Ivan van Rooyen didn't hold back his praise for Lions stalwart Morné van den Berg after a staggering 54-17 triumph over Edinburgh at Ellis Park. The Lions' coach highlighted the Springbok scrumhalf's standout performance as the epitome of what the Johannesburg-based club strives to represent.
"He's that Lions guy," declared Van Rooyen. "Krappie came through all the systems, didn’t have a contract initially, worked tirelessly to earn one, and climbed his way from being benched to earning Springbok caps."
Van Rooyen continued to emphasize Van den Berg's integral role within the team. "He’s a great team guy, with character, and willing to fight for every inch for the team," he explained. "He keeps everyone honest with his work rate and the small things."
"We just had a moment after the match where he said, 'Thank you for giving me each and every one of those 100 caps,'" Van Rooyen revealed. "And then he said, 'Hopefully there’s 100 more.'"
The Lions' recent performance isn't just a flash in the pan, as captain Francke Horn pointed out the foundation of their success. "We scored some unbelievable tries today. But that comes from hard work," Horn noted. "It’s not just scoring, it’s being there, playing off each other."
Despite securing the South African Shield, the focus doesn't linger on past glories for the Lions, who are currently seventh in the standings. "We won’t get ahead of ourselves," Van Rooyen assured. "Every ounce of energy, every ounce of focus is going into the upcoming match against the Dragons."
The Lions' strategic eye is firmly set on the future, ensuring they maintain their momentum in a tightly contested race for the top eight. With the standard set by players like Van den Berg, the Lions are not just participants in the league but formidable contenders aiming for greatness.
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Ivan van Rooyen didn't hold back his praise for Lions stalwart Morné van den Berg after a staggering 54-17 triumph over Edinburgh at Ellis Park. The Lions' coach highlighted the Springbok scrumhalf's standout performance as the epitome of what the Johannesburg-based club strives to represent.
"He's that Lions guy," declared Van Rooyen. "Krappie came through all the systems, didn’t have a contract initially, worked tirelessly to earn one, and climbed his way from being benched to earning Springbok caps."
Van Rooyen continued to emphasize Van den Berg's integral role within the team. "He’s a great team guy, with character, and willing to fight for every inch for the team," he explained. "He keeps everyone honest with his work rate and the small things."
"We just had a moment after the match where he said, 'Thank you for giving me each and every one of those 100 caps,'" Van Rooyen revealed. "And then he said, 'Hopefully there’s 100 more.'"
The Lions' recent performance isn't just a flash in the pan, as captain Francke Horn pointed out the foundation of their success. "We scored some unbelievable tries today. But that comes from hard work," Horn noted. "It’s not just scoring, it’s being there, playing off each other."
Despite securing the South African Shield, the focus doesn't linger on past glories for the Lions, who are currently seventh in the standings. "We won’t get ahead of ourselves," Van Rooyen assured. "Every ounce of energy, every ounce of focus is going into the upcoming match against the Dragons."
The Lions' strategic eye is firmly set on the future, ensuring they maintain their momentum in a tightly contested race for the top eight. With the standard set by players like Van den Berg, the Lions are not just participants in the league but formidable contenders aiming for greatness.