Coach Ivan van Rooyen rued the Lions’ inconsistent performances on a European tour where three consecutive losses saw them crash out of the EPCR Challenge Cup.
The Lions suffered a 24-12 defeat to Edinburgh in the Challenge Cup on Friday, compounding the disappointment of a 42-0 hammering by defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors and a narrow 20-17 loss to Cardiff.
“The biggest frustration is our consistency,” Van Rooyen said after the loss to Edinburgh in the EPCR Challenge Cup.
“We made 11 errors and they were all in attack, close to Edinburgh’s red zone.
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“It’s difficult to accept not turning pressure into points and the crucial moments in the second half where we let them back into the game.
“We are disappointed with the last three matches. All very different in terms of the conditions and the tests we faced. There is a lot to learn from the tour.
“There was some good character and fight shown by the players, especially in the second half against Glasgow, not conceding any points after being smashed in the first half and the fight to get back into the game last night against Edinburgh.”
Van Rooyen says his squad is battered and bruised after a gruelling three-match European tour, and provided an update on flanker Ruan Venter, who was replaced early in the first half due to injury.
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“Ruan Venter came off early. We will only know the extent when we are back in Johannesburg on Monday, where he will get a scan,” Van Rooyen added. “There are a lot of open wounds, cuts, grazes and bruises from three consecutive games on artificial pitches.
“There are four games left for us and they are an opportunity to keep moving forward and to achieve our goal of reaching the top eight.
“It’s important for us to stay true to our identity back home.”
Photo: Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images
