Pointers that the Lions are facing another false dawn
The Lions have had numerous false starts, especially in the Ivan van Rooyen era.
Yes, they are South African Shield holders in the United Rugby Championship, and they made the 2026 play-offs, earning them a seat at Europe’s top table, the Champions Cup.
However, the not-so-insignificant matter is the lowly 41.50 percent overall win rate (61 wins, six draws, and 80 losses) since ‘Cash’ was appointed coach in 2019, after working as the team’s sports scientist and fitness guru.
This is not about taking potshots at Van Rooyen.
It is about punctuating the cold, hard facts.
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The Lions do play some great attacking rugby under Van Rooyen and his coaching panel, which includes Ricardo Loubscher (backline/attack/skills), Julian Redelinghuys (scrums), Wessel Roux (line-out/forwards), Jaque Fourie (defence), and Morné Steyn (kicking).
However, some glaring deficiencies could cost them dearly against the giants of the European game.
After a promising start to their 2026/27 URC campaign, with victories over a Leinster academy selection (27-26) and a deficient Ospreys, reality bit them hard (excuse the pun) in their Round Three outing against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
The humbling 15-57 loss in Pretoria had all the intimations that this could be another false dawn.
A yellow card issued to the Lions’ Springbok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg for a cynical foul shifted the first-half momentum, allowing the Bulls to pull away before the break.
Then there are the 19 turnovers, which the Bulls heartily profited from and allowed them to score nine tries to the Lions’ two.
Also, very alarmingly, there were 19 missed tackles and a success rate of just 81 percent.
Unless those issues, which are indicators of individual players’ deficiencies and attitude, are rectified, their three-match tour could become a horror show.
After facing off against Stade Rochelais at Stade Marcel-Deflandre in La Rochelle, a team that is on a hit winning streak and fourth in the French Top 14, the Lions head to Scotland for URC encounters with Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors.
So far this season, the Lions have shown very few of the qualities that earned them the right to sit at the top table.
Their set pieces, especially the scrum, are not as dominant as they were in recent years. That is despite the presence of Springbok prop Boan Venter.
They have scored 11 tries, but only one try bonus point, against Ospreys.
A look at the losses and gains for the season also tells a story.
The most significant departures include lock Darrien Landsberg (to the Sharks), Corné Weilbach (to Saracens), Ruben Schoeman (to Narbonne) and Haashim Pead (to the Stormers).
Hooker Franco Marais retired, while powerhouse prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye is serving a doping ban.
In contrast, apart from Boan Venter, the gains have so far not added the expected value – players like Boeta Chamberlain, Sikhumbuzo Notshe and JP du Preez.
That is, perhaps, why they have not looked as intimidating as they were last season.
On Saturday they will make their debut against a Stade Rochelais that has been impressive.
La Rochelle opened the season exceptionally well, defeating reigning champions Toulouse and sneaking an away win at Toulon. Despite an unexpected slip-up at home against Racing 92 and a heavy defeat to Pau, they recovered emphatically in October with dominant wins over Clermont and Lyon.
Stade Marcel-Deflandre is also typically an impenetrable fortress, despite the surprise home defeat to Racing 92.
If things go pear-shaped at Stade Marcel-Deflandre on Saturday, the touring Lions will stare down the barrel of a four-match losing streak that has the potential to derail their season.
They will also be without their Springboks Morné van den Berg and Quan Horn from November onwards.
It is looking ominous, but a win in France, no matter how it is achieved, could eliminate the fears of another false dawn.
@JanDKrugby
