'Disappointed' Lions have plenty to fix
REACTION: The Lions are ‘desperate’ to bounce back from their worst start to a season in a decade.
Rookie coach Ivan van Rooyen spoke of the “bitterly disappointment” with his team’s 8-38 capitulation against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires this past weekend.
The Lions’ solid first-half pressure evaporated and the error-rate increased dramatically after the break.
A narrow two-point (8-10) deficit became an embarrassing loss – their biggest defeat in the opening round for more than a decade.
It is not the start Van Rooyen would have wanted, especially with growing concern over his captaincy choice of Elton Jantjies.
However, it is the on-field performance that concerns him most.
“Our set-pieces didn’t function properly in the second half,” the coach admitted.
“There is a lot of stuff we must fix,” he added.
Van Rooyen said they are excited to return home and face the Reds at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Jantjies lacked both the leadership and composure to keep his team in the game. His wayward kicking also did not help.
That is one major area of concern.
* Meanwhile the Lions confirmed that scrumhalf Andre Warner suffered a sprained ankle in the loss to the Jaguares. He will undergo a sonar scan upon the team’s return from Buenos Aires on Monday.
Centre Dan Kriel suffered a forehead laceration. However, that will not prevent him from facing the Reds in a Round Two match at Ellis Park this coming Saturday.
Springbok scrumhalf Ross Cronje has returned to full training and he will be assessed during the week to see if he is available for selection.
@rugby365com
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