Lions coach delighted with clutch comeback win over Sharks in Durban

By SABC Sport
8th January 2024

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen was full of praise for the way his players were able to come back from a poor first half and turn the tables on the Sharks.

The Lions traveled to Durban to take on a Sharks side brimming with Springbok talent, and though things looked bleak at half-time when the hosts led 18-3, the Lions were a different side after the break, scoring 17 points while keeping the Sharks scoreless to come away with a superb victory.

The win leaves them well-placed to mount an assault on the United Rugby Championship top eight and secure their spot in the playoffs.

Reflecting on their second-half comeback against the Sharks, Van Rooyen was impressed with how his players were able to transfer the pressure onto their opponents.

"The talk at halftime was if we could score three, five or seven points, it would put pressure back on the Sharks," he said according to IOL.

"It was a game of two halves in terms of territory. They kept us pinned in our half and kept us under relentless pressure with their attack.

"In the second half, we adapted really well to how we wanted to play. We played like we wanted to."

Van Rooyen said the Lions were all too aware of the Springbok star power they were up against, including Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche and Lukhanyo Am.

"They are world-class players and we must give them the respect they deserve. Ox is probably the number one loosehead in the world, Eben is probably the best forward, and Lukhanyo has been for the last eight years probably the best 13.

"So we felt that to give us a chance we had to be collective in the way we play and execute the plan. But this game could've gone two points the other way."

Looking ahead to this weekend's trip to France to face Montpellier in the Challenge Cup, Van Rooyen hinted that the Lions were going to prioritize doing well in the URC this season.

"If I am honest with you, the immediate focus is the URC and the competition we want to excel in.

"We have a busy January, so that will probably have an influence on which team we are going to take (to France)."