It wasn’t pretty but Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen and skipper Jaco Visagie were delighted to secure a crucial win away from home in the Challenge Cup on Sunday.
Flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse kicked 23 points and a solitary try from winger Rabz Maxwane helped The Pride beat French outfit Perpignan 28-12 at the Stade Aime Giral.
Van Rooyen fielded an overhauled lineup for the clash in southern France, with competition debuts for Etienne Oosthuizen and Raynard Roets in the second row, winger Boldwin Hansen and centre Erich Cronje.
“From our side, we kept it quite simple,” the Lions boss said. “We almost played [the game] like Test match rugby, a little bit boring from our side but that’s how we got the reward. Delighted with the result.”
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Visagie added: “We’re very happy with the win away from home. Some guys had their first opportunity to play abroad, we had a lot of debuts.”
Cronje, who came through at the Vodacom Bulls before stints with the Southern Kings, Pumas and Italian side Zebre Parma, was pleased with his first outing for the Lions: “It was special. Throughout the week we said it was going to be a tough physical game and that is what happened.
“But we said we were going to keep the scoreboard ticking, stay patient, put the ball behind them and put them under pressure.
“It was very special for some of the boys and I’m excited for what’s coming.”
The Lions next face English club Newcastle Falcons at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Photo: Valentine Chapuis/Gallo Images