Calls for patience and discipline from Lions
REACTION: Two Rounds down and the Lions are still unbeaten in the European Challenge Cup.
The Lions produced an impressive bonus-point win in Johannesburg on Friday, seeing off the famed Stade Français team 30-12.
The South Africans rushed to a 20-0 lead after 30 minutes.
However, handling errors and ill-discipline dominated much of the team’s performance which handed Stade Français a chance to gain momentum.
Speaking to reporters after the Round two match, the Lions coach Ivan Van Rooyen admitted his team’s discipline is an ongoing issue that needs to be addressed.
The Lions’ lack of discipline was also a very prominent feature during last weekend’s 31-all draw to the Dragon.
“Playing in a competition like this is difficult enough, so you don’t need to concede silly penalties or rub the referee the wrong way,” Van Rooyen said.
“For us, discipline is an ongoing thing.
“Our goal is six to seven penalties per game and we were at six at half time, so we know we got to keep on working on it.”
#⃣MATCH REPORT: The @LionsRugbyCo produced an impressive bonus-point win in #Johannesburg on #Friday, seeing off the famed @SFParisRugby team 30-12#Rugby 🏉#Rugbyunion 🌍@ChallengeCup_ 🏆
🔗https://t.co/mFVFwIPtys pic.twitter.com/ZfszZqanAO— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) December 16, 2022
Invaluable lesson
While the coach was not happy with the team’s overall performance, Van Rooyen said his team learned invaluable lessons against a quality Stade Français team.
The Lions outscored their much more favourable opponents four tries to two.
Quan Horn (two), Andries Coetzee and Ruan Smith crossed for the hosts, with Jordan Hendrikse adding 10 points from the tee (two conversions and two penalties).
“Five points against a team that is currently third on the Top 14 table we will take it every day,” Van Rooyen said.
“They obviously didn’t bring the whole shebang down to South Africa, but they still have quality players like Geogiran scrummaging forwards and very lengthy and lethal backline players.”
He added: “It is certainly an invaluable experience that the players picked up.
“For instance, a guy like Jordan Hendrikse, what an experience for a 22-year-old to play on a Friday in humid weather conditions with momentum going for and against us”
Meanwhile, captain Jaco Kriel revealed the team is not firing on all cylinders and believes the Lions should be more patient, particularly in the second half.
“We had a good 20 to 30 minutes but got a little over-excited in the second half.
“We really could have done better in the second half and if Stade Francais took a bit more chances they could have punished us.
“So in this competition, we need to be better, we have to be patient and back the plan.”
𝗧𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 | Reinhard Nothnagel is happy with the performance in the first half however, wants to see improvement in the second half of the game. #LionsPride🦁 #ChallengeCupRugby #LIOvSFP pic.twitter.com/aXqAwMDgEv
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) December 16, 2022
*Meanwhile, the Lions boss will be sweating over the availability of rising star Henco van Wyk.
The centre sustained an elbow injury during Friday’s Challenge Cup win.
“Henco is not a guy who will just come off the field if he is hurt,” Van Rooyen said.
“It is an elbow injury but we don’t know how serious it is until the next 48 [hours].”
The team is already without the services of Springbok Ruan Dreyer as they prepare for the United Rugby Championship match against Sharks.
