AUDIO: Missed opportunities threatening Lions' play-off ambitions
SPOTLIGHT: The Lions are once again in the familiar predicament of needing favours from other teams to qualify for the United Rugby Championship play-offs.
It’s been a frustrating couple of years for supporters of the Johannesburg-based outfit who are yet to make their “debut” in the URC play-offs.
They ended in 12th position in 2022 but were three points shy in 2023 where they finished in ninth place.
The Lions also ended ninth in 2024, but what made it more frustrating this time around is that they shared the same amount of log points (40) with the Ospreys but missed out on play-off qualification as the Welshmen had one more win to clinch the eighth position.
The Lions are currently in 13th position on 38 points and have to win their remaining two fixtures with four-try bonus points.
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The good news for the Lions is that some of the teams also battling for play-off positions face stronger opposition this coming weekend.
The Lions will be able to end the weekend in 10th position depending on various results.
Edinburgh who is currently in 10th place faces Connacht in Galway in a game that could go either way. The Lions will be hopeful for a Connacht win.
The Sharks should overcome the 11th-placed Ospreys and Munster will be the favourites over rivals Ulster who are in 12th place.
Lions defence coach Jacque Fourie addressed the frustration of facing another season without making the play-offs but has also called for perspective.
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“If you look back at the season, there were probably three or four games that we could’ve won.
“We could’ve been in fifth or sixth position on the URC table which would’ve made it a different season.
“If you look at the match against Cardiff, we should’ve won that game. We lost that in the final seconds.
“Looking back at the match against the Sharks [in Durban] we also could’ve won with a penalty at the end not going our way.
“So there were some calls that didn’t go our way but we can’t be sour about that. We need to come back on Monday and work again to get better and go as a team.
“Luckily, despite it being an up and down season we can see constant improvement from the players that are getting better every game and week which is ultimately what you want from this team.”
