Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen focusing on the silver lining of Sharks loss

The Johannesburg franchise travelled south to Durban to face a Springbok-laden Sharks outfit keen on revenge for last week's loss. It was a tense affair with very few points in it, but a Jaden Hendrikse penalty in the dying embers of the match broke the deadlock and the Sharks held on to win.

"Physically, we moved forward, our work rate has improved immensely," van Rooyen told the press.

"When we retain possession our attack can threaten the opposition and our decision-making on defence is better. Last week we showed we can exploit [teams] with our kicking game.

"I am frustrated as we are sitting here, but if you take the emotion away, I am excited about where we are.

"Being average for about 20 minutes in this game and losing by only three points to the Shield winners shows the hunger and ambition in the squad.

"We have six URC games left to make it happen for us. We have grown in the last month."

The Lions picked up a losing bonus point, which could prove crucial in their quest to make the URC playoffs. They currently sit in the midst of a logjam in ninth place on 29 points and just four points separate sixth from 14th on the URC table. The top eight advance to the quarterfinals.

With the Springbok alignment camp in Cape Town this weekend, all SA teams have a bye. The Lions then tour north for URC matches against Cardiff and defending champions Glasgow Warriors. That is followed by a Challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter with Edinburgh on 4 April.

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