Lions to break duck Down Under
The Lions headed for Australasia on Sunday determined to end their three-match losing streak.
Despite leading for 77 minutes on the scoreboard, the Lions were overtaken by a late Stormers try – the visitors from cape Town snatching a 22-19 win with a Siya Kolisi try.
The result means the Lions remain rooted to the bottom of the Super Rugby table without a win in the early stages of the season.
However, skipper Warren Whiteley lauded his teammates for putting up a fight till the final whistle.
Given an opportunity to go for posts and secure a draw at the end of the game, they opted instead for a potential five-pointer – which reaped no reward.
"I think it's just the nature of the team," Whiteley said of his team's high-risk, low-reward approach.
"We're here to win and I think that's the bottom line," the captain added.
"It's tough to lose like this but I think through these times you've just got to stay positive.
"Perhaps discipline let us down a bit but I think there was no lack of effort.
"The guys put 110 percent in and I'm really proud of them."
The Lions left for the start of their Australasian tour on Sunday and Whiteley insisted they remained confident about their chances of bagging points Down Under.
"It's really easy to put our heads down now, but we're going on tour and it's really important for us to keep our heads up and get a win."
* Meanwhile Lions head coach Johan Ackermann named a 27-man touring squad for the trip to Australasia.
The Lions will play four matches – against the Blues, Crusaders, Melbourne Rebels and the Reds on tour.
Springbok flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, axed from the matchday squad for the encounter with the Stormers after a couple of under-par performances, is back in the mix – one of four players added to the 23-man matchday squad that lost at Ellis Park.
Andries Ferreira, recently recruited from the Cheetahs, Courtnall Skosan and Jacques van Rooyen are the other names added.
Lions squad: Marnitz Boshoff, Andries Coetzee, Robbie Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Ross Cronje, Francois de Klerk, Ruan Dreyer, Andries Ferreira, Corne Fourie, Elton Jantjies, Jaco Kriel, Robert Kruger, Lionel Mapoe, Sampie Mastriet, Derick Minnie, Howard Mnisi, Franco Mostert, Martin Muller, Julian Redelinghuys, Courtnall Skosan, Warwick Tecklenburg, Schalk van der Merwe, Armand van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Jaco van der Walt, Harold Vorster, Warren Whiteley.
