Pumas game a 'quarterfinal' for Lions
CURRIE CUP SPOTLIGHT: Missing out on a bonus point in their 21-37 defeat to the Sharks could prove to be costly for the Golden Lions’ play-off hopes.
It was the Lions’ second defeat in a row after they were hammered 38-65 by Western Province a week earlier.
Ivan van Rooyen’s side will face the Pumas in Nelspruit in their final league game of the season on October 12 and another defeat could see the Lions miss out on play-off place.
“We pushed for the bonus point, so I think the Pumas game now is a straight quarterfinal,” Van Rooyen told reporters after the match.
The Lions were outplayed in most areas of the game in Durban. By half-time, the game was virtually over with Lions 23 points behind.
“The Sharks played well. Their pack of forwards dominated well, they played the circumstances well so it’s just another learning curve for us.
“We must learn and we must get better,” Van Rooyen added.
Golden Lions captain Ross Cronje agreed that the game was lost up front.
“I definitely think they dominated our pack of forwards, so we definitely got to go back to the drawing board,” said Cronje.
“For a lot of them [forwards] it’s their first Currie Cup, but that’s no excuse. I really do back them, there’s so much talent they just need to start believing in themselves and that will come with game time and just getting the right combinations.”
By Warren Fortune
@FortuneWarren
@rugby365com
