Lions hold play-off destiny in own hands ahead of Munster showdown

In spite of a demoralising loss to Leinster this past weekend, the Lions have a handful of advantages going into their final United Rugby Championship (URC) matchday this Saturday.

The 31-7 loss to Leinster certainly popped the Lions’ bubble, ending a six-match winning streak in the process. The loss of Springbok Ruan Venter, who returned to South Africa on Sunday night due to a knee injury, is further disheartening news.

Although the Lions are staring down the barrel, head coach Ivan van Rooyen has a foundation to work off this week for their Munster clash (kick-off 8.45pm). The Lions were not as poor as the scoreboard suggests, although they lacked a clinical edge and attacking precision in the defeat.

Indeed, Leinster slipped more tackles despite making nearly 40 fewer tackles, and they conceded the same number of penalties as the Lions. The hosts controlled both possession and territory throughout the match, and that sustained pressure only paid dividends in the final 10 minutes of the game when Leinster scored three unanswered tries.

The Lions held their on in their scrum, while their line-out functioned for the most part. The Lions also won more turnovers and beat more defenders.

“We showed some great character in fighting back,” said Van Rooyen on Monday.

“We got three sequences where we think there were tough calls against us when we were at 14-7 and we could have got some penalties to kick into their half. Unfortunately, we made three defensive errors, which led to three tries.

“Up to the 68th minute, we felt that we had momentum in our favour, and there was an opportunity there to do something special. Unfortunately, we conceded those three tries in the last 10 minutes, which threw us off a bit …

“If you are going to make three errors against a quality team like Leinster, they are going to score three tries. There were some moments that we created where we just didn't capitalise and, before you know it, the game gets away from you.”

Currently placed fifth in the URC standings on 53 points, the Joburgers find themselves in a perilous position. Four teams — Munster, Cardiff Rugby, Ulster and Connacht — sit uncomfortably close below them on the log, with only four points separating the Lions from ninth place.

Luckily for the Lions, the first advantage they hold is that they remain the masters of their destiny as they face sixth-placed Munster at Thomond Park on Saturday (kick-off 8.45pm). A positive result in that match will assure the Lions of a place in the tournament's play-off phase for the first time.

The Lions will also know, unequivocally, what will be required from them as early as Friday night. Should Connacht lose to Edinburgh in Scotland, the Doornfontein-based team will qualify for the quarter-finals regardless of any other result.

Barring that, the matches between the table-topping Glasgow Warriors and Ulster, and second-placed Stormers, who face Cardiff — both matches are also on Friday night — could have an impact on their chances. If both former champions Glasgow and the Cape-based outfit win their games, then too the Lions will finish in the Top 8.

Moreover, should the Lions beat Munster and the Bulls and Leinster suffer shock losses in their matches against Benetton and the Ospreys, then head coach Ivan van Rooyen and Co could yet leapfrog those teams into the top four.

Munster, meanwhile, have had a middling season thus far. They arrive back at home this week having lost heavily to Connacht 26-7 this past weekend. Nevertheless, beating the former champions Munster at Thomond Park will be a difficult proposition.

“We cannot chance anything if you look at the fixtures,” Van Rooyen said.

“One or two games might show you what is needed but, from our side, we probably see it as a must-win game. Both us and Munster need the points to make sure we go through, so we are going to keep it up to us.

“That is our mindset,” Van Rooyen concluded.