Springbok Van den Berg blocks out rivalry with Reinach to focus on Lions’ URC mission

Lions scrumhalf Morné van den Berg is focused on the bigger picture ahead of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship (URC) showdown against the Stormers, insisting it won’t be a personal duel with fellow Springbok half-back Cobus Reinach.

The two sides are set for the first of their two URC local derbies at the DHL Stadium (3pm kick-off), and plenty of mini-battles could unfold in the clash.

However, 'Krappie" said on Tuesday that it will take a team effort to topple the high-flying home side, who are unbeaten in eight games across all competitions. They also top the URC points table.

The nippy Lions half-back, who has been learning under Reinach at Springbok level, may have picked up a trick or two from the experienced playmaker. But he won’t get caught up in a tussle with the in-form Reinach, as he looks to maintain attention on guiding the Lions to victory.

While they have lost their last two games, the Johannesburg side was the first to pick up a victory in a local derby after dispatching the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last month. That victory will give them the belief that they can do the same to the high-flying Capetonians.

“It is an exciting prospect playing in these local derbies and facing South Africa’s best,” Van den Berg said on Tuesday.

“I have a lot of respect for Cobus, and he has been amazing over the last two years, and I’ve learned a lot from him. However, I am going there to compete against him.

"I won’t just zone in on him. This is a team sport and a big game for the Lions and Stormers.

“My focus will be on doing something that could help us to win. I also can’t think too much about Springbok things for next year. This weekend will need all my attention.

“Sacha (Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Stormers flyhalf) is also playing unbelievable rugby, and no one can deny it. But there are 15 guys on their side, and we will have to work out a plan or two on countering his strengths, but our whole week of preparation won’t revolve around how to stop him.”

According to Van den Berg, the Lions will head to Cape Town to enforce their gameplan, rather than adapting to how the Stormers will play.

He was one of the senior players who did not travel for their away game in the Champions Cup against the Newcastle Red Bulls and added that they took that week to focus on their gameplan and how to improve their structures.

They took a hard look at the areas they need to improve, and the Lions will hope it can translate onto the field.

“The team comes first," said Van den Berg.

"We are quite excited and we really want to make ourselves and our fans proud. We want to put a good foot forward as a Lions family to say, ‘this is who we are and how we want to play’.

“We want to make a big shift this weekend towards who we want to be.”