It’s time for the Lions players to put their money where their mouths are if they want to fight for their head coach, Ivan van Rooyen, and his assistants.
Cash, as he is affectionately known, is under pressure alongside his Ellis Park troops. Although they still have an outside chance of making the playoffs of the United Rugby Championship (URC), their stumbling over the last few games has left their season hanging by a thread.
After going down to Benetton at home, they have a chance to set things right on Saturday when they host a hurting Connacht in Johannesburg. It’s a must-win game and another loss will be the end of the season for the Lions.
You don’t see that everyday 👀
Kade Wolhuter with a monster @LionsRugbyCo kick from almost 60 metres out 🤯@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvBEN pic.twitter.com/2hbhEc9jmy
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 19, 2025
It will also end a season in which they’ve started brilliantly on tour but systematically lost the plot, sometimes due to their own doing. They believe they can still make the URC knockouts but will require a full 15 points from their final three matches, starting with the Irish visitors.
The Lions will also face the Scarlets and Ospreys and can mathematically end up with 46 points overall which currently puts them inside the top eight. But, other results over the next three weekends must go their way as well. So, they technically do not have their fate in their own hands anymore.
Who will be the next team to secure a Play-Off spot? 🤔@Vodacom #URC | #RaceToTheEight pic.twitter.com/xzmNAOIxiU
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 23, 2025
If they fail to win on Saturday, the calls for a coaching overhaul will likely intensify, but scrumhalf Morné van den Berg says they will fight for their coaches.
“Those comments do filter through somehow to the team, but when you are under pressure you try to stay away from them as far as possible,” Van den Berg said as calls for Van Rooyen’s head come from the Lions’ supporters.
Eyes up. Calm under pressure. Smooth on cam. Emirates @LionsRugbyCo‘s Quan Horn always brings that quiet fire. 🔥@Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/Yz2H2hAeKs
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2025
“You always get someone calling you and asking, ‘what is going on there’. We (the players) know what is going on in the camp. We know the type of men who are leading us. We know who Cash is and what he stands for and I am willing to fight for that and willing to fight for every single coach and player.
“The beautiful thing is, they will do the same for us. So, there will always be noise and at this stage, it is loud. Inside the union, we are tight and strong and are willing to fight for each other. That is the most important part of it.”
