Van Rooyen praises classy Montpellier after Lions’ defeat

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen admitted that the line speed, offload ability and support play of Montpellier never allowed his team to settle in a 28-5 loss against the French team in their EPCR Challenge Cup match at the GGL Stadium in Montpellier yesterday.

Springbok fullback Quan Horn gave the visitors hope of an upset when he scored their opening try on his injury comeback to make it 7-5. But Etienne Oosthuizen’s yellow card moments later all but paid to the Lions’ slim victory hopes.

In truth, an upset rarely looked likely after Marco Tauleigne had grabbed the opener for the French team in the second minute.

The pool leaders showed sublime skills at times as they moved the ball quickly through the hands, playing some of the beautiful, free-flowing running rugby that the Lions had promised in the build-up to the game but rarely delivered.

“I think that first 15 minutes they really came out of the blocks and did exceptionally well. We felt, to me, like a team that hasn’t played in about two weeks,” Van Rooyen said in a post-match media conference.

“And then I think the second half of the first half we adapted quite well to the pace of the game, threw a couple of shots, scored a try.

“Then at half-time the feeling was that we in it – one or two alterations of where space is and where we want to play – and then I think the second felt like they got momentum. With that first-phase momentum and with their offload game, if you allow that, then it’s really hard to settle and almost get a grip on the game.

“It feels like they just keep getting metres. The one try they scored was almost world-class in terms of offloads and support play.”

He was referring, in a likelihood, to the try by Alexis

Bernadet in the 54th minute sparked by a mazy run by scrumhalf Thomas Vincent and rounded off by a brilliant interchange of passes with Nicolas Martins that was more sevens than fifteens.

Lions No 8 Francke Horn may still be regretting the injudicious kick from just outside their 22 that handed the dangerous Montpellier the opportunity to counterattack in devastating fashion from just inside their half.

The result continued a patchy run of form for the Lions, who lost 30-14 to the Ospreys away in their opening round and beat Pau 43-35 win over Pau at Ellis Park.

Yet they are still in with a chance of securing a spot in the round of 16. They are in fifth place in Pool 2, and were level on five points with the Dragons before the Welsh team’s match against third-placed Pau yesterday.

Van Rooyen stressed the importance of the wounded Lions finding their feet and getting settled again at home to “put up some performances”, also stressing the need for them to be more clinical.

The Lions will be boosted by the availability for Saturday’s match at Ellis Park (5.15pm kick-off) of Ruan Venter, Kade Wolhuter, Morne Brandon and Franco Marais, as well the playing time for Horn and debutant winger Kelly Mpeku in Montpellier.

Ruben Schoeman is still serving a five-week suspension.