Despite a gritty display in the torrential rain of Perpignan, Francke Horn and his Lions squad faced a bittersweet evening, exiting the EPCR Challenge Cup after a 20-20 standoff. The weather-beaten match at Stade Aimé Giral showed the Lions' mettle but sadly, they fell short on points difference, sending Perpignan into the round of 16.
Horn was notably proud of how his team adapted under adverse conditions. "As captain, I feel we played really well considering the conditions," he stated. The game demanded a significant shift from their usual flair at Ellis Park to a more calculated, territory-focused strategy.
"We had to kick more and rely more on the set-piece,"
Horn elaborated. This tactical pivot paid dividends as the Lions dominated the set-pieces, earning crucial scrum penalties and scoring twice through mauls which initially gave them a 10-point lead in the second half. However, Perpignan wasn’t going down without a fight, managing to even the scoreline later on.
The Lions’ captain remained optimistic despite the outcome. "The positive outlook is that we showed our pack is good enough to handle those conditions and dominate the set-piece," Horn reflected. He also praised his No 9s and No 10s for their skill in maneuvering the ball into strategic areas, coupled with a strong defensive showing that kept the opposing team on their toes.
The match wasn’t without its controversies, with Horn hinting at crucial moments where the referee's decisions could have tipped the scales. "We played until the final whistle and maybe there were one or two calls that could have gone our way in the end," he conceded.
"Besides that, the character and the adaptation shown really impressed me and regardless of those circumstances to still play really good rugby on top of all that,"
said Horn, highlighting the resilience and tactical flexibility of his team.
With the Challenge Cup now behind them, the Lions shift their focus back to the Vodacom URC, preparing for their next challenge against the Ospreys in Swansea. The road in Europe continues, and so does the determination of Horn and his Lions to prove their prowess on international turf.
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Despite a gritty display in the torrential rain of Perpignan, Francke Horn and his Lions squad faced a bittersweet evening, exiting the EPCR Challenge Cup after a 20-20 standoff. The weather-beaten match at Stade Aimé Giral showed the Lions' mettle but sadly, they fell short on points difference, sending Perpignan into the round of 16.
Horn was notably proud of how his team adapted under adverse conditions. "As captain, I feel we played really well considering the conditions," he stated. The game demanded a significant shift from their usual flair at Ellis Park to a more calculated, territory-focused strategy.
"We had to kick more and rely more on the set-piece,"
Horn elaborated. This tactical pivot paid dividends as the Lions dominated the set-pieces, earning crucial scrum penalties and scoring twice through mauls which initially gave them a 10-point lead in the second half. However, Perpignan wasn’t going down without a fight, managing to even the scoreline later on.
The Lions’ captain remained optimistic despite the outcome. "The positive outlook is that we showed our pack is good enough to handle those conditions and dominate the set-piece," Horn reflected. He also praised his No 9s and No 10s for their skill in maneuvering the ball into strategic areas, coupled with a strong defensive showing that kept the opposing team on their toes.
The match wasn’t without its controversies, with Horn hinting at crucial moments where the referee's decisions could have tipped the scales. "We played until the final whistle and maybe there were one or two calls that could have gone our way in the end," he conceded.
"Besides that, the character and the adaptation shown really impressed me and regardless of those circumstances to still play really good rugby on top of all that,"
said Horn, highlighting the resilience and tactical flexibility of his team.
With the Challenge Cup now behind them, the Lions shift their focus back to the Vodacom URC, preparing for their next challenge against the Ospreys in Swansea. The road in Europe continues, and so does the determination of Horn and his Lions to prove their prowess on international turf.