Former Blitzboks star Angelo Davids is loving life at the Lions.
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The Lions are riding a wave of momentum as they prepare to host Edinburgh at Ellis Park this Saturday (2.45pm kick-off).
Following the high of securing the United Rugby Championship SA Shield, the Johannesburg outfit is looking to consolidate their position in the top eight. The Lions are on a roll, having won their previous two home matches against the Sharks and the Stormers. They can also look forward to four home matches over the next month to push for a spot in the quarter-finals.
Wing Angelo Davids says the mood in the camp is pretty good after the SA Shield triumph. However, as many of the Lions players pointed out this week, the main objective this season is to make the knockouts.
"Preparation has been good. The guys are going well and are obviously excited for the weekend," Davids said. "It [the SA Shield win] gave us a lot of confidence, but we are guarding against being over-confident. We just have to stick to the system and try to play our best rugby."
While the visiting Scots are known for their grit and slick counter-attacking play, Davids insists the Lions are ready for a confrontation. The former Sevens star was also quick to point out that the Lions aren't obsessing over the opposition.
"They bring a lot of physicality, but we are definitely going to match that. We have a lot of big guys as well, so it’s not going to stop us from putting in the big hits."
"The big focus is on ourselves. We know the pictures they are going to bring, but we are concentrating on our performance to get the five points on the weekend."
For Davids, the move to Johannesburg has been a catalyst for a personal resurgence. After a career defined by blistering pace on the Sevens circuit, and getting limited game time at the Stormers, he is finding his feet at altitude in Johannesburg.
"I feel settled in nicely. It’s been a good rollercoaster, if I can put it like that," he admits. "The guys have been good to me, players and management. It’s been a good move for me personally; I think I needed it. My rugby has taken a step up and I want to bring more to the team."
That step up is being driven by a healthy internal rivalry within the squad. With the Lions boasting a wealth of outside back talent, with young players such as Kelly Mpeku making big strides this season.
"It’s always good to have competition; we make each other better. That is what we are here for," Davids said. "We challenge each other every day. Everyone has their strengths and we want to get better to perform on the weekend."