AUDIO: 'Massive moments' and deteriorating conditions trip up Lions
REACTION: The Lions appear to be set for another season of ‘what-ifs’ and frustration for their dwindling fan base if the opening weekend of the United Rugby Championship is anything to go by.
Cardiff reminded Ivan van Rooyen and his Lions that the URC is not the Currie Cup.
The Welsh region outmuscled the South African visitors to record a convincing 33-20 first-round win at Arms Park’s 4G surface at the weekend.
To make life even more unpleasant for the team that a week ago choked in the Currie Cup Final, rain started pouring down in the second half.
Cardiff always looked more threatening on attack, while the Lions were as predictable and unimaginative with their one-up runners as they have been for years.
The Lions will also rue their countless errors, with their turnovers well into double digits.
At least they can look to their scrums as a rare ray of light on a dark and damp Saturday in the Welsh capital.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen spoke of some ‘massive moments’ and the deteriorating conditions when he analysed the loss.
(Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen reacts to the loss against Cardiff….)
“The result was determined by two or three moments,” Van Rooyen said.
“We played a good pressure game up to about 15 minutes to go,” the coach said.
He pointed to two crucial errors.
One was a skill error that allowed Cardiff to kick a 50-22 penalty, followed by another penalty.
From that, Cardiff scored a try by exposing the short side of the maul.
“Henco [van Wyk] was over the line,” the coach said, adding: “He just could not get the ball down.
“We felt those were two massive moments in the game.
“It could have changed the momentum.
“The conditions ended very tough.
“Because of scoreboard pressure that last 10 minutes they managed to keep us out.
“We made one or two skill errors that kept them in our half and with those conditions they managed to strangle us.”
The Lions headed to Italy on Sunday for the next two rounds, facing off against Zebre and Benetton.
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