Cardiff will serve as acid test for Lions' top eight ambitions

The Emirates Lions trip up north to face Cardiff will serve as an acid test to their top eight ambitions, especially after a block of local derbies in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship where they flattered and deceived all in the same few weeks.

Cardiff isn’t a place where you would find a lot of positivity at the moment, and that is understandable. After England’s record win over the Welsh side on Saturday, interim Welsh coach Matt Sherratt returns to his fulltime job at Cardiff this week, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Lions game is the furthest thing from his mind.

Sherratt will, in the coming weeks, need to give some hard truths to the Welsh Rugby Union, but at the same time will need to steer Cardiff back towards some sort of positivity if he can.

Cardiff are on a three-game losing streak in the URC now and last tasted a victory in the competition back on boxing day.

Still they sit just two points ahead of the Lions in sixth spot, with the Lions in eighth as a lot of moving in the competition is set to happen in the next few weeks.

If the Joburg side don’t realise they have an opportunity not only to push themselves further into the top eight, but also compound some of the issues Cardiff and Welsh rugby currently have, they will be deluding themselves.

But like all sides, the Lions will probably tell you they are trying to sort out their own issues, the same ones that have stunted their ambition from top four to a top eight finish for them.

Against the Sharks in Durban they rallied well - as they have against the Stormers and Bulls in other derbies - but in the end were left well short of what they needed.

'WHEN THEY GET IT RIGHT'

Their two highlight games at home against the Sharks and Stormers were telling victories that showed how they can play when they get it right.

But the key there is when they get it right. Too often the Lions have played in spurts and have allowed the opposition to dominate when it matters most. Their return of six wins and six losses from 12 games this season certainly points to that.

Loads of ambition is shown in every game, but often those soft moments are what costs them.

In Cardiff this week they will find a lot of self-reflection on the state of the game, with the 17th straight test loss for Wales hanging over their heads.

But it will be an opportunity to move past Cardiff in the standings and with the likes of Ruan Venter and Henco van Wyk set to return for the tour, they can leave well-rested after a week’s break and ready to face the challenge head on.

Of course this game forms part of a bigger challenge - defending champions Glasgow Warriors next week and then Edinburgh in the EPCR Challenge Cup game the week after.

But for now the tone of the tour will be set by the Lions in Cardiff, and their fans will be hoping they see the same attitude and passion as they did in the home derbies against the Stormers and Sharks this season.

A loss in Cardiff will make the trip to Glasgow a tough one, tougher than it should be, and it will raise the stakes for the four home games they will finish their season off with.

That’s why Cardiff this weekend remains a telling fixture for the Lions, one that in a season of big fixtures, will tell us a lot about their season.

And whether they can take the opportunities presented to them.