Lions won't get carried away with Dragons win

The Emirates Lions won’t be getting carried away with their big victory over Dragons in the EPCR Challenge Cup and know the threat their nearest neighbours - the Vodacom Bulls - pose for them as they head back into Vodacom United Rugby Championship action on Saturday.

Winning home games is a premium, and the Lions gave themselves a boost when they smashed the Dragons, putting up a massive score to take a lot of momentum into the game with the Bulls.

But the Bulls aren’t the Dragons, and there is a massive difference between the intensity of a local derby and playing against the team that finished last on the log and coach Ivan van Rooyen knows all too well his side need to put down a marker in a local derby at some stage to show the more fancied SA sides that they can be part of the big guns as well.

The Lions made the bold claim that they want to be a top four team in the URC at the start of the season, and while they started well, a slump meant they are now lingering in 11th spot on a very congested log. 

And while they came close last season at Loftus to beating the Bulls, they were well-beaten at the corresponding game at Ellis Park.

“Every game is about the way we want to play and what the opposition offers us,” said Van Rooyen after the game.

“The Bulls have class throughout their  team, their scrum and lineout has been good this season.

“They have a certain way they want to play so we’ll for sure won’t get carried away after this performance. “We needed a good performance to get back onto the road and we know that next weekend is definitely a different challenge.”

The Lions will welcome back a number of players this week, including winger Richard Kriel and Kade Wolhuter, while Siba Qoma should also be in contention for selection this week.

But their biggest focus is to win a local derby, something they have almost forgotten how to do and if they want to make a statement, this week against the Bulls is a good place to start.