Lions fired up for challenging end of season run

The Lions are fired up and ready for a massive three week run which will define their season in the Challenge Cup and United Rugby Championship (URC) competitions.

Over the past weekend the Lions clinched their fourth straight win, a thumping 51-28 victory over French giants Racing 92, to progress to the quarterfinals of the Challenge Cup.

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However they now have to contend with a huge away quarterfinal against fellow URC side Glasgow Warriors in Scotland, followed by two crucial URC clashes back at home against Leinster and Zebre to finish off the pool phase.

With the Lions currently outside of the URC top eight, meaning they are not in the running for the quarterfinals, the question was whether they would prioritise one of the competitions, but coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted that they would be going all out on all fronts.

“To get into any European quarterfinal it would be foolish of us not to take our strongest team possible. So the initial plan is to prepare here early in the week and then fly out Tuesday night, and arrive in Glasgow Wednesday morning,” said Van Rooyen.

“Then it’s all about getting the minds and bodies ready for the game. We will have to see with one or two guys. There are a few niggles and we will have to see what happens with Manu’s (Emmanuel Tshituka) red card. Apart from that we have a clean bill of health and are raring to go.

Worst case

“The worst case is we have three games left. If we lose this coming weekend and then against Leinster and Zebre we know that’s our season over.

“So we are going to do whatever we can do to stay alive. It’s three tough weeks coming up with a fair bit of traveling, but we as a group are ready and will give 100% in every game.”

The Lions recent resurgence in form started with a 35-24URC win over Glasgow at the end of February, with them following that up with away wins over the Bulls and Benetton, and then the past weekend’s win over Racing.

However they will meet a completely different Glasgow side this coming weekend, as the last time they faced them they had none of their Six Nations internationals available.

They are also fourth on the URC standings and head into the game off the back of three straight wins since their defeat at Ellis Park, thrashing Zebre at home 50-8, beating Munster away 38-26, both in the URC, and then demolishing Dragons 73-33 at home in the Challenge Cup last 16.

It is thus set to be a monstrous match-up and one that could absolutely derail the Lions season.