Lions’ roar returns as they hit the road

You have to give credit to the Lions for the manner in which they started their Super Rugby tour Down Under yesterday.

The Lions, runners-up for the past two seasons, put in a solid display against the Waratahs in Sydney yesterday as they ran out 29-0 victors, scoring four tries to the home side’s none.

In the lead up to the match, many critics believed the late loss of injured regular skipper Warren Whiteley – a key member of the team for the past couple of seasons – together with the travel, would hurt the Lions as they took on the Australian Conference leaders.

Add the Waratahs’ four-match winning streak to the mix, and the Lions would have to produce the goods first up, knowing they still have to play the Reds, Hurricanes and Highlanders on the road before they return home in mid-May.

But that’s exactly what they did, recording their first win in Sydney in style – and their sixth straight triumph on Australian soil.

The victory takes them to the top of the overall standings and opens up a 16-point lead in the South African conference over the second-placed Bulls.

The Lions may have lost three from nine matches in this year’s campaign, but the victory certainly sends out a strong message to their foes that they mean business in their remaining fixtures.

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