Lions know they simply have to win in Newcastle - with fringe players

It was just a week ago that the Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys confidently proclaimed the side was ready to go far in the EPCR Challenge Cup this season.

A week later and things have changed dramatically with the short pool phase meaning the Lions will head to Newcastle Red Bulls this weekend for their second fixture, and desperately needing a win to try and keep their hopes alive.

Their confidence came from three back to back Vodacom United Rugby Championship victories before they faced old foes Benetton in Johannesburg last week, but the implosion late in the game that saw Benetton walk away with the points on offer, has left the Lions’ European jaunt hanging by a thread.

They have sent a young squad to Newcastle - as many sides do with away games - and will hope that they can pull off an unlikely away victory as many of the side’s first choice players have been given a week off to rest and recuperate ahead of some Christmas derbies that follow.

The problem is, if the Lions lose their second straight game in the competition, the likelihood that they will make the playoffs starts to fade, and with only one home game left, they could be out of Europe before the competition becomes interesting.

Given their own issues with putting teams away, it wasn’t surprising that coach Ivan van Rooyen believes the team simply have to get a victory in Newcastle.

“The goal will always be to be in a position to play the round of 16 and the quarterfinal at home. The problem now is that we’ve got two away games left and one at home, and we must either win all three or win two with five points, and then it’s again down to points difference and it gets technical,” he said at the post-match media conference at Ellis Park.

“Newcastle next weekend is important for us, our next opportunity. I believe it’s really cold there, so it’s a bit of a challenge to travel. But again, it’s an opportunity to get back on the horse next week and to get something out of the match.”

Without many of their stars - including the likes of Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Morne van den Berg - staying at home - it won’t be easy.

But that’s the cost of their second half implosion against Benetton and there is only one way to correct it.

The Lions may not use the excuse, but at least Toyota Cheetahs coach Frans Steyn admitted his side were “caught out” by the speed of Exeter Chiefs’ attack in their loss at Sandy Park on the weekend.

Steyn does have an excuse - the Cheetahs had not played since September and to expect them to be up to a high standard against a side placed second in the Premiership is a bit much.

“They caught us in the first half. We were too narrow off our kicks and with the quality of players they have, they exploited that,” Steyn said after the game.

“After halftime we sorted that out and we didn’t have that problem again. The second half score was 7-5. So just from that I am very positive. We will keep on fighting.

“We’ve just lacked playing this quality of game. I am not saying that the Griquas and Boland aren’t good, because they both beat us, but this is just another level. If you just look at our player budgets, theirs dwarfs ours by five times.

“In saying that, I think the guys pitched up, they fought until the end. The mistakes that cost us were our own. They are a top side, second in the English Premiership.

“So in my eyes I think they’re too good for the Challenge Cup. When they came out they were on fire and with the players they have they were always going to punish any mistakes from us.

“But the guys played well. Physically I thought we were great. We just need more games like this and to keep on building.”

The Cheetahs now face Stade Francais in their next game in the EPCR Challenge Cup in their European base of Amsterdam.