The Lions are not just tiptoeing but marching with purpose as they eye the tail end of the Vodacom URC regular season, facing a daunting Irish gauntlet. Coach Ivan van Rooyen's squad, currently sitting pretty in fourth after a stellar five-game win streak, is tasting the rarefied air of playoff potential for the first time. However, the road ahead is fraught with formidable Irish challenges, starting with a clash against a surging Connacht this Saturday in Johannesburg, followed by gritty showdowns against Leinster and Munster on their own turf.
“The moment you preview these teams, it gets you humble really quickly,” admitted Van Rooyen, reflecting on the upcoming fixtures. Connacht is riding high on a six-match victory wave, including a notable triumph over the Stormers in Cape Town. Van Rooyen sees the battles in Dublin and Limerick as reality checks, grounding any premature elation within his squad.
“Connacht beat the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend. They are a desperate team that pride themselves on hard work. Then we’ve got Leinster and Munster away, so there’s no reason not to have your feet on the ground,” said Van Rooyen.
The Lions’ ascendance this season is not accidental. Last season’s 11th place finish is a distant memory with the team already outdoing themselves by securing nine wins and one draw so far. Their 475 points lead the league, with tries tied at 65 with the Vodacom Bulls, showcasing their lethal edge. Flyhalf Chris Smith leads the league with 135 points, while fullback Quan Horn and flanker Ruan Venter are also topping charts for their respective roles.
Van Rooyen attributes their success to clear vision and consistency, "It’s probably just consistency, an alignment in what we want to do, what does it look like and what does it take,” he explained. This clarity and experience, according to the coach, are what have propelled the Lions forward this season.
The Lions’ team spirit and cohesion have been pivotal, as echoed by captain Francke Horn, “We are sticking to our structures, we are not getting individual, we play as a team and hopefully the people out there can see we have a really strong bond.”
Last weekend, the Lions demolished the league leaders Glasgow Warriors 54-12, an eight-try spectacle at Ellis Park that underscored their formidable form. “What an unbelievable performance. Credit to the guys,” lauded No 8 Horn, emphasizing the hard work behind the flashy scores.
As they gear up for their last home game against Connacht, the anticipation is palpable. “This is our last home game, so hopefully people will come out with their friends and family and let’s make it a big one,” Horn expressed, hopeful for strong home support to end their regular season on a high note.
The Lions have made it clear they're not just participants in this season's URC—they're contenders. And with the playoffs in sight, every match is a step closer to rewriting their history.
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The Lions are not just tiptoeing but marching with purpose as they eye the tail end of the Vodacom URC regular season, facing a daunting Irish gauntlet. Coach Ivan van Rooyen's squad, currently sitting pretty in fourth after a stellar five-game win streak, is tasting the rarefied air of playoff potential for the first time. However, the road ahead is fraught with formidable Irish challenges, starting with a clash against a surging Connacht this Saturday in Johannesburg, followed by gritty showdowns against Leinster and Munster on their own turf.
“The moment you preview these teams, it gets you humble really quickly,” admitted Van Rooyen, reflecting on the upcoming fixtures. Connacht is riding high on a six-match victory wave, including a notable triumph over the Stormers in Cape Town. Van Rooyen sees the battles in Dublin and Limerick as reality checks, grounding any premature elation within his squad.
“Connacht beat the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend. They are a desperate team that pride themselves on hard work. Then we’ve got Leinster and Munster away, so there’s no reason not to have your feet on the ground,” said Van Rooyen.
The Lions’ ascendance this season is not accidental. Last season’s 11th place finish is a distant memory with the team already outdoing themselves by securing nine wins and one draw so far. Their 475 points lead the league, with tries tied at 65 with the Vodacom Bulls, showcasing their lethal edge. Flyhalf Chris Smith leads the league with 135 points, while fullback Quan Horn and flanker Ruan Venter are also topping charts for their respective roles.
Van Rooyen attributes their success to clear vision and consistency, "It’s probably just consistency, an alignment in what we want to do, what does it look like and what does it take,” he explained. This clarity and experience, according to the coach, are what have propelled the Lions forward this season.
The Lions’ team spirit and cohesion have been pivotal, as echoed by captain Francke Horn, “We are sticking to our structures, we are not getting individual, we play as a team and hopefully the people out there can see we have a really strong bond.”
Last weekend, the Lions demolished the league leaders Glasgow Warriors 54-12, an eight-try spectacle at Ellis Park that underscored their formidable form. “What an unbelievable performance. Credit to the guys,” lauded No 8 Horn, emphasizing the hard work behind the flashy scores.
As they gear up for their last home game against Connacht, the anticipation is palpable. “This is our last home game, so hopefully people will come out with their friends and family and let’s make it a big one,” Horn expressed, hopeful for strong home support to end their regular season on a high note.
The Lions have made it clear they're not just participants in this season's URC—they're contenders. And with the playoffs in sight, every match is a step closer to rewriting their history.