'No babalas': Lions send strong playoff message after big win
REACTION: The real statement from Ellis Park wasn’t the scoreline; it was the mindset shift.
For a Lions side long accused of inconsistency, this was control, clarity, and, crucially, restraint after success. Winning the SA Shield could easily have been a moment to exhale; instead, it has sharpened their focus at exactly the point in the season where teams either surge or slip.
That’s what makes Ivan van Rooyen’s “no babalas” message so telling. This isn’t a team getting carried away by a big win; they understand the stakes.
Sitting seventh with five rounds to go, the Lions are no longer chasing relevance; they’re protecting a playoff place. And in a URC race this tight, that shift in mentality could be the difference between history made and another near miss.
The Lions surged into seventh on the URC standings with a commanding 54-17 demolition of Edinburgh at Ellis Park, running in eight tries in a performance that underlined both their attacking flair and growing maturity.
The Johannesburg side tore through the visitors with a series of long-range strikes, leaving Edinburgh scrambling in defence, but it was the work without the ball that pleased coach Ivan van Rooyen most as his side capped the win by securing the SA Shield.
Despite the emphatic result, Van Rooyen was quick to shut down any talk of complacency as the Lions push towards a historic first URC playoff berth.
“Obviously, we’re proud of the big defensive effort,” he said. “We knew that if we were going to be good in that department, they might give us one or two counter-attack or turnover attack options.”
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History is within reach. But Van Rooyen insists the focus remains firmly on what comes next.
“We won’t get ahead of ourselves. We won’t have a babalas – and I don’t mean it in the alcohol sense,” he said.
“It was nice to win the SA Shield in front of our fans, and we’ll take some nice pictures, but come Monday morning it’s back to work preparing for the Dragons.”
The coach described the Shield as a reward for consistency in a fiercely competitive local conference.
“The SA derbies are hugely competitive… this is a reward for the hard work put in by the players and coaching staff. We’re in a good place with our work ethic; you can only play as well as you train.”
Scrumhalf Morne “Krappie” van den Berg’s milestone added another layer to the occasion, with Van Rooyen praising his journey and influence.
“He’s that Lions guy… worked his socks off to earn his place. He’s a great team man, full of character, and fights for every inch.”
Captain Francke Horn echoed the emphasis on effort behind the flair.
“We scored some unbelievable tries, but that comes from hard work. It’s about being there for each other,” he said.
“We have to keep building – the race for the top eight is tight.”
With momentum on their side and the Dragons up next, the Lions’ playoff charge is gathering real substance, but as their coach made clear, there’s no room to ease off now.
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