VIDEO: Lumbering Lions took a deep look in the mirror
The Lions arrived in Edinburgh determined to salvage a season that is fast beginning to unravel.
Edinburgh host the Lions in a Challenge Cup face-off, as the game’s focus shifts to Europe’s Round of 16 action.
The Scottish outfit secured a home play-off spot with an impressive win over Black Lion in Round Four back in January, having beaten Bayonnais and Vannes, but lost to Gloucester.
The Lions also had a strong win in the final pool round, beating the Dragons 60-10 in South Africa, having beaten Section Paloise, but lost to Ospreys and Montpellier in the pool stage.
Edinburgh and Lions met earlier this season in United Rugby Championship action, with the South Africans running out 55-21 winners in Johannesburg.
It is in the URC where the Lions’ erratic form has been on display.
After beating the Stormers in mid-February, they came unstuck against the Bulls a week later. They then beat the Sharks, only to lose to the same team a week later.
The last fortnight was a horror show – a self-induced heartbreaking loss to Cardiff (17-20), courtesy of an intercept pass, and a demeaning 0-42 loss to Glasgow Warriors.
Springbok Morné van den Berg, who rejoined the team this week after missing the last three weeks through injury, said they had a long, hard look in the mirror after the humbling experience in Glasgow.
“[The loss to Glasgow] felt personal for every guy in the squad, whether you played or not,” Van den Berg told @rugby365com.
“We all have had to take a hard look at ourselves and reflect where you are mentally, what it means to play for the Lions and what playing every game means to you.
“We all know that was not good enough or unacceptable.
“It’s a mind shift, a mindset.
“We can’t go from a good team three weeks ago, beating the Sharks, to now being a very, very bad team,” he said about the losses to Cardiff and Glasgow.
“We know we are better than that.
“There was a lot of reflection, the reaction this week has been strong, and we are ready to tackle this week.”
(WATCH as Lions Springbok Morné van den Berg speaks to @king365ed about the ‘pain’ of their humiliation loss to Glasgow Warriors last week and how they want to turn it around against another Scottish out…..)
The Lions’ inconsistency has been a concern, with lapses in concentration costing them crucial moments in matches.
“We all have to take personal responsibility,” he told @rugby365com.
“Our captain Francke [Horn] spoke well about focus and how the best players in the world stay focussed in every second, every situation. You don’t lose that focus.
“At stages this season, we’ve lost focus at the wrong times, conceding soft tries and letting momentum slip.
“We have to stay in the moment, be disciplined, and respond properly to what’s asked of us.”
The Springbok scrumhalf is back in the mix after a three-week injury lay-off, last featuring in his Man of the Match performance against the Sharks at the beginning of March.
“I was very disappointed to miss games, but you have to take the positives,” Van den Berg said.
“I’ve had three good weeks to prepare, freshen up and work with the coaches.
“I feel great, and I’m confident heading into this match.”
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