Lions showcase Vodacom URC's European charge

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   The Emirates Lions showed the ever-growing strength of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship by roaring to a EPCR Challenge Cup last-16 victory over Top 14 giants Racing 92
in Johannesburg.

When
Emirates Lions flank Emmanuel Tshituka received his marching orders from
referee Karl Dickson in the first quarter of the Challenge Cup clash against
Racing 92, the result seemed inevitable.

The
Emirates Lions were leading 15-7 at that point thanks to converted tries from
captain Marius Louw and wing Edwill van der Merwe, to go with a Sanele Nohamba
penalty, but having to play more than 60 minutes without a third of their
influential back row put the already unfancied hosts up against the odds.
However,
what came next will surely go down as one of the most famous performances in Challenge Cup play-off history.
While
Racing 92 twice brought themselves to within seven points of the lead either
side of half time, it was the 14-man Emirates Lions who produced a stunning
display of attacking rugby to win 51-28 and seal their place in the
quarter-finals for the first time.
“I
am immensely proud,” said head coach Ivan van Rooyen after the match. “The guys
worked extremely hard to get the result, especially with the red card. You
could see it in their faces, the guys are exhausted and tired, but that’s what
it takes to win games like this.”
Currently
ranked 11th in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Emirates Lions were certainly the
underdogs against a Racing 92 side that is hunting a play-off place in the Top
14.
Among
the superstars boosting Racing’s lineup in that match were South Africa’s
Warrick Gelant, Argentina’s Juan Imhoff and French internationals Cameron Woki
and Wenceslas Lauret.
“Racing
is a great international team full of Test stars,” explained Van Rooyen. “We
knew we really had to be good. If you allow them to run onto you, they will
damage you. 
“They
have good backs all over the show, so it was important for us to be good
defensively. We knew if we did that, we would get one or two counter-attack
opportunities. We managed to use those, so I am really proud.”
Fellow
South African sides, the Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers joined Leinster Rugby
as Vodacom URC representatives in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals.
By
beating Racing, the Emirates Lions became the fifth Vodacom URC team to progress to the Challenge
Cup quarter-finals, joining Scarlets, Benetton Rugby, Cardiff Rugby and the
Glasgow Warriors, who will host the Johannesburg outfit in the last eight.
“It
was a tough game against Racing, so the first thing is to get the players
physically ready for Glasgow,” said Emirates Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie.
“We
aren’t going there just to compete, we want to win. We have two games left in
the URC and we want to
finish on a high. So our focus is to win against Glasgow.”

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Transvaal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 30-Mar-2016 Status: Offline Points: 39860	Post Options Post Reply Quote Transvaal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Lions showcase Vodacom URC's European charge Posted: 06-Apr-2023 at 3:11pm
	The Emirates Lions showed the ever-growing strength of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship by roaring to a EPCR Challenge Cup last-16 victory over Top 14 giants Racing 92 in Johannesburg. When Emirates Lions flank Emmanuel Tshituka received his marching orders from referee Karl Dickson in the first quarter of the Challenge Cup clash against Racing 92, the result seemed inevitable. The Emirates Lions were leading 15-7 at that point thanks to converted tries from captain Marius Louw and wing Edwill van der Merwe, to go with a Sanele Nohamba penalty, but having to play more than 60 minutes without a third of their influential back row put the already unfancied hosts up against the odds. However, what came next will surely go down as one of the most famous performances in Challenge Cup play-off history. While Racing 92 twice brought themselves to within seven points of the lead either side of half time, it was the 14-man Emirates Lions who produced a stunning display of attacking rugby to win 51-28 and seal their place in the quarter-finals for the first time. “I am immensely proud,” said head coach Ivan van Rooyen after the match. “The guys worked extremely hard to get the result, especially with the red card. You could see it in their faces, the guys are exhausted and tired, but that’s what it takes to win games like this.” Currently ranked 11th in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, the Emirates Lions were certainly the underdogs against a Racing 92 side that is hunting a play-off place in the Top 14. Among the superstars boosting Racing’s lineup in that match were South Africa’s Warrick Gelant, Argentina’s Juan Imhoff and French internationals Cameron Woki and Wenceslas Lauret. “Racing is a great international team full of Test stars,” explained Van Rooyen. “We knew we really had to be good. If you allow them to run onto you, they will damage you. “They have good backs all over the show, so it was important for us to be good defensively. We knew if we did that, we would get one or two counter-attack opportunities. We managed to use those, so I am really proud.” Fellow South African sides, the Cell C Sharks and DHL Stormers joined Leinster Rugby as Vodacom URC representatives in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals. By beating Racing, the Emirates Lions became the fifth Vodacom URC team to progress to the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, joining Scarlets, Benetton Rugby, Cardiff Rugby and the Glasgow Warriors, who will host the Johannesburg outfit in the last eight. “It was a tough game against Racing, so the first thing is to get the players physically ready for Glasgow,” said Emirates Lions defence coach Jaque Fourie. “We aren’t going there just to compete, we want to win. We have two games left in the URC and we want to finish on a high. So our focus is to win against Glasgow.”