Lions: 'The story of our season'
REACTION: Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi promised that his team will keep fighting, despite another Currie Cup loss.
The winless Lions were literally a minute away from their first victory of the season, before Griquas replacement back Ashlon Davids broke the hosts’ hearts with a late try that secured his side a hard-fought 23-17 victory in Johannesburg on Thursday.
The match was brought forward a day and moved to the Wits University stadium.
The Lions also loaded their team with some United Rugby Championship players – giving them a more grizzled and hardy look.
They had hoped the presence of players like Tiaan Swanepoel, Andre Warner (who captained the side), Carlu Sadie, Jaco Visagie and Jean-Pierre Smith will give the Lions a real chance of breaking their duck in South Africa’s premier domestic competition.
However, an indifferent first half by the hosts saw the men from Kimberley take a 10-point lead into the half-time break.
Despite a second-half fightback, to take the lead, the Lions saw their hope of a first win evaporate like mist before the sun – some of the same mistakes that have plagued them all seas creeping in again.
The Lions coach suggested ‘scoreboard pressure’ got to his team, as they trailed 3-13 at half-time and went further behind (3-16) about five minutes into the second half.
“We managed to dig ourselves out of that hole,” he said of his team’s fightback – to take the lead (17-16) with less than 10 minutes remaining.
However, a ‘lapse of concentration’ allowed Griquas to steal the win with a late try.
“We had quite a few opportunities that we didn’t convert,” Nkosi said.
“That is probably the story of our season” the coach added.
“We will keep fighting.”
The one plus for the Lions is the change of venue, with the move to the more intimate Wits University stadium getting some rave reviews.
“The crowds have not been that great in the Currie Cup competition this season,” Nkosi said.
“There was a decent crowd here,” he said, adding: “They got behind the boys and the boys felt the warmth.”
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