Lions aim to end disappointing URC season on a high against Ospreys

The Lions will close out their underwhelming United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign this weekend with little more than pride at stake, as a disappointing season ends against the Ospreys at Ellis Park.

Saturday’s clash (kick-off 5.15pm) is a dead rubber.

The Joburgers cannot break into the Top 10 — unlike previous seasons when they finished ninth and narrowly missed the quarter-finals — and victory for either side will have no bearing on the teams above them jostling for play-off placements.

It’s a mediocre conclusion to a campaign that once held much promise. Back in late September, the Lions won four consecutive games and were considered dark horses. But in the 13 matches that followed, they managed just three more wins.

It’s a tough situation — largely self-inflicted — especially considering the talent within the squad. Costly home defeats and a repeated failure to close out tight contests have left a sombre and frustrating tone among the Lions faithful.

Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys echoed those frustrations but remained optimistic about the group’s potential.

“We are very disappointed in how the season has turned out,” said the former Springbok prop on Wednesday, during a media briefing. “Especially after a good start.

“Inconsistency killed us. We didn’t look after the small things.

“I still have no doubt about the potential of this group of players. I believe these players are machines, I believe these players are ysters (exceptional). We were just not consistent enough — individually or collectively. We can’t then expect to be in the play-offs.

“We would have liked to be sitting here already qualified. We had the potential to do that. I have no doubt that the guys will want to finish off on a high note this weekend and lay a platform for next season.”

Lions cult figure Asenathi Ntlabakanye agreed with the assessment, saying: “We had a vision of being in the Top 8 and breaking into the Champions Cup.

“It is something that we haven’t managed to do since the URC started, and to fall short of that is very disappointing. Throughout the season, we were up and down. Going forward, we need to find a way to be consistent and to perform week in and week out.

“This coming weekend is an opportunity to send some guys off on a high note and to play some good rugby — Lions rugby — which we’ve not done over the past two or three weeks.”

Among those departing after the weekend are Springbok Edwill van der Merwe and former captain Marius Louw.

Beating the Ospreys won’t shift the Lions’ standing in the URC, but it will offer a glimpse into the team’s mental state heading into the off-season.

This unit will play a significant role in the upcoming Currie Cup, which now takes on added importance, and it will form the foundation for the next URC campaign, where few to no excuses will be accepted should failure come knocking again.