We’ve made it tough for ourselves

With four home games to turn things around, assistant coach Barend Pieterse and flanker Ruan Venter insist the Lions can still make the Vodacom URC playoffs.

The 14th-placed Pride return to URC action in round 15 against Benetton Ellis Park on Saturday, after an underwhelming European tour that included three successive defeats.

Ivan van Rooyen’s men lost twice in the URC, to Cardiff and defending champions Glasgow Warriors, before they were knocked out in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup by Edinburgh.

“In a perfect world, we wouldn’t want to be in our position,” Pieterse said in a Lions conference on Tuesday. “We are not consistent enough.

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“Going back to last season, our consistency was one of the problems we spoke about and this season that is still an issue we have been working on. If we want to be a team that is in the playoffs and does well in Europe we need to be more consistent.

“We are a team that can play three great games and then two poor matches. We must be better, perform more consistently and make sure everyone is on the same level. All the coaches and players still believe we can make it to the playoffs.

Benetton, in seventh spot on the log, are known for a high-tempo, attacking style. The Italian outfit competed in the 2024-25 Investec Champions Cup, exiting in the round of 16.

“We have made it tough for ourselves,” Venter said. “Benetton have been great this season. They have been playing in the Champions Cup and performing well in the URC.”

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“We know they like to run the ball. They are going to be giving us opportunities that suit our style of play. We are expecting a lot of ball in play and a high-tempo match.

“That style will help them, but it will also suit us at Ellis Park. It’s an exciting prospect and we are really excited for it.”

Venter, who made his Springbok debut in 2024 against Portugal, was one of eight Lions players called up to the national alignment camp in March.

“I can only speak for myself but my full focus is on the Lions,” he added. “If we are successful as a union the rest will take care of itself.

“The Springboks shouldn’t be in our thought process. I’m determined to meet our goals and turn this season into a successful one.”

Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images