Lions need a Morne van den Berg injection for away URC clash with Benetton

The Lions would be crazy not to thrust returning Springbok scrumhalf Morne van den Berg straight into their line-up for their URC clash against Benetton in Treviso on Saturday.

The Lions urgently need direction, and the energetic Van den Berg, forming a halfback pairing with the experienced Chris Smith, would put a firm hand on the rudder.

Van den Berg travelled from the Springboks in London to join the Lions squad in Treviso, where they face a difficult proposition in Benetton.

The Italian team are packed with internationals and have had a promising start to the new season. They beat former champions Glasgow in Treviso, and put up a fight in Galway last week in a 26–15 defeat to the fast-improving Connacht.

“Krappie actually got here before we did,” assistant coach Barend Pieterse said. “He looks rested and ready. He brings good energy and, of course, some fresh ideas as well — all the things he’s learned while being away with the Springboks. It’s wonderful that he’s here.”

Nico Steyn started at scrumhalf in the Lions’ defeats to Cardiff and Zebre, with Junior Springbok Haashim Pead playing well off the bench. But Van den Berg’s uncanny ability to create tries out of nothing could be the spark the Lions need to snap their losing sequence.

In successive weeks, the Lions have lost the Currie Cup final to Griquas, lost heavily away to Cardiff, and contrived a defeat to Zebre last week.

Van den Berg will add positivity to the team. He has made a strong start to his international career, scoring three tries in four Tests for the Boks. The 27-year-old featured off the bench in the Boks’ 67–30 defeat of the Pumas in Durban, and earlier this year, he started in the 42–24 victory over Italy in Pretoria.

The Lions are already on the back foot in their search for a first-ever place in the URC top eight. A loss against Benetton will leave them with a mountain to climb.

Pieterse, meanwhile, said that the coaching group was happy with the team’s improvement last week in Parma from the Cardiff game.

“If we can fix the small mistakes, the results could look very different. There was improvement from Cardiff to Zebre; now we need to take the next step in Treviso,” explained Pieterse.

On Sunday, the Lions return to South Africa for two home matches before the international break in November.

In must-win games, they host Welsh side Scarlets, who beat them at Ellis Park a few months ago, and Irish side Ulster, whom they beat comfortably in September last year.