Last month at Ellis Park, the Lions showcased a glimpse of their potential against the formidable All Blacks, leading impressively 35-17 in the early stages of the second half before a comeback resulted in a 41-35 defeat. Inspired by that performance, Lions captain Francke Horn has set high expectations for his team in the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season starting this Saturday against the reigning champions, Leinster.
Horn expressed his ambitions for consistent top-level performances reminiscent of their outing against New Zealand. "We want our supporters to expect performances like the one against the All Blacks from us. After all, we expect that of ourselves," he stated.
"I wouldn’t say we set the standard there, but we gave a very good indication of our identity as a team and how we want to play this season."
The captain also highlighted the potential impact of such performances on fan attendance and atmosphere at Ellis Park. "If that can attract supporters to Ellis Park and we can fill the stadium, it would be wonderful. The onus is on us as players to produce good performances week in and week out," Horn added.
Reflecting on their last season, the Lions made significant strides by reaching the URC playoffs for the first time and securing a spot in the Investec Champions Cup. Their campaign ended with a disappointing 59-10 quarter-final loss to Leinster in Dublin, setting the stage for a redemption opportunity in this season's opener.
Horn discussed the team's preparations following their pre-season display against the All Blacks. "We had a good four-week build-up after the match against the All Blacks," he noted. "In that game, we could see whether the things we had worked on in pre-season were working. We could also see against the All Blacks what still needed some fine-tuning."
"I'm really excited about where we are as a team heading into the season. It’s going to be a big challenge against Leinster, but we’re really looking forward to it."
As the Lions gear up to face Leinster at Ellis Park, the clash is not just a season opener but a litmus test of their progress and a chance to settle scores from their last meeting. With ambitions clearly set to mirror their show of strength against the All Blacks, the Lions are poised for a riveting start to the URC season.
