30 October 2026
Lions forwards coach Wessel Roux has called for an immediate set-piece lockdown ahead of today's United Rugby Championship (URC) showdown with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun at 21:45 SAST.
The coaching staff has targeted critical execution errors at the lineout after losing six set-pieces in their previous outing. Roux acknowledged that communication breakdowns between hookers and jumpers completely derailed their attacking momentum in Edinburgh. The Lions have restructured their drill sessions this week to ensure total clarity and front-row cohesion under heavy pressure.
“The lineouts were a problem at times,” Roux admitted. “In our review, we said to each other that it was almost like the perfect storm, with a lot of things going wrong at the same time. The weather was difficult, with the wind and rain, but that’s not an excuse. The opposition played in the same conditions.”
The technical staff pinpointed a breakdown in communication rather than fundamental system failures. Tactical calling errors allowed the Edinburgh defenders to contest effectively and steal vital possession. The focus has shifted to sharper execution and varying the jump triggers to bypass the opposition's defensive wall.
“We just had a combination of calls that were communicated incorrectly,” Roux explained. “Once or twice we made the wrong call, so there was a communication issue between the players and the hooker, which is something we’ve worked on. And at certain times Edinburgh were just really good. Sometimes you make a call, and the opposition goes up in exactly that spot. So it was just a combination of a few things, but we’ve spoken about it and found solutions.”
The task does not get any easier against Franco Smith’s clinical, unbeaten Glasgow Warriors outfit. Roux knows the Lions forward pack must deliver a flawless defensive shift to stifle the hosts' high-tempo game plan.
“They’re a really good side,” said Roux. “Most of them are international players, really well coached by Franco [Smith], and they have a real attacking mindset with amazing skills in the wet. Their set-piece is also good.”
Frigid conditions, driving rain, and shifting winds are forecast for the Scotstoun fixture on Saturday. The Lions have adapted their tactical blueprint to suit a territory-heavy, low-risk kicking game if the weather deteriorates. Dominating the collision and securing clean breakdown ball will be non-negotiable for survival in the wet.
“We have prepared for the weather, but we will have to wait and see what it is like on the day,” Roux concluded. “We will just have to play the game how the weather allows us.”
