mens
united-rugby-championship
The Lions team is setting its sights on securing the BKT United Rugby Championship South African Shield as they prepare to welcome the DHL Stormers for their concluding regional rivalry match of the current season this weekend.
Their position in contention for the coveted trophy was re-established after achieving a commanding 34-22 win, securing a bonus point against the Hollywoodbets Sharks during the rescheduled game held last Saturday in Johannesburg. This triumph has brought them to within a single point of the leading Sharks, intensifying the competition for the national Shield as it approaches its peak.
Should the Lions manage to defeat the Stormers at Ellis Park this Saturday, they would then claim the championship prize, provided the Sharks are simultaneously overcome by the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria later on the same afternoon.
Consequently, this period marks a thrilling phase for the squad led by Ivan van Rooyen. They have narrowly missed out on championship successes in the recent past, having been defeated in consecutive Carling Currie Cup finals by kicks delivered in the final moments. Is it possible that their moment to win has finally arrived?
“To be frank, we haven’t secured many trophies over the past three or four years,” commented head coach Van Rooyen. “Therefore, it’s truly gratifying for us to encounter this chance.”
Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Lions
Stormers
Nevertheless, he acknowledges that the challenge will be significant when facing a Stormers squad still feeling the sting of consecutive losses to the Sharks. “They couldn’t secure victories in those encounters, despite facing the Sharks on two occasions,” he remarked.
“We are aware of their immense pride and recognize the caliber of talent they possess. If one isn’t absolutely prepared, giving 110 percent against the Stormers, they are fully capable of dismantling your efforts. Hence, we understand the imperative to perform exceptionally well.”
Sharing his perspectives on the upcoming weekend’s confrontation, captain Francke Horn stated: “It’s a local rivalry match, with a championship Shield at stake.
“I believe every single player will be brimming with enthusiasm. However, alongside that excitement, precision is crucial. We need to be meticulous and adhere to our established game plan.”
The Lions’ victory, featuring four tries against the Sharks, marked their recovery from a crushing 52-17 loss at their home ground to the Bulls in their preceding league match three weeks prior. “Every man in the changing rooms holds his head high, and our display against the Bulls simply didn’t meet our expected level,” confessed No 8 Horn. “It was genuinely difficult to accept. That kind of showing does not reflect our identity. We aspire to represent a team that exudes vitality, demonstrates ambition, and executes an attractive style of rugby.
“I believe we demonstrated those qualities against the Sharks. There was a noticeably greater degree of poise and collectedness among the players. We were executing our rugby in the strategically advantageous zones of the pitch. This represented a developmental stride for us, in terms of avoiding narrow focus merely 30 minutes into the game and recognizing that a further 50 minutes remained. I felt immense pride in the way the team responded to that situation.
“We maintained composure and formulated strategies. The moment they scored, we promptly retaliated with points of our own.”
Van Rooyen expressed comparable satisfaction with his players’ performance, particularly after their successful win propelled them to the seventh position in the comprehensive BKT URC standings.
“It’s undeniable that we were profoundly disheartened following the match against the Bulls,” he confessed. “It felt as though we were being overwhelmingly defeated right from the outset of that encounter. Consequently, our reaction against the Sharks was commendable. We implemented effective strategies. To conclude with five points, I was exceptionally proud and genuinely pleased. I sense that, psychologically, we have advanced somewhat over the preceding few weeks.
“Considering the Sharks’ defensive prowess and their intense physicality, failing to execute even a couple of aspects correctly against them can exert significant strain. Examining their two prior games, their tactical kicking severely constrained the Stormers, and their set-piece execution was highly effective. Therefore, I was gratified by our counteraction and by the effectiveness of our strategies.
“The key was to remain present and maintain concentration. It involved having sufficient confidence in ourselves to forge chances against an exceptionally strong Sharks defence, and subsequently possessing the forbearance to convert those into scores.”
