Cash: We need to find our feet again

01/13/2025 06:22 AM

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has emphasised the importance of Saturday’s EPCR Challenge Cup tie against Dragons at Ellis Park following their loss in France last week.

“The defeat means it is non-negotiable that we have to win on Saturday to reach the round of 16,” said Van Rooyen, as the Pride went down 28-5 to Montpellier at GGL Stadium for their fourth defeat in six matches across all competitions.

The Ellis Park clash this week represents a crucial opportunity for the Lions to secure their third consecutive Challenge Cup playoff appearance. 

“It’ll be our second home game in six games, so it will be important for us to pull it back at home,” said Van Rooyen. “It is important that we find our feet again in front of our home crowd and deliver a good performance.”

Reflecting on the Montpellier match, Van Rooyen added: “There was a lot of hard work and effort, just not clinically enough on our side. We’ll get home, rest, recover well, and make sure we get the business done.”

RECAP: Bernadet tames lacklustre Lions

The Lions struggled defensively in France, with their tackle success rate dropping below 70% at crucial moments. Despite some determined scrambling led by captain Marius Louw, Montpellier’s attack proved too much to handle, with Alexis Bernadet crossing twice in a four-try bonus point victory.

Van Rooyen identified missed opportunities as a key factor in the defeat. “Through their line speed, you tend to feel you have a little bit less time," he said. "In three or four times, we felt we were one more pass, play, or one less error from scoring a couple of tries ourselves."

The Lions showed glimpses of promise, with Springbok fullback Quan Horn scoring early in the second half, but couldn’t maintain momentum. 

“In the second part of the first half we adapted well to the pace of the game. At the start of the second half we started to build momentum and created good chances on three or four occasions,” Van Rooyen explained.

Photo: Gallo Images

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