Skipper Francke Horn hailed the Lions for his or her dedication in a gutsy Vodacom URC win in Wales on Sunday, but anticipates one other powerful contest towards Zebre this week.
Ivan van Rooyen’s prices kicked off their three-week European tour with a 23-19 victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade. It was the Delight’s third win of the 2024-25 marketing campaign and so they now sit third on the standings.
Regardless of dominating possession and territory, the Lions needed to dig deep to outlive a yellow card to hooker Franco Marais and face up to a late Dragons surge.
Quoted post-match by The Citizen, Horn was happy with the resilience of the Lions. “It was not an ideal efficiency, but it surely was a extremely good victory. It’s the primary time this season that we now have been behind twice and managed to win,” he mentioned.
The guests maintained a slender 13-12 lead at half time, and whereas each groups traded tries within the second half, the ultimate quarter was scoreless. The Lions’ defence proved essential in the long run, securing a late penalty to seal the sport.
RECAP: Lions extinguish Dragons in Newport
“We simply stayed within the combat, we saved to our buildings, and in the long run, it was a extremely good defensive set to get the penalty and win the sport. So we’re actually pleased with the 4 factors,” Horn added.
“I’m pleased with the efficiency, particularly in how we caught collectively. It was additionally the primary time this season that we struggled to get going. So for the blokes to return collectively and say that we have to win this sport was particular and led to an important victory.”
The unbeaten Lions will journey to Italy for a spherical 5 conflict in Parma on Saturday. Acknowledging Zebre’s latest victory over Irish giants Munster, No 8 Horn defined: “They don’t seem to be a simple workforce at residence [in Parma] in any respect.
“We should put together very well and play to the very best of our means to make it possible for we get one other win.”
Picture: Chris Fairweather/Gallo Photographs