VIDEO: Same scenario, same challenge in Lions' déjà vu season

VIDEO: The Lions could be excused if they are experiencing déjà vu this season.

They are in a race to qualify for the Top Eight in the United Rugby Championship and need to secure a bonus point in their four remaining home games to do so.

This weekend they host Benetton, a team that has improved by leaps and bounds this season.

The Italians are seventh in the URC standings on 36 points with seven wins from their 14 outings.

Last season in their Round Three encounter in Italy at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo, the Lions lost 10-15 to Benetton in what was described as a lackadaisical performance.

The Lions started well early in the season, claiming victories over Ulster, Edinburgh, Dragons, and Zebre.

Then came the slump as they were downed by Leinster and Munster in Round Six and Seven of the tournament.

In February this year, they got back on the horse and defeated the Stormers 30-23, but followed it up with a 19-31 defeat at the hands of the Bulls.

More up-and-down performances followed – v Sharks 38-14, v Sharks 22-25 and v Cardiff 17-20.

Then followed the humiliating drubbing by Glasgow Warriors (0-42) and Edinburgh (12-24).

Bonus points in their remaining four outings – against Benetton, Connacht, Scarlets, and Ospreys – will get them to 50 points, but with the log so congested, it may not be enough.

Last season, they were in the same scenario. In the end, they narrowly missed out as they ended up in ninth place on points difference.

This time last year, assistant coach Barend Pieterse sat down with reporters and exclaimed how strong the belief was that they can make the play-offs.

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On Tuesday afternoon, Pieterse once again delivered the same message.

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t want to be here now.

“We really believe that we can still make it,” he adamantly stated.

“Here and there, you are probably hoping for one or two other results to go your way as well.

“This time last year I was on the media as well and we can only take it game for game.

“If we get bonus points in every game, great.

“If we win all the games, it’s not going to be ideal, then we have to wait for other results.

“In our minds, we can 100% still make it if we just do what we need to do,” Pieterse said.

Just like the 2023/24 season, the Lions are still battling to stay consistent.

Their topsy-turvy performances have hampered their climb up the ladder, with one or two great wins, followed by some poor results.

Consistency, or the lack thereof, remains a constant challenge for Ivan van Rooyen’s side.

The race is really heating up now 🥵

You don’t want to miss a minute over the next four rounds!#BKTURC #URC pic.twitter.com/UT79HT8JrH

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 15, 2025

Pieterse once again reiterated how hard they work to get on top of that.

“Again, going back to last season, that was one of the things we spoke about.

“We are definitely not consistent enough.

“And that is something that will be a work-on for us every week. Because if we want to be in the Top Eight, if we want to play in Europe, we need to be much more consistent.

“Currently, we are a team that plays three great games, and then two poor ones or vice versa.

“It is something we have to work on very hard. If we are going further this season or not, it is something [consistency] we have to have next season.

“That consistency must be much better.”