Van Rooyen applauds debutants as Lions find answers

THE Lions’ gritty EPCR Challenge Cup victory over Lyon at Ellis Park on Saturday was a triumph of the side's adaptability and depth for coach Ivan van Rooyen, who was left purring over a squad that continues to find solutions under pressure.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Coming off an emotionally charged United Rugby Championship derby win over the Sharks, the Johannesburg side were tested again before a ball was even kicked. Van Rooyen revealed that a bruising week on the injury front forced late changes and threw the Lions’ preparations into disarray, making the eventual win all the more satisfying.

The four-match suspension of loose forward Ruan Venter was compounded by injury niggles that ruled out winger Kelly Mpeku and prop Asenathi Ntla-bakanye in the week, while flank Sib-abalo Qoma got hurt in Saturday's warm-up.

Those setbacks opened the door for unlikely heroes, most notably Junior Springbok loose forward Batho Hlekani, who had been with the squad for just 10 days before being thrust into the starting lineup in the place of Qoma. Fellow newcomer Sibabalwe Mahashe, who had never previously played for the Lions, was also called onto the bench.