On a night where rugby was never going to be the main attraction, an emotional and brave 10bet Lions side put up a fight before going down in their first-ever Investec Champions Cup clash, losing 31-14 against French powerhouse La Rochelle on Saturday night.
It is still hard to believe that after the untimely death of Lions lock Hyron Andrews the game even went ahead, but it was clear from the emotion on the faces of the Lions players during the minute’s silence that this was something that had deeply affected them.
There are times when life is bigger than the 80 minutes on the field, and there must have been a plethora of reasons why the game needed to be played. But even as the teams lined up it seemed the wrong decision for all the wrong reasons.
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It was clear the Lions wanted to honour Andrews, and their reasons for choosing to play are admirable, but this should have been a night where the governing body stepped in and made the logical decision.
Be that as it may, the emotions before the game, the laying down of Andrews’ five jersey in front of his team before the minute’s silence and the unbelievable mark of respect shown by the French crowd was something to behold.
HOME CROWD PAID RESPECT
Rugby prides itself on being a camaraderie, of a bond between players and spectators and of being a game where the battles on the field don’t translate off it. Those in attendance at Stade Marcel Deflandre were exceptional and nobody could have asked more of them on the night.
And so were the Lions players themselves. Few of us would know the emotions, the raw, unfettered tears that have been shed in the 24 hours leading up to this game. The shock and the grief are still so raw, and they put on a performance that made their fans proud.
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It is a sad testament to the demands of professional sport that these players were put in this position, and that they will continue on to Scotland for two United Rugby Championship matches that they need to fulfill in the coming fortnight. Only then will they have time to grieve properly.
We will never understand the conversations that happened in the Lions camp for the past 24 hours, but Andrew's death is a firm reminder of the fragility of it all, and that rugby is - no matter how passionate we are about it - just a game.
The Lions have also decided to retire the five jersey for the remainder of the season with Ruan Delport playing in the 24 jersey on Saturday night.
And yet, the game unfolded exactly as we would have expected, with an emotional Lions team putting on a brave performance to honour their teammate.
This was a game where the scoreline felt like it flattered the home side, and where the Lions, had they been a bit more measured, a bit calmer and a bit more clinical, could have well fought for a chance of a massive upset.
BRAVE LIONS
But while they were brave, and they fought for every scrap on the night, they were eventually outclassed by a La Rochelle side that was too streetsmart, and had too much experience at this level not to find a way to win.
There were also frustrating moments where the Lions let it slip. The second-half bullet pass from Morne van den Berg to Bronson Mills that should have been taken and would have left the Lions within three with 10 minutes to go.
As well as the forward pass from Batho Hlekani, which led to Nico Steyn’s try being overturned by the television match official. The Lions had their share of chances, but as brave as they were, were just short of being where they needed to be.
Eventually it was left to Fijian winger Avakuki Niusalelekitoga to score the try to make it safe for a tense home crowd, and allow them to start singing again, celebrating a win like they would always have.
But this was never going to be any ordinary game.
The Lions' start was everything they wanted. Power, precision and rattling La Rochelle’s defence to the point where Henco van Wyk wasn’t going to be stopped in the third minute, taking three defenders over the line for the opening try.
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La Rochelle’s forwards eventually got a foothold on the game, and their maul did some damage. Two tries from close saw Tevita Ofa and Oscar Jegou go over from close range, as they took control of the game.
A YELLOW CARD APIECE
In the process the Lions lost Siba Mahashe to a yellow card for team infringements but they kept on fighting. Even with 14 men they took the game to La Rochelle, and the pressure told when Pierre Bourgarit was yellow carded for a deliberate knock down shortly afterwards.
On level pegging again, they drove the point home, this time Morne Brandon went over from close range to draw level again.
But then the home side found an opening out wide, with a perfect kick-pass finding flyer Davit Niniashvili, who wasn’t going to be stopped at pack.
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That left them 19-14 up at the break, and the Lions still had hope.
Those hopes got a bit slimmer when Tolu Latu went over on the hour mark at the back of a rolling maul.
And with every minute counting down the Lions got more desperate, and desperation brought mistakes. They blew the chances they had and will be kicking themselves for it afterwards, but they will also have learnt so much from their first Champions’ Cup game.
It was already apparent that La Rochelle would hold out but Niusalelekitoga made it certain.
And when the final whistle went, there was relief all around. The game was over and the fixture fulfilled.
The grief and heartache at the last day or so will take much longer for this Lions side to process.
But at least they can say they stood together as a team and honoured Andrews in the best way they knew how.
Scorers
La Rochelle - tries: Tevita Ofa, Oscar Jegou, Davit Niniashvili, Tolu Latu, Avakuki Niusalelekitoga. Conversions: Antoine Hastoy (3).
10Bet Lions - tries: Henco van Wyk, Morne Brandon. Conversions: Chris Smith (2)