01 October 2026
The 10bet Lions showed immense fighting spirit during a taxing United Rugby Championship tour, with head coach Ivan van Rooyen praising his squad's second-half resurgence against the Glasgow Warriors.
Despite compounding challenges on the road, the Johannesburg-based outfit showed the grit to compete with Europe's elite, laying a strong foundation ahead of the highly anticipated Jukskei Derby on 5 December.
Reflecting on the performance against a clinical Glasgow Warriors side, Van Rooyen pointed to a stark contrast between his team's execution across both halves.
"The character we showed to fight back in the second half was great to see," Van Rooyen said. "We found a way to start playing against a very organised defence by generating quick ball. We struggled to get that in the first half."
The tactical shift came after a crucial halftime assessment, where the coaching staff identified clear opportunities that went begging in the opening 40 minutes.
"We identified that we had to fix a few aspects for us to start getting quick ball. There was space out there; we couldn't capitalise and get there in the first half," he explained. "It was important for us to try and stamp our game on them. We also needed to fix one or two things in defence that we had to be better at."
The clash in Glasgow marked the end of a gruelling three-week overseas leg that tested the franchise both physically and mentally. While a tough week in Scotland's capital took its toll, Van Rooyen was incredibly proud of how the squad bookended their travels.
"It was an incredibly difficult tour in the bigger scheme of things," admitted the head coach. "The character we showed during the La Rochelle and Glasgow games is something we are proud of. The Edinburgh game week was exceptionally tough mentally, and unfortunately, it showed a bit in the game."
Van Rooyen reserved special praise for his leadership group and support staff, who steadied the ship when the pressure mounted.
"Heading into the week of Glasgow, the senior players were immense in terms of team identity and playing style, taking ownership and leading by example. Throughout the three weeks, I honestly believe the management was truly unbelievable. We are truly blessed to have incredible people in our team. The heart and the character to stand up and fight for each other were incredible."
The tour did not come without casualties. Flyhalf Chris Smith left the field with a concerning upper-body injury, and the team is anxiously awaiting a medical update.
"Unfortunately, there's no update as yet," Van Rooyen confirmed. "His pectoral area (chest) is quite sore. We will do scans, etc. upon arrival back home."
With the gruelling tour now behind them, the Lions will enjoy a much-needed period of recovery before turning their focus to their biggest local rivals. The team has a clear four-week roadmap leading up to their blockbuster clash against the Vodacom Bulls at 10bet Ellis Park.
"We are going to rest for two weeks, then straight into two weeks of preparation before we take on the Vodacom Bulls in early December," Van Rooyen concluded.