Maybe time for Van Rooyen to Cash in his chips at Lions

THE Lions’ dismal performance in losing at home to Benetton at the week-end has had their long-suffering fans scratching their heads as their team sink to new depths.

- COMMENT BY MIKE GREENAWAY

It was the Lions’ fifth consecutive defeat, and while three of those were overseas, their homecoming to Ellis Park was supposed to have heralded a turnaround in their United Rugby Championship fortunes.

When the Lions were well beaten by Edinburgh in Scotland the previous week, coach Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen said that it was “non-negotiable” that his team win their four remaining URC games ~ all in Johannesburg.

Van Rooyen added: “We know exactly what is required. We have to cut out the (self-inflicted) errors that are holding us back, and go up a level.”

But the Lions did the opposite in a ham-fisted performance that was worse than anything they delivered on their three defeats overseas.

Van Rooyen's words after the Edinburgh game were hollow because we have heard them before - a number of times.