Lions limp to Europe with depleted squad

The Johannesburg franchise are coming off back-to-back drubbings at the hands of the Sharks and the Stormers away from home. It doesn™t get any easier for the Lions, as they face Irish giants Munster next week, followed by two European Challenge Cup clashes with Stade Francais and the Dragons, ending with a match against Connacht.

Not traveling with the Lions due to injury are a number of experienced players, including Sithembiso Sithole, Ruan Dreyer, Reinhard Nothnagel, Francke Horn, Sanele Nohamba and Sibahle Maxwane.

Despite this, coach Ivan van Rooyen insisted belief among the touring party is far from lacking.

"There's still a tremendous amount of belief within the squad in terms of where we are currently in the process," he told Rugby365.

"We know we need to be more consistent on attack and defence especially. We are under no illusion that it™s going be a tough tour.

"We like touring. We spend a lot of time together in Johannesburg, but time together on tour is just different.

"Going away together for four weeks on tour is a great opportunity for us to pull together, get consistency in our preparations and roll with the punches."

Lions tour squad

Forwards: Ruan Smith, Jean-Pierre Smith, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Morgan Naudé, Pieter Botha, Michael van Vuuren, Rynhardt Rijnsburger, Willem Alberts, Emmanuel Tshituka, Emile van Heerden, Darrian Landsberg, Ruan Venter, Jarod Cairns, Sibusiso Sangweni, Jacobus Kriel, Ruhan Straeuli, Johannes Pretorius.

Backs: Morné van den Berg, Andre Warner, Jordan Hendrikse, Gianni Lombard, Marius Louw, Manuel Rass, Henco van Wyk, Rynhardt Jonker, Edwill van der Merwe, Stean Pienaar, Quan Horn, Andries Coetzee.