While the Lions’ results remain inconsistent, their performances are on an upward trajectory, and flanker Siba Qoma reckons they are not far off a “purple patch”.
The Lions have been doing things in threes this season: they began with three losses, then won three in a row, before another sequence of three defeats. They ended that latest streak with a last-minute 23–22 victory over the Sharks last week, and Qoma — who has been making a huge impact off the bench — is hopeful that another, longer winning run has started.
“We have to be more consistent, more clinical in our finishing,” he said ahead of Saturday’s home Challenge Cup match against Lyon. “When you have your hand on their throat, you have to squeeze harder.”
Qoma is enjoying a strong season. He is a product of Westville Boys’ High in Durban, the school that produced Sharks centre Ethan Hooker. Since then, he has been something of a wanderer, with stints at the Cheetahs, Griffons, Griquas, and the Cheetahs again, before settling at the Lions as an abrasive loose forward.
“I think our pack has become the team that is setting the benchmark for physicality,” the strapping 1.92m, 106kg Qoma said.
“That’s one of the things we’re priding ourselves on. We are also very good in the kicking game. We have backed it quite a lot, and we have explosive wingers who are good in the air.”
The Lions are winless in the Challenge Cup after a disappointing home loss to Benetton was followed by a second-string side losing away to Newcastle. They have confirmed they are once again resting their senior players for this week’s Lyon encounter. They can probably afford to and still win, as the struggling French side — who are also winless — are sending a B-team to Johannesburg.
However, Qoma denies that it will be a “weak” Lions team. “I wouldn’t necessarily call us second-stringers,” he said.
“There are always players who don’t get as much opportunity, and occasions like this come around to show your talent. We are talking about players who have trained well and are excited to get their chance.”
Meanwhile, the Lions have confirmed another key re-signing as they consolidate their squad for the future. The latest to commit is talented loosehead prop SJ Kotze, who has signed a deal that will keep him in Lions colours until June 2029.
The 23-year-old former Junior Springbok joins other recent re-signings, including Springboks Ruan Venter, Quan Horn, and Morne van den Berg.
