URC playoffs: Tough tour to test tenacious Lions
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The Lions’ endeavour and playstyle have put the Pride in contention and a challenging two-week tour will be decisive in their pursuit of a Vodacom URC playoff debut.
A trip to Europe to battle Cardiff and defending champions Glasgow, placed sixth and second respectively, marks the final URC travel expedition on the Lions’ schedule before they return to Ellis Park to end the regular season hosting Benetton, Connacht, Scarlets and Ospreys — four teams in the bottom half of the table.
URC playoffs: Sharks eye bigger prize
Having claimed eighth place with the losing bonus point gained from a 25-22 reverse against the Sharks in Durban, the Lions must bounce back to scrounge log points in Wales and Scotland to realise their playoff dream.
They ended the inaugural season in 12th place, followed by two ninth-place finishes — agonising experiences that have primed the Lions to take the next step with a more mature crop of players.
The Lions burst into this season with a four-win hot streak, including two vital away victories against Zebre Parma and the Dragons that pushed the Pride into second place on the table as they navigated five consecutive URC matches on the road.
In January, they returned to the Den for their first home match since October and suffered a devastating 35-22 defeat to the Bulls that relegated them to 13th place.
However, derby wins against the visiting Stormers and Sharks, coupled with the narrow reverse at Kings Park, have seen the Lions claw their way back up the table and into the top eight.
Maintaining this position will be easier said than done as the Lions are one point behind seventh-placed Edinburgh but only one point clear of Benetton (13th). It is essential the Pride remains competitive on the pending tour to protect their positive points-difference tally.
After 12 matches, the Lions’ 6-6 record looks a lot more promising when taking into account their final six matches, four of which are at Ellis Park and against teams below them in the table. In addition, the Lions may get some help from their SA rivals as the Sharks face Edinburgh (7th), Scarlets and Ospreys, the Stormers meet Scarlets and host both Connacht and Cardiff, and the Bulls host Cardiff at Loftus and travel to Munster (5th) in April.
The Lions are still fighting on two fronts with their involvement in the EPCR Challenge Cup. After qualifying for the knockouts, the Lions will battle Edinburgh at the Hive stadium in Scotland a week after facing Glasgow Warriors and two weeks prior to hosting Benetton in the URC. A late push into the Challenge Cup may stretch them thin.
The Lions’ playoff possibility lies in their own hands. They will play Cardiff (31 points) and Connacht (29) and wins would put them in good stead to secure a playoff position.
If they return from their two remaining tour games with anything north of four points, and avoid injuries, the four-game stretch at home could boost them into a comfortable playoff position.
A late run to the playoffs would be huge for the Lions who would consider a qualification for next year’s Champions Cup a significant achievement.
Lions’ 2024-25 URC results:
R2: Lions 35-22 Ulster
R3: Lions 55-21 Edinburgh
R4: Dragons 19-23 Lions
R5: Zebre 9-10 Lions
R6: Leinster 24-6 Lions
R7: Munster 17-10 Lions
R8: Stormers 29-10 Lions
R9: Bulls 31-19 Lions
R10: Lions 22-35 Bulls
R11: Lions 30-23 Stormers
R12: Lions 38-14 Sharks
R1: Sharks 25-22 Lions
Lions’ upcoming URC matches:
at CARDIFF, Friday 21 March, Cardiff, 9.35pm
at GLASGOW, Saturday 29 March, Glasgow, 9.35pm
vs BENETTON, Saturday 19 April, Johannesburg, 1.45pm
vs CONNACHT, Saturday 26 April, Johannesburg, 4pm
vs SCARLETS, Sunday 11 May, Johannesburg, 3pm
vs OSPREYS, Saturday 17 May, Johannesburg, 5.15pm
Photo: Roberto Bregani/Gallo Images
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