Dominance without reward haunts Lions in narrow loss
REACTION: The old Polish proverb, “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride,” neatly summed up the Lions’ response to their narrow defeat in Newcastle on Saturday.
The expression indicates how a situation would be different if something else had been different, implying that it’s pointless to think about how something could be because the reality is different.
The Lions’ European struggles continued as they slipped to a narrow 10-14 Challenge Cup defeat to Newcastle in Round Two at a freezing, windswept Kingston Park on Saturday night, the result decided in the dying moments.
Despite dominating territory and possession for long periods, the visitors were left to rue missed opportunities, failing to turn control into points in a match they should have put to bed well before a tense finish.
Despite controlling most facets of the contest for long spells, the Lions failed to turn pressure into points, even while spending extended periods camped on their opponents’ doorstep.
It left coach Ivan van Rooyen reflecting on the many “ifs” and “buts” of the performance.
“Obviously, it was tough conditions. Really, really windy, something we’re not used to,” Van Rooyen said afterward.
“But even with that, I felt we created more than enough opportunities to get the result.
“In the last five or six minutes of the first half, we didn’t capitalise when we had all the possession in their 22,” he said, adding, “Against the wind, you know you’re going to spend a lot of time on the back foot in the second half.
“One score there and I think the game would have been totally different.”
Van Rooyen was left scratching his head as the numbers told a story of Lions’ dominance, yet the scoreboard stubbornly refused to reflect it.
“I think we dominated pretty much all the stats,” he said. “Our tight five were exceptional in the set-piece and in the loose.
“Siba [Qoma] was outstanding. Both centres [Richard Kriel and Manuel Rass] played really well, Gianni [Lombard] played well, and Nico [Steyn] played well. There were a lot of positives.”
“In the first half, we managed to get five or 10 metres out regularly. In the second half, we barely got there.
“If you make an error, the other team just kicks downfield with the wind. It forces that kind of game.”
“If we finish the opportunities at the end of the first half, and that linebreak from Richard in the second half, it’s a very different game,” he said.
With two losses in two weeks, the Lions will regroup before their pool matches resume against Lyon at home on January 10 and away to Perpignan on January 17.
