The win was a thoroughly uplifting experience for the Lions. Though he noted happiness in the camp, Horn was quick to note they are fully aware it is time to back up that performance with another solid one.
The Lions after all, are having to trek up the N1 to play bitter enemies the Bulls in the URC on Saturday. They don’t just have beef with the Bulls, but with the rest of the SA conference. The Lions have lost 10 straight derby matches and will be desperate to snap that losing sequence this weekend. Their last conference win in the URC was in December 2021.
If they are to back up their 35-24 win against Glasgow Warriors, they will have to produce a performance even more compelling than last week.
The Bulls are unlikely to be as wasteful in attack as the team from Scotland. Moreover, the Bulls will be snorting after their defeat to the Stormers and for them a second home defeat will be too ghastly to contemplate.
The Lions will have to make amendments to their winning team. Attack coach Ricardo Loubscher said they will be without experienced flanker Jaco Kriel, and they may also be without grizzled prop Ruan Dreyer who will serve match suspension after receiving a red card in last weekend. They were still awaiting clarity on Dreyer’s potential suspension.
Meanwhile Horn is upbeat about the Lions. He said he sees his immediate future at a franchise that tends to be a stepping stone for burgeoning careers.
“I am fully committed to the Lions. We can go far with this team. We’re on the right path and have a lot to look forward to. I don’t think it is far away,” said the loose forward.
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Rebounding Lions will be without Jaco Kriel and Ruan Dreyer in Jukskei derby
Image: Gordon Arons (Gallo Images)
It is from the structural integrity of rock bottom, that the Lions rebounded to snap their five-match losing sequence in the United Rugby Championship (URC) against Glasgow Warriors last Saturday.
The realisation that things can’t get any worse provided curious comfort for a team who had been buffeted by bad press leading up to last week’s match.
“We decided we had nothing to lose,” said No.8 Francke Horn matter-of-factly. “We’ve had our backs to the wall. We knew we had enough talent to get the job done,” said Horn.
The team's new resolve was all too evident after losing prop Ruan Dreyer to a red card, as well as fullback Quan Horn and left-wing Edwill van der Merwe to yellows. Horn argued the Lions applied a bloody minded attitude. “At times we played with 13 players. We decided we’re not going to back down.”
The win was a thoroughly uplifting experience for the Lions. Though he noted happiness in the camp, Horn was quick to note they are fully aware it is time to back up that performance with another solid one.
The Lions after all, are having to trek up the N1 to play bitter enemies the Bulls in the URC on Saturday. They don’t just have beef with the Bulls, but with the rest of the SA conference. The Lions have lost 10 straight derby matches and will be desperate to snap that losing sequence this weekend. Their last conference win in the URC was in December 2021.
If they are to back up their 35-24 win against Glasgow Warriors, they will have to produce a performance even more compelling than last week.
The Bulls are unlikely to be as wasteful in attack as the team from Scotland. Moreover, the Bulls will be snorting after their defeat to the Stormers and for them a second home defeat will be too ghastly to contemplate.
The Lions will have to make amendments to their winning team. Attack coach Ricardo Loubscher said they will be without experienced flanker Jaco Kriel, and they may also be without grizzled prop Ruan Dreyer who will serve match suspension after receiving a red card in last weekend. They were still awaiting clarity on Dreyer’s potential suspension.
Meanwhile Horn is upbeat about the Lions. He said he sees his immediate future at a franchise that tends to be a stepping stone for burgeoning careers.
“I am fully committed to the Lions. We can go far with this team. We’re on the right path and have a lot to look forward to. I don’t think it is far away,” said the loose forward.
Support independent journalism by subscribing to the Sunday Times. Just R20 for the first month.
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