Lions on brink of historic URC play-off spot after clinical Connacht win

The Lions are agonisingly close to securing their first United Rugby Championship (URC) play-off spot after soundly beating Connacht 33-21 on Saturday at Ellis Park.

Although the visitors persevered throughout the 80 minutes, the scoreboard arguably flatters to deceive; the Joburg-based outfit maintained an impressive grip on proceedings with confident game management and some staunch defence to record their sixth consecutive win in the tournament.

The victory elevated the Lions to third on the log with 52 points after 16 matches. Although the top half of the URC log remains congested, only Connacht—now placed ninth on 44 points—remain a potential threat to displace any of the teams in the top eight, including the Lions.

With two regular-season matches remaining, the Irish franchise remain a long-term threat, as pointed out by Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen, even though the imminent danger they presented was nullified in Doornfontein.

“We are keeping ourselves alive, which is the nice part,” said Van Rooyen after the match.

“Connacht are such a tough team to play against. They don't go away and they are physical; they are fit. If we leave it up to them, we are in a dangerous position. They might get 10 points out of the last two games."

The Lions are off this week, due to the fact they were knocked out of the EPCR Challenge Cup earlier this year, but will return to the URC a week later with the daunting task of becalming defending champions Leinster at the RDS Arena in Dublin. A week later, they play their final regular-season game against Munster on 16 May.

The Lions will take a keen interest in the Connacht v Munster clash on 9 May. Should the former fail to win there, the Lions will be assured a quarter-final spot regardless of the outcome of their final matches, or any other fixtures over that weekend.