Although a second victory in Cape Town would've been a first prize for the Lions, the fight they showed against the Stormers with 14 players will give them hope for the rest of the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Ruben Schoeman puts the Emirates Lions in a spot of bother with this incident 👀🟥
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) December 21, 2024
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/HCy9QGolUC
Despite being a player down for a large part of the match after a red card to lock Ruben Schoeman, the Lions were in the game until as late as the 75th minute. They even put up a massive fight when replacement back Manny Rass was yellow-carded for a deliberate knockdown, which reduced them to 13 players.
But they eventually fell to a 29-10 defeat after a late try for the home side.
It's a minor hiccup in a season that has otherwise started with some good wins, and the break over the festive season should see them freshen up for the challenges that await in the new year.
Head coach Ivan van Rooyen praised his side for the fight they showed but at the same time said that is not what wins matches.
“That is who we are, and who we want to be.”
“That is who we are, and who we want to be. A team that fights hard and plays together,” he said.
“I spoke to Dobbo (John Dobson, Stormers Director of Rugby) afterwards and when Herschel (Jantjies) made that turnover five meters from their try line if we had scored from there, it was a five-point game. We could've been with a different feel in the changeroom.
“We probably lost the game with five or six significant moments.”
Solo BRILLIANCE from Edwill van der Merwe 🔥 @Vodacom #URC | #STOvLIO pic.twitter.com/rxFKvUhEB3
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) December 21, 2024
In the absence of a couple of key players, Springboks like scrumhalf Morne van den Berg and Edwill van der Merwe stood up to the Stormers' challenge.
Van den Berg had an early try disallowed which would've gotten the visitors off to a flyer. Van der Merwe sparked their fightback in the second half with a sterling solo try, underpinning his brilliance on the wing.
The Lions' scrumhalf kept the home side guessing with his abilities on the attack while he also made some strong defensive plays to halt the momentum of his opponents.
“He is tough, isn't he? That is what we want to be for the team.”
“He is tough, isn't he? That is what we want to be for the team. Tough and tenacious. His decision-making was exceptional. Edwill is magic. Not just on the field but off the field too with what he does for the team.
“He is that kind of guy that guy that gives the spark to the team and you could feel the difference in energy after the try he scored. He is a great player.”
With fullback Quan Horn and centre Henco van Wyk missing through injury, their replacements did not fare too poorly, but the duo would’ve brought a different dynamic to the attack and defence of their side.
“The Stormers have X-factor players all over the park and you want to fight that with your own X-factor players.”
“The Stormers have X-factor players all over the park and you want to fight that with your own X-factor players. Erich (Cronje) played the Montpellier game away and from there he has been one of the most consistent selections in our 23.
“But in big moments, you want you X-factor players. If Quan is not playing, you feel it.”