Francke Horn and Ivan van Rooyen praised the Lions’ fight in Italy on Saturday, setting the stage for an epic top-of-the-table Vodacom URC clash against Leinster this week.
The Pride continued their unbeaten run in the 2024-25 URC with a hard-fought 10-9 victory over Zebre in a rain-soaked Parma last week.
“It was ugly, but we’ll take the four points,” said head coach Van Rooyen post-match. Edwill van der Merwe’s try was the lone score for the Lions as they battled through the wet and muddy conditions to maintain their perfect record.
Reflecting on the win, Van Rooyen added, “We found a way to close out the game last week, and this week we found a different way. We feel there’s some internal growth, which is good for us.”
The Lions now face a massive test in Dublin against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium. The Irish giants, currently sitting atop the URC table, will pose a completely different challenge, but Van Rooyen is optimistic.
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“It’s going to be an exciting clash for us. I assume we’ll be playing Leinster’s A team for the first time at the Aviva. It’s a big week for us.”
Looking back at the tour, Van Rooyen acknowledged the tough conditions his side faced. “Zebre, in these conditions, took all the X-factor out of the game; it became an arm wrestle and a kicking contest,” he said.
However, with eight points from two away games, he emphasised the character-building experience for the Lions. “It’s been a big character-building exercise for us, with lots of rugby lessons for the group.”
Skipper Horn also highlighted the Lions’ mental toughness, particularly in the dying moments of the game. “I was happy with the character [shown]. In the last five minutes, we were really under pressure, but the guys stayed composed,” he said. “It was similar to last week against the Dragons, where we knew we had to remain disciplined to get out of our half.
“There was a really good defensive set right at the end, where we didn’t concede any penalties with just a one-point lead,” he added. “An ugly win is a lot better than a loss.”
“Two out of two – we’re looking forward to next week,” Horn concluded.
Photo: @Springboks/Twitter
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
