Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has praised his side’s leaders for their composure and game management in a thrilling 23-22 win over the Sharks in Durban.
The Pride’s victory was secured by replacement scrumhalf’s Haashim Pead’s late burst down the blindside, but for Van Rooyen, the defining chapter came earlier when they were forced to survive 20 minutes with 14 men.
Flanker Ruan Venter’s yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red early in the second half, threatening to undo the Lions’ strong early work. Instead, Van Rooyen saw a shift that has been building quietly within his squad.
“I don’t think it was intentional. I think it was a little bit of timing out,” Van Rooyen said of Venter’s shoulder-to-head hit on Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi. “But I really felt in the 20 minutes we were a player down, we showed composure and some growth there. Historically, we tend to get into our shell. Today, in adversity, the leaders stepped up and provided good solutions.”
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The coach pointed to a squad that is increasingly streetwise in tight moments.
“We are a young team, not necessarily inexperienced,” he said. “Guys like Ruan Venter and Quan Horn are only 24 or 25, but they’ve got 60 or 70 URC caps. I think the maturity and decision-making in the heat of the battle has definitely increased.”
That composure mattered against a Sharks side stacked with experience and international quality. The Lions surged into a 15-0 lead before being dragged into a bruising contest, and Van Rooyen admitted momentum swings were always going to be decisive.
“When we allowed momentum, they looked unbelievably dangerous,” he said. “But when we stopped momentum, we managed to get points.”
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Captain Francke Horn said the response during the red-card period set the tone for the finish.
“We scrummed with seven players, stopped mauls five versus seven and worked hard to get width,” Horn said. “The belief was always there.”
Even when chances went begging, that belief never wavered.
“We squandered two chances on the 5m line, but when we really needed it in the last minute, the guys came through,” Horn said. “That fighting spirit and trust in each other was massive.”
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Van Rooyen also felt the Sharks left the door ajar late on after opting against extending the lead with penalties in front of the sticks.
“My message in the last 10 minutes when they didn’t kick for poles, I said, here’s the opportunity to get back into the game,” Van Rooyen added. “Conversely, from our side, I felt we missed two opportunities where we could have kicked for poles. Luckily it worked out in the end.”
Van Rooyen also praised Pead, whose sharp finish capped a performance that underlined the Lions’ growing depth.
“Haashim is a special player. We’ve worked hard with him, in quickness and in game plan. He’s had some nice exposure touring with us and seeing the picture. We are as excited about him as everyone else. I’m happy he could make the difference today.”
With the URC now pausing, the Lions turn their attention back to the EPCR Challenge Cup, where they host Lyon.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
