Lions’ challenge to spread their resources

Mike Greenaway

The Lions are boxing clever as they turn their attention to Europe’s Challenge Cup and have sent 12 players home to prepare for their second-round match against Pau while the rest of the squad will play the Ospreys on Sunday.

The Lions have had to think carefully about their broader strategy after narrowly losing to Munster at the weekend in the United Rugby Championship as they have two Challenge Cup matches before a URC derby against the Stormers on December 21 in Cape Town.

On a more immediate note, they will have a new flyhalf against the Ospreys in Swansea on Sunday. Flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, who was replaced early in the second half of the 10-17 loss to Munster in Limerick last weekend, has returned home because of a concussion.

“We have sent a couple of guys home, and Kade is one of them,” scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys said.

“Kade took a knock to the head and will miss the start of our European campaign.”

Redelinghuys added that a “good number of players” had returned to Johannesburg to start preparing for the round two game against Section Paloise (Pau) at Ellis Park on December 14.

“We play on Sunday against Ospreys and that means a short turnaround (six days), with the travelling, so it is a good idea to start preparing for the home games and 12 guys are already back and getting ready for Pau.

“We are excited to see some of the guys in the wider squad getting opportunities against the Ospreys. It is a big ‘squad week’ and we are looking forward to seeing what the guys will produce.”

Wolhuter, although not seriously hurt, joins a lengthening injury list that includes Springbok Ruan Venter, hooker Morné Brandon and lock Siba Qoma.

“We have been fortunate that we did not get any big injuries,” he said of the painful loss to Munster.

Coach Ivan van Rooyen added that he was proud of the fight his team showed.

“There are a lot of good things to come out of the game, including our fighting spirit. We have been working on a few things over the last fortnight,” he said.

"The error rate in the last 20-30 minutes plus game management probably cost us a historic win away. We are disappointed because we created opportunities to be the first South African side to beat Munster here.

“In these last three weeks, we worked hard on momentum, decision-making and body height. I think we were a lot better than we were against Leinster.

"We probably could have walked away with a win with the small stuff, but we lost the pressure and discipline in the last 20 minutes.”