Lions need to define what their own ambition is

Another Irish Challenge awaits, but for now, after the first phase of this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Emirates Lions are satisfied with their return of four wins from five games.

While the tag of “ballers on a budget” still sticks with the side, their reality check at the Aviva stadium aside, they still had the best start to their URC season in their history and can look forward to planning for the next phase of the competition.

But it won’t be easy. The Lions have now become targets for other sides, and while they may have kept Leinster in check, their inability to get their attack game going on a night they solely relied on defence will be something that other sides have picked up on.

There certainly is a lot of credibility to the theory that this Lions side is a different beast when they are at home at altitude than they are on the road, even though last season saw them put up some of the bravest victories in their tenure in the competition - including a stunning 14-man win over Connacht at the Sportsground in Galway.

This season their overseas run - from the three games they have played at least - has been more circumspect, less adventure and more along the lines of trying to minimise damage while playing the conditions.

That may be good when looking for points, but it is hardly the Lions ethos of momentum and attack that has made them so loved among their fans.

MORE AMBITION NEEDED

It is difficult to find too much fault with a side that has returned four wins from five victories, but there is a sense that if they are to fulfill their self-proclaimed goal of being a top four side, they cannot just alternate from defence to attack depending on the hemisphere they are in.

Teams like the Lions are great when they back their stars to have a go, while adding a defence to match that. Against Zebre and Leinster the Lions attack stuttered, and it looked as if they were more focused on playing per centages than having a go.

And while the conditions may have something to do with that, the Lions are a team that can spark an attack from anywhere and have the athletes to do that.

The lack of ambition against Leinster was a disappointment, just as the defence was a highlight. More balance in their game plan will be a welcome relief for their supporters.

The other takeaway from the Leinster game was how they miss a flyhalf that can control the game and how much Quan Horn means to them from the back.

Edwill van der Merwe’s attacking tendencies are good on a hard field, but the Lions suffered without Horn’s trusty boot at the back and it cost them one of their tries when Van der Merwe was caught in defence.

Horn’s calm nature and the ability to choose when to launch the counter attack and when to play it safe is a major part of it, and it seems the Lions had not planned for the eventuality without him, something they will undoubtedly give attention to.

Why they didn’t bring on Richard Kriel, who played almost all his junior rugby at fullback and has a booming boot, few will understand?

SETTLE ON A FLYHALF

The one thing the Lions also need to do is to settle on a flyhalf. The roundabout between Sanele Nohamba, Kade Wolhuter, Nico Steyn and others is not conducive to their game plan and to the momentum they are trying to build.

Wolhuter is the closest thing to a classical 10 they have, but his injury problems are a concern and the fact he takes a while to get going. If they are going to stick with him, he needs a prolonged run in the position.

Nohamba was the URC’s player of the season last year and the difference he brings to their game plan, especially at home, can’t be underestimated. But there seems a lack of desire to back him to the hilt, for whatever reason, and to build the game plan around him.

Either way, a decision should be made to back either player and build around him for the next phase of the competition.

And that is a difficult phase. The Lions next URC fixture is a trip to Thomond Park to face a desperate Munster, who have been less than pleased with their start to the season. Graham Rowntree will demand a response and if the Lions are caught between two game plans again it could be costly.

Thomond Park is notoriously hard on visiting teams that aren’t at their best and the Lions will need to have a firm plan in place for what they want to get out of that game.

TARGET OSPREYS IN EPCR CHALLENGE CUP

The attention then turns to Ospreys in the EPCR Challenge Cup, a game that the Lions will target for a victory - especially as they know more than their fair share of Toby Booth’s side and how they play. But Ospreys beat them in Johannesburg last season and know how to play the Lions, so this could become a very interesting encounter indeed.

The Lions will then return to Ellis Park for a date with Section Pauloise (Pau) and with the French side unlikely to send a full strength team to the fixture, they can look to regain the momentum there, especially ahead of their pre-Christmas showdown with the DHL Stormers in Cape Town.

For the first phase, the Lions played their strengths at home, and looked to play strategically away from home. They will need to clearly define their strategy, and without Boks on tour will have a full strength side to choose from.

But whether they are brave enough to back their own ambition waits to be seen.