Why Lions' loss doesn't take away from their season

OPINION: Since the inception of the United Rugby Championship, the running joke has been that the best two teams in the competition are Leinster A and Leinster B. Only it’s not really a joke, writes Wynona Louw.

The claim is attributed to the Irish giants’ immense depth that allows them to field highly competitive teams even while resting their Ireland internationals or when they have to split their focus between the URC and the Champions Cup.

This is the case again this year, with Leinster preparing for the Champions Cup Final against Bordeaux Begles, while they are also sitting in third position on the URC log after a 31-7 victory over the Lions at the weekend, ending the South African shield-winners’ six-match winning streak.

Up until Round 17, the Lions were in hot form at home, but are now fighting to qualify for their first-ever URC play-off with one round remaining.

Just three points separate the Lions – who dropped to fifth following their defeat – from Ulster, who complete the Top Eight with 50 points.

Ivan van Rooyen’s men next face Munster in Limerick, and a win will be vital to secure a quarterfinal if other results don’t go their way.

While they have been unbeatable at Ellis Park, racking up 241 points in six matches, they will need to turn their travelling misfortunes around against a Munster side that will be desperate for a positive result after coming short against Connacht at the weekend.

Munster are currently sixth in the standings, two points short of the Lions in fifth.

The teams in first to fourth positions – Glasgow Warriors, the Stormers, Leinster, and the Bulls – have secured their quarterfinal berths. From fifth to eighth, however, things can still change.

For the Lions (53), Munster (51), Cardiff (50), and Ulster (50), the pressure is on. Connacht, meanwhile, who are ninth on the log, are also still in the running (49).

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How things play out for Cardiff and Ulster, who will host the Stormers and Glasgow, respectively, will have a big impact on the Lions, as a defeat to either of those teams will keep the Lions in a superior position to them.

If Connacht lose to Edinburgh, it will ease pressure off the Johannesburgers, who will be in action in the final URC match of the weekend on Saturday night.

Permutations aside, the Lions need not focus on what other teams do; they just have to channel the form they showed prior to last weekend’s glitch.

While Ivan van Rooyen’s team’s latest result certainly adds pressure to their upcoming clash, their loss against Leinster does not in any way take away from the stellar season they have had.

It was always going to be tough playing against Leinster in Dublin, and while the score suggests a runaway victory or a one-sided affair, it was not at all the case.

The Lions’ defence and set-piece performances were standouts against the men from the Emerald Isle.

Of their seven scrum feeds, they won all of them, while they won 17 of their 18 line-outs.

They also won more turnovers than Leinster and lost fewer than their Irish counterparts, while they were level with the hosts in terms of penalties conceded.

They were also strong on defence, attempting 180 tackles and missing just 28 for a tackle completion of 87 percent.

It was on attack that Leinster got the better of them, with their total carries, metres made, and linebreaks topping that of the Lions.

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It was Leinster’s late surge that sunk the Lions, with the reigning champions scoring three tries in the last 10 minutes after leading by only seven points (14-7) at halftime.

Up until that late string of tries by Leinster, the Lions were very much in it, though questionable decision-making, particularly in terms of their kicking game, amounted to nothing.

One can’t help but wonder how things could have turned out had Sibabalwa Mahashe’s try in the first half not been disallowed.

Momentum could have shifted. It could have been a much closer game, or there could even have been a different result entirely.

But ‘should have’ and ‘could have’ are fruitless places to dwell.

The Lions’ defeat to Leinster does not erase all the good they have done this season. If anything, it was perhaps needed to help them not just make the play-offs, but be at their best when it matters most.

Facing Leinster at Aviva Stadium was the play-off introduction the Lions needed. They managed to stay in it until the end, and now they know what works and what doesn’t.

That knowledge, combined with what’s worked for them so far, can only be a good thing going forward.