they are and the quality that they have. If you’re not going to be 110 percent ready for the Stormers, then they can absolutely tear you apart.”

Lions captain Francke Horn Horn echoed his coach’s sentiments on the challenge the wounded Stormers will present.

Horn said: “The Stormers will be hurting after their two losses against the Sharks, so we will have to step up our game.

“I am happy with the performance [against the Sharks], but we need to keep on going. This was a massive game for us, and next week it’s going to be the same.”

Saturday’s victory at Ellis Park, marked the first of a six-match home stretch, which is expected to boost the Lions’ confidence significantly going into their encounter against the Stormers.

This result saw the Lions become the second-placed South African team on the overall standings (seventh place on 29 points), with the Stormers in third place (36 points) and the Bulls in eighth place (25 points), with a game in hand. The Sharks are in 10th place (24 points).