Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen says his side’s 26-18 EPCR Challenge Cup loss to Benetton at Ellis Park is “a very big disappointment”. DYLAN JOHNSON reports.
The Lions led 18-11 before conceding two late tries and a drop goal, allowing the Italians to snatch the win and leave the hosts without even a losing bonus point.
Van Rooyen said the defeat cut deeper because of what was at stake.
“It’s a very big disappointment, to be honest,” he said. “We had to prepare well. We had to take a bit of momentum into the last three games [of the year]. It’s a frustration. And it’s not just me, it’s not just the players. We have to improve at home.”
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The coach stressed how costly the defeat could become in a four-game pool stage.
“The goal will always be to be in a position to play the round-of-16 [playoff] and the quarter-final at home. The problem now is that you have two roads from here. It’s either win all three matches or two with five points. And then there are two points of difference.”
Van Rooyen credited Benetton’s defensive quality, calling their early stopping power one of the best in the competition.
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“We were disappointed with the energy. Some of it is execution, some of it is stopping momentum. We were a lot sharper last week. Benetton pose a different threat. Their first seven to eight defenders are probably the best in the competition in terms of stopping momentum.”
The Lions failed to turn strong patches into sustained control, particularly around the set-piece.
“We lost about four or five set-pieces in a row that just swung the momentum back to them,” Van Rooyen said. “We dominated periods, especially after half-time, but then we lost those set-pieces in the attacking zone, and then two penalties for them gave the easy exit and pressure came back onto us.”
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Fatigue also crept in late, compounded by winger Kelly Mpeku’s yellow card for a deliberate knockdown in the final quarter.
“With that and too many errors, we just seemed to be running out of petrol,” he said. “At home you need to put on a much better a performance.”
The Lions now travel to England to face the Newcastle Red Bulls at Kingston Park next Saturday.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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