Morgan Bolton
There have been disappointments aplenty for the Lions in recent years, but on Saturday they had the opportunity to celebrate a small victory that could catapult them to larger glory.
Thank you Joburg for coming out yesterday…Let’s do the same for the final! 🦁#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/GVwQHiWr9p
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) September 15, 2024
In overcoming the Free State Cheetahs 43-34, the Lions progressed to their first Currie Cup final since 2019, and the first championship match in the famous old stadium since 2015. They finished sixth in the cup last year and last two years in a row – in 2021 and 2022.
At the United Rugby Championship (URC) level, they have fallen short twice in their pursuit of a top-eight finish in the past two campaigns – last season only on matches won.
Lions coach Mziwakhe Nkosi, who had to endure those terrible lows with the Currie Cup side, was pleased that his charges kept their composure and displayed maturity in the semi-final, finally translating the flashes of brilliance seen over the past few years into something tangible.
Said Nkosi: “There are people sitting here (who were here) two years in a row when we lost nine in a row.
“Personally I take a helluva lot of pride in that not many coaches get to bounce back from that. Some other coaches at other franchises got binned.
“For the franchise, it is massive. We haven’t had (success) in the recent past, or the riches that other franchises have had.
“They were riding their wave, we were at the bottom. We have spoken about our ambitions and part of setting high ambitions is to go out and win it next week.”
That ambition, according to head coach Ivan van Rooyen, who spoke to the media last week, also includes a top-four spot in the URC in the new season, which starts this weekend for the European-based sides.
“Maybe at times it was a bit frenetic but if you don’t play at your best and still get the result – which it’s all about – you don’t have to worry about the criteria of performances. One team has a Monday review, the other has a team photo.”
First, however, the Lions have the major business of trying to win their first silverware in nearly a decade when they host the Sharks in the final on Saturday. They were not at their best against the Cheetahs, especially during the first half, but showed some important character to overcome the former defending champions.
The visitors were the perfect test ahead of what will be a bruising and relentless final, as they refused to yield. The Cheetahs enjoyed an early 14-0 lead but the Lions drew level at 19-19 by the end of the first half.
The Joburgers then had to chase a seven-point deficit, only managing to draw level at 29-29 by the 59th minute.
Thank you Joburg for coming out yesterday…Let’s do the same for the final! 🦁#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/GVwQHiWr9p
Two fabulous moments from Sanele Nohamba in the 64th minute and Morne Brandon in the 73rd finally broke the Cheetahs’ resistance.
Such a high-intensity examination of the Lions’ credentials should stand them in good stead for Saturday’s decider against the Durbanites.
“We worked really hard to work ourselves out of a hole at 14-0 down,” said Nkosi.
“The bounce of the ball didn’t go our way but before you realise it, you are down. For us to come back even Stevens after half-time was good.
“There is the fact that we could dig ourselves out of a hole and show a bit of composure at times.
“Maybe at times it was a bit frenetic but if you don’t play at your best and still get the result – which it’s all about – you don’t have to worry about the criteria of performances. One team has a Monday review, the other has a team photo.”