Lions head out on 'Mission Impossible'

It may not be the last-chance saloon, but opportunities to cement themselves in the top eight of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship are fast running out for Ivan van Rooyen’s men.

Buoyed by their win over the season’s underachievers, the Hollywoodbets Sharks, Van Rooyen’s side set off on a quest that some may term “Mission Impossible” over the next two weeks where they can - in a not-too-unlikely scenario - grab vital points for their mission to qualify for the Investec Champions Cup next season and move into the top half of the competition.

First up is what, until now perhaps, has been mission impossible for South African franchises - to beat Connacht at the Sportsground in the lovely Irish town of Galway. Since the URC has come into being, no South African side has been able to win at the Sportsground, home of a 4G pitch and a wind that - according to the locals - “howls through your bones” when it takes the wrong turn.

Come show your support next Saturday in Galway 🟢🦅

The race for the @URCOfficial play-offs continue and this time we take on the South African boys 🦁

Grab your ticket now 🎟️ https://t.co/Se8O5ZhxhG#ConnachtRugby pic.twitter.com/ZXFje5cSnJ

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) March 17, 2024

For some reason, while other teams have found ways to win - and Connacht’s season is by no means a brilliant one for them at the moment - South African sides have struggled in the wet, wind and against the elements against a nuggety side that never seems to say die at home.

The Lions will know that for any side looking for something special, becoming the first side to win at the Galway home of Greyhound Racing will be an elixir that no money can buy.

But their own hot and cold performances have hampered them after a promising start to the season and some impressive away results.

And after the Six Nations with the competition moving rapidly towards the business end of the season, they could use a little momentum away from home.

It is also uncertain if Connacht will use the likes of Bundee Aki, their marquee player or any other squad members and are without Mack Hansen, the try-scoring winger who is on a long-term injury break.

Connacht’s own season has mirrored the Lions in some ways, with some exceptional performances and then disappointments, and they sit in seventh spot, three places above the Lions but just four points ahead of them.

If the Lions can pull off the “impossible” - and their recent win over the Sharks certainly suggests they can, they will put themselves in with a big shout when heading to Wales next week when they face the Ospreys, with plenty of motivation to boot for that game.

The Ospreys shocked the Lions in the final pool game of the EPCR Challenge Cup with a comeback at the end that saw them steal a victory that left the Lions bewildered. Some hard words flowed in the team ranks after that, and it seemed to influence their back to back losses to the Bulls as well.

But Van Rooyen will know that these two weeks serve as an opportunity. The length and depth of the season mean that while title contention may be a far cause to chase, top eight is a reality and making the playoffs gives you a chance. Plus the added bonus of Champions’ Cup qualification is certainly a boost as well.

And after Ospreys the focus will return to the playoffs for the Challenge Cup where Benetton lie in wait for the Lions.

The season break may not have had the most positive news for the Lions, with the confirmed loss of Emmanuel Tshituka and Jordan Hendrikse to the Sharks, but it does give a time to reset and refocus.

And right now the mission impossible theme must be playing in their heads as they head offshore for a tough assignment.

Still, the rewards are there for the Lions if they want them, and if they can find the consistency they have desperately been searching for.