'If they bring their A team, we're playing a Test match' - Van Rooyen's plan for URC leaders
REACTION: The Lions will enjoy a two-week break after recording a 42-26 win over the Dragons in Round 14 of the United Rugby Championship before facing a block of four tough matches.
The Lions are in their best-ever position in the URC after 14 rounds, sitting in fifth place and with a real chance of securing a maiden quarterfinal berth.
The URC will go on a break until the weekend of April 17, as the EPCR Champions and Challenge Cup Round of 16 fixtures will take place – a tournament the Lions failed to progress in this season.
*Also read: Lions sink plucky Dragons
That, however, may well be a blessing in disguise as the Lions don’t have to juggle two tournaments and solely focus on their quest to remain in the top eight in the URC and possibly gun for a home quarterfinal spot.
Lions captain Francke Horn admitted that the players do look at the log and permutations, but ultimately they take it one game at a time, with their final four matches coming up against a few powerhouse outfits.
The article continues below…
“It’s human to look at the log, but the chat the last few weeks was about going game by game,” Horne said.
“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves, otherwise one can stumble over the blocks.
“I’m very happy with the five [log] points, and yes, it moves us up on the table, but there are still four massive games.
“Our next game is a few weeks away, which will be our next focus, and we’ll take it game for game.”
Head coach Ivan van Rooyen welcomed the break and said the Lions will take full advantage of it to rest and recover before shifting their attention to the Warriors when the tournament resumes.
The article continues below…
“The break for us [between games] is healthy,” Van Rooyen said.
“We’re at the stage of the season where rest, recovery, refocus and realignment are just as important as playing.
“We’ve got one or two niggles that the break will do us good in any case.
“We had an agreement pre-game that we’ll have a couple of days off, and then it’s time to get the engine going again.
“It’s a big clarity and focus for us… I mean, it’s four really tough games. We’re playing the top of the log [team] and then three Irish teams in a row.
“Where we are now, a bit of time off is healthy. It’s good for physicality, mindset and overall rest, so it’s important for us to get 10 days of good and hard preparation for Glasgow.”
Van Rooyen also touched on the Glasgow team they could face on April 18, with the Warriors possibly progressing to the Champions Cup quarterfinals, and they will want to keep their status as the frontrunner in the URC.
The article continues below…
“If they bring their A team, we’re playing a Test match, and if they bring their B team, we’re playing 16 internationals instead of 23.
“And that’s how we prepare. Leinster still had plenty of Test players when they went up against Glasgow last week.
“We can’t focus on the current, but we can focus on getting ourselves ready, resting and finding that sweet spot in preparation again.
“Whatever team they’ll bring, we’ll have to make plans around it and then fight that beast.”
That pick up and dummy.💪🔥
Richard Kriel is all class and @LionsRugbyCo are closing in on the top four 👏@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvDRA pic.twitter.com/0opMoaUaTe
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 28, 2026
