Undefeated Lions brace for Leinster challenge

With their 'ballers on a budget' moniker, the Lions have enjoyed a cult-like following as they've risen from the proverbial ashes of franchise rugby in South Africa. Now, Ivan van Rooyen's charges are undefeated after four wins, three away from home.

The Lions are coming off an attritional 10-9 win over Zebre in the pouring rain in Italy and will look to cap off their northern tour on a high in Dublin. But van Rooyen is under no illusion as to the task that lies ahead.

"Next week will be a totally different challenge for us, different beast, different tempo, different running options, rushed defence because Jacques [Nienaber] is there," van Rooyen told rugby365.com.

"They have been going well so [it's] a totally different challenge for us which is exciting.

"If you offered me eight points pre-tour, I probably would've taken it. We knew the first two games were going to be tough. The Dragons are a tough team, and the way they play at home, disrupting breakdowns, spoiling as much as they can - it's tough to beat them there.

"And Zebre in these conditions - all the x-factor went out the game, it became an arm wrestle and kicking game.

"So it has been a big character lesson for us, a lot of rugby lessons for us so if we keep on growing, anything is possible next week.

"Leinster is ranked No. 1 in the world. So we are under no illusion that it is going to be tough, but we are excited to see how and where we can push them.

"To see if we can push them and set us apart from where we were last year. We will start selling that picture to the team soon.

"It's important to keep on holding on to what has been working for us. It is going to be an exciting clash next weekend. It is probably the first time, I am assuming, that we will play Leinster's real A-team and we are playing at Aviva which we know how proud they are there."

READ MORE: URC: Damian Willemse shines as Stormers end Munster hoodoo in Cape Town