It was almost a fairy tale ending for the Lions in Parma, but instead, they were handed a harsh lesson in finishing games by Zebre. After a dramatic comeback with three second-half tries, the Lions fumbled their fortunes at the last hurdle, letting Zebre snatch a win right from under their noses.
Coach Ivan van Rooyen was candid in his assessment, holding his team accountable for their last-minute blunder.
"With four minutes to go, it was our game to win. But unfortunately, we didn't manage the kick-off well enough, put ourselves under pressure and allowed them an entry into our 22. It was way too easy and they managed to score."
This lapse in concentration at a crucial moment cost them dearly, transforming what could have been a victorious bus ride home into a somber one.
The match wasn't all doom and gloom for the Lions. Despite being pinned back in their own half for much of the first 40 minutes, they turned the tables after halftime. Van Rooyen reflected on this shift, noting, "We spent way too much time defending our try line. That started to change in the second half. I think we were a lot more dynamic, we had a lot more momentum in attack and the three tries we scored were really exciting."
Despite the gut-wrenching defeat, the silver lining, according to Van Rooyen, was the resilience his team displayed. The shift in gears post-break was a testament to their potential and character. But as any seasoned coach knows, potential needs to be converted into results, especially when margins are razor-thin.
Looking ahead, the focus swiftly shifts to the next encounter against Benetton. With no time to dwell on their misfortunes, Van Rooyen is already gearing up his squad for another challenging matchup. "Obviously we’re disappointed with the result. It shows you how small the margins in the URC are and it shows you there isn’t a bad team in the competition, especially when you’re playing away," he mused. "Now we’re prepping for Treviso. It’s a short week so no time to sulk."
The Lions' journey continues as they seek redemption and perhaps, a bit more luck in managing those final, fateful minutes.
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It was almost a fairy tale ending for the Lions in Parma, but instead, they were handed a harsh lesson in finishing games by Zebre. After a dramatic comeback with three second-half tries, the Lions fumbled their fortunes at the last hurdle, letting Zebre snatch a win right from under their noses.
Coach Ivan van Rooyen was candid in his assessment, holding his team accountable for their last-minute blunder.
"With four minutes to go, it was our game to win. But unfortunately, we didn't manage the kick-off well enough, put ourselves under pressure and allowed them an entry into our 22. It was way too easy and they managed to score."
This lapse in concentration at a crucial moment cost them dearly, transforming what could have been a victorious bus ride home into a somber one.The match wasn't all doom and gloom for the Lions. Despite being pinned back in their own half for much of the first 40 minutes, they turned the tables after halftime. Van Rooyen reflected on this shift, noting, "We spent way too much time defending our try line. That started to change in the second half. I think we were a lot more dynamic, we had a lot more momentum in attack and the three tries we scored were really exciting."
Despite the gut-wrenching defeat, the silver lining, according to Van Rooyen, was the resilience his team displayed. The shift in gears post-break was a testament to their potential and character. But as any seasoned coach knows, potential needs to be converted into results, especially when margins are razor-thin.
Looking ahead, the focus swiftly shifts to the next encounter against Benetton. With no time to dwell on their misfortunes, Van Rooyen is already gearing up his squad for another challenging matchup. "Obviously we’re disappointed with the result. It shows you how small the margins in the URC are and it shows you there isn’t a bad team in the competition, especially when you’re playing away," he mused. "Now we’re prepping for Treviso. It’s a short week so no time to sulk."
The Lions' journey continues as they seek redemption and perhaps, a bit more luck in managing those final, fateful minutes.