Johannesburg – Initially, Ivan van Rooyen referred to it as the team’s finest victory on tour. However, after a brief pause, he retconned his statement to indicate that it was, in reality, their greatest victory in the United Rugby Championship.
The Lions concluded their European tour with a perfect 4-0 record after overcoming a Test-laden and globally experienced Edinburgh squad 22-19 at a cold and damp DAM Health Stadium on Friday evening.
Joburg’s objective at the start of the season was to finish in the top eight, and following victories over the Ospreys, Cardiff, and now the Scottish franchise, they have the ideal platform to achieve this.
The Lions will now play five consecutive games at home in the tournament, beginning with Ulster next weekend; and with the groundwork being secured, they can dream big at Emirates Airline Park’s altitude and temperature.
Van Rooyen, exhausted but undoubtedly thrilled, reflected after the match, “The most important victory on tour was definitely the one we snuck past the Ospreys (28-27).”
“It strengthened the faith.
“We are quite pleased with the work pace, work ethic, and preparation of the men. It was evident again (Friday night) in our defensive effort, when we had the opportunity to attack, and in our kick-chase desperation.
“I believe the team’s culture is in an excellent place. The men are eager to work extremely hard for one another.”
As Van Rooyen alluded to, it was an overall courageous and determined effort by a relatively young Lions team. During the match, the Doornfontein-based team made 144 tackles and missed 35 more.
However, their scramble defense and tenacity in that department meant that they had ample cover behind the initial line as they aggressively pursued any gainline breaches.
They were ruthless in reversing Edinburgh’s progress in this regard. Nonetheless, they will need to continue to improve in this area if they want their first-time tackles to stick.
Another critical area in which the Lions excelled on Friday night was their defense and general discipline throughout the field. They refused to make expensive mistakes while being under pressure, defending themselves, and at times being subjected to strong and continuous pressure. In total, they conceded only 11 penalties, with the second half being particularly ruthless.
In addition, numerous players made resounding statements during the match.
Eighthman Francke Horn was appropriately named Man of the Match. The 23-year-old performed a monumental turnaround in both attack and defense. Ruan Venter, his loose forward teammate, was physically imposing, always crashing into Edinburgh whenever he had the ball.
In one case, he smashed his way past and over Scotland international Hamish Watson, knocking the Test veteran with 51 caps to the ground and briefly disorienting The Mish.
Outside-centre Henco van Wyk produced possibly his best performance for the squad in the backline, and the bandwagon has reportedly departed the venue with many new followers on board. His midfield connection with Marius Louw is also improving by leaps and bounds.
In fact, Louw, who was named Man of the Match in the Cardiff match, had another outstanding performance, and concerns over the departures of Burger Odendaal and Wandisile Simelane are swiftly dissipating.
“Marra and Henco were stunning tonight,” Van Rooyen raved on Friday. “Just their work ethic, connectivity, and tenacity from their side…
“It is also great to see them develop together… But, yes, it is great to watch the Horns, the Venters, and the front-row – (Ruan) Dreyer in his 100th Lions jersey – working together.
“Everyone talks about the younger guys, but it’s great to see the veterans holding their own in harsh conditions. It reveals their true nature,” he concluded.