Friday night’s EPCR Challenge Cup clash in Edinburgh offers the fearless Lions a perfect opportunity to bury last week’s Glasgow humiliation and find redemption, writes MARK KEOHANE.
It will be a case of do or die for the three South African teams featuring in the EPCR playoffs this week, as the Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and Lions spring into action in round 16, where quarter-final spots will be up for grabs.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane argues that while the Lions face a familiar URC opponent, knockout rugby transforms desperation into an extra player on the field.
The Pride won’t lack confidence against Edinburgh, having beaten the Scottish outfit earlier this season at Ellis Park, but Keohane wonders whether Ivan van Rooyen’s charges won’t be carrying any emotional damage.
Their backs are against the wall after three successive losses in the Vodacom URC, and the team likely still hurting from a 42-0 mauling by the Glasgow Warriors.
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“For the Lions, the challenge of Edinburgh is redemption. They get to erase the humiliation of a shutout against the Glasgow Warriors a week ago,” he writes.
“Edinburgh are a familiar foe from the United Rugby Championship, but on Friday night it is a case of same face, but different competition.
“This is no league match. Knockout rugby is a different beast to playing for league points.
“The Lions won’t fear Edinburgh. The question is how much mental scarring from the 42-0?”
Keohane also highlights the Sharks’ success last season, where despite a disappointing URC campaign, the men from Durban won the Challenge Cup to become South Africa’s first European club cup champions.
While the Bulls face unbeaten Bayonne on Saturday before the Sharks tackle Lyon on Sunday, Keohane believes both teams will triumph if they’ve select full-strength lineups.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
