The Lions have little time to mourn their European exit as they shift their focus to a pivotal United Rugby Championship (URC) clash against the Ospreys in Wales this weekend.
While their brave 20-20 draw against Perpignan showcased their immense grit, the result proved bittersweet, as a superior points difference saw the French side progress to the Challenge Cup Round of 16 at the Lions’ expense.
Now, Ivan van Rooyen’s men must channel that frustration into their primary objective, which is securing a maiden URC play-off spot. With the table incredibly congested, every point is vital for the Johannesburg side, but assistant coach Wessel Roux insists the team isn’t getting bogged down by the maths.
The Lions are are currently in seventh place, but trail sixth-placed Munster by nine points. They are currently two points ahead of eighth-placed Benetton and three points ahead of the ninth-placed Ospreys. Both the Italian and Welsh sides, however, have played one more game than the Lions.
“The log is very congested and we’re not looking at too many permutations,” Roux said from the team’s base in Wales.
“It’s sometimes energy-sapping if you just think about all the mathematical equations. We are only focused on the Ospreys. It sounds like a cliché, but it’s just about taking it one game at a time.”
The challenge in Swansea is twofold: a resilient Ospreys outfit and the notorious Welsh elements. After a thorough review of the Perpignan stalemate, the Lions have spent the week acclimatising to a significant drop in temperature.
“The conditions are the biggest challenge,” Roux admitted. “They obviously understand them better. It is way colder here; it was five degrees when we trained, and it was wet and windy. But we’ve trained well and we’re trying to get stuck in because this is a crucial game.”
Beyond the weather, the Lions are wary of the unique motivation driving Welsh regional rugby. Amidst ongoing structural uncertainty in the Welsh game, the Ospreys could develop a “siege mentality” that makes them a dangerous prospect at home.
“There is a lot of uncertainty in Wales rugby at the moment, and everyone has that mindset to put their best foot forward. They will be hungry to do well,” Roux added.
The Lions’ cause has been hampered by the loss of hooker Franco Marais, who was forced to fly back to South Africa after suffering a concussion in a “freak accident” during a training session in France.
However, the rest of the squad remains fit and buoyed by the set-piece dominance they displayed in the Challenge Cup.
