Lance, Reds channelling Aussie cricketers in Cape Town

Thu, Mar 22, 2018, 1:13 AM
Sam Phillips
by Sam Phillips
It was no easy route to Cape Town for the Reds after their win over the Jaguares, with the side diverted through London after an immigration mishap in Brazil. But flyhalf Jono Lance insists the side is unaffected as they prepare to play the Stormers.

The Reds are channeling their inner Aussie cricketer as they prepare to face the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.

Queensland have shacked up in the same hotel as the Steve Smith led Australians, who take on South Africa in the third Test of a fiery series on Thursday night.

That inspired a squad cricket match which Lance cheekily suggested he starred in, taking a bag of wickets and scoring a half century with the bat.

"We're all pretty excited to be in the same hotel as the Aussie cricket team," Lance said.

"To roll the arm over today - everyone was channeling their inner Aussie cricketer - that's what we all wanted to be when we were younger.

"It was a good session after a few long days travelling.Jono Lance has been brilliant for the Reds through the opening month. Photo: Getty Images"All the boys are up and about."

Winning solves all problems in professional sport and a 3-1 start to the season plays a big part in the squad being "up and about" despite a 42 hour trip from Buenos Aires to Cape Town.

Having to divert the route to Cape Town via London makes for far from an ideal preparation but coach Brad Thorn has encouraged the team to take the challenge in their stride, as Queensland seek their fourth straight win for the first time since 2013 - when they pieced five wins and two draws together in a seven week stretch.

With Scott Higginbotham set to return this weekend and Izaia Perese, George Smith and Lukhan Tui not far behind him, Lance said the team's best is yet to come.

"That's probably the best thing about it," Lance said.

"It's still early on in the season and you don't want to focus too much on the opposition.Good things are happening at Ballymore. Photo: Getty Images"We still have a lot of things to improve in our game and concentrating on our game is how we will go about the (rest) of the week."

While they have won three on the trot, bookmakers have still rated the Reds as rank underdogs for Sunday's clash.

That doesn't surprise Lance, as Newlands Stadium is one of the toughest places to play in world rugby.

"I think it's one of the toughest in world rugby," Lance said.

"Newlands is an unbelievable stadium to play at as an away team and I think it would be an amazing stadium for them to call home.

"I know I get excited just when you go there for the captain's run.

I remember the first time I rocked up and saw the layout of it and how it was built

"It's an amazing place to play and the Table Mountains in the backdrop - it's a tough place to play.

"We saw on the weekend against the Blues they're a pretty damaging team so we are going to have to bring our best game."

The Reds face the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday, kicking off at 2:15am AEDT, broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS.

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