The Vodacom URC has been dubbed the most varied competition in world rugby by the coach of a Lions team that has made a flying start to the new league season.

The Lions have won all three of their matches to sit third in the table, with a game in hand on the two sides above them – Leinster and the Glasgow Warriors.

Their coach, Ivan van Rooyen, says they are now coming out on top in games they would have lost a year ago, having learned how to “win ugly” where required. He also feels they have become more attuned to the contrasting challenges presented by the five-country URC.

“It’s good fun. It’s probably the most variety of coaching styles and playing styles in any competition in world rugby,” he said. “It is tricky, but isn’t that great for the development of coaches, players and systems, with guys getting exposed to this kind of rugby.

“I think it’s hugely beneficial to get players exposed to this week in, week out. It is very different to Super Rugby where the weather was generally quite nice. Here you can come up against the wind, the rain and the cold. That’s why it looks a bit more like Test match rugby.

“The first season, we were way behind with box kicks in terms of receiving those and creating opportunities from them. So it forced us to play differently, which is good for us. The wind and the rain forces you to learn quickly.”

Going into the new URC season, the Lions had added motivation having lost last month’s Currie Cup final against the Sharks in heartbreaking fashion, with Jordan Hendrikse landing a final-play long-range penalty to snatch the trophy from their grasp.

“We were champions for ten seconds,” says Van Rooyen ruefully. “That shows you we are good enough to be there, but just not yet to win it.

“Having come so close has made us all the more hungry and I think we have managed to kick on from there.”

That’s certainly been evident from the way they have begun their league campaign. They played some scintillating stuff in claiming bonus point wins at home to Ulster (35-22) and Edinburgh (55-21), running in no fewer than 13 tries in the process.

Then they showed a different side to their make-up as they ground out a 23-19 victory away to the Dragons last week, despite being outscored by three tries to two.

“I think it’s a game we probably wouldn’t have won a year ago,” said Van Rooyen. “We are finding a way to win ugly. A year or two ago, it probably wasn’t there for us, but we now have the ability to get stuck in and find a way and find a solution.

“I think we have grown there and that’s the reason we look a little bit more consistent. We knew it would be a physical battle against the Dragons and it was very tough at the breakdown, so we were happy with the end result and pleased to come away with four points.”

Having made such an impressive start to the season, the Lions now find themselves being talked about more than at any other time during their involvement in the URC.

“As long as we can keep on doing what we do and keep on moving forward, I will take that,” said Van Rooyen. “It’s nice that people talk about you, but it’s important for us just to keep our heads down and get better.

“Our philosophy is a little bit different. We select from within, we select juniors. So we are slightly young and inexperienced, but the team is working really hard together and we are developing nicely as a group.”

Next up for the side from Johannesburg, it’s further evidence of the variety of the URC as they head out to Italy to take on Zebre Parma. “They are probably the complete opposite of the Dragons,” said Van Rooyen.

“If you want to make it open and really want to play an expansive game, they are happy. It looks like they can thrive and survive under that, so I think it’s going to be an attacking cracker.”

Photo: ©INPHO/Ashley Crowden

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