Lions hunting comeback win over ‘bogey' team Ospreys
The Lions have lost their last three games against Ospreys and are desperate to end their season on a high against the Welsh challengers.
The Lions in action against Scarlets during their URC match at Ellis Park over the past weekend. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Although disappointment from missing out on the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs for the fourth straight season will be fresh for the Lions, they will still have plenty of motivation when they close out their campaign against Ospreys at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon (5:15pm).
It is a dead rubber season ending game for both teams, with neither able to make the top eight to qualify for the URC knockouts, but the hosts will arguably be the hungrier team to close out with what would be a morale boosting win.
Having struggled immensely down the back straight of the URC, including suffering damaging home defeats against Benetton a few weeks ago and Scarlets last weekend, the Lions will be eager to rectify that with a big win in front of their home fans.
Ospreys have also been a bogey team of the Lions over the past couple of seasons, with them suffering three straight defeats against the Welsh side across the Challenge Cup and URC.
Earlier this season in December a second string Lions team was comfortably beaten 30-14 by Ospreys in their Challenge Cup opener in Swansea.
Last season they were stunned by Ospreys 38-28 in their Challenge Cup pool match in January, while they comfortably went down 36-21 to the hosts in their URC encounter in Wales.
Back to winning ways
The Lions will now want to arrest that slide of defeats and get back to winning ways against a team they should be confident of beating more often than not.
'It has been spoken about in the team this week. Osprey's have almost been like a bogey team for us, so it will be a bit of a consolation for us if we do well against them this weekend,' admitted Lions scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys at a press conference during the week.
'They are a good team. If you watched the game against the Sharks this past weekend, even though the scoreline doesn't reflect it, they are really tough at the breakdown.
'They are a good physical team and they have a good kicking game. That's where we felt we fell short against them previously. We have those past experiences and if we can correct them this weekend it will be a positive for us amongst all the negative.'
Ospreys also edged the Lions in the fight for the top eight last season, with both teams ending on 50 points, but the Welsh side snuck into the playoffs due to having won a game more than the Johannesburg side who had to settle for ninth place, so a bit of revenge will be in order.
'They played their last game against Cardiff and we needed them to keep them out and not let them get five points. We got on the plane in Cape Town (after playing the Stormers) and landed (in Johannesburg) to hear we had been knocked out,' said Redelinghuys.
'We don't blame them for that, we only blame ourselves for not doing enough to make it through, and that is the same for us this season.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
35 minutes ago
- The South African
When do Proteas play World Test Championship final?
A major ICC trophy has eluded the Proteas for an extended period in the limited-overs format, and what a twist of fate it would be if they could claim this long-awaited silverware in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final. After the Proteas qualified against the odds, Temba Bavuma's Test side will be firm underdogs against Australia, but this could be just the way they like it. The one-off Test for title honours takes place from 11-15 June at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. As the game gets under way from this Wednesday, play will start at 11:30, and the good news is that no rain is forecast for the duration of the Test. Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham (Western Province), Corbin Bosch (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Marco Jansen (North West Dragons), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Warriors), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province) Management Shukri Conrad (Head coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Ashwell Prince (Batting Coach), Piet Botha (Bowling Coach), Kruger van Wyk (Fielding Coach), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur), Lucy Davey (Media Manager) and Brian Khonto (Security Officer). ICC World Test Championship final 2025 11-15 June: South Africa vs Australia – Lord's Cricket Ground, London – 11:30 (SA time) Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
35 minutes ago
- The Citizen
Sharks inability to finish cost them dearly in URC semifinal v Bulls
The Sharks had their opportunities, but were unable to finish most of them, allowing the Bulls to secure the win in their URC semifinal, Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi goes over for the first of their two tries during their URC semifinal loss against the Bulls at Loftus over the past weekend. Picture: Johan Orton/Gallo Images The Sharks inability to finish their opportunities cost them dearly in their United Rugby Championship (URC) semifinal loss against the Bulls at Loftus over the past weekend. The Bulls emerged victorious 25-13 to set up a blockbuster final against Irish giants Leinster at Croke Park in Dublin this coming weekend, while the Sharks end a much improved season on a disappointing note. After their previous URC campaign, where they finished a disastrous 14th on the log, they turned that around this season, finishing third overall to host a quarterfinal for the first time, beating Munster on a historic penalty shootout, to then qualify for their first ever URC semifinal. But they were unfortunately unable to fire on the night, something that has troubled them over the season as a whole, but they importantly still found a way to come out on top, including in a five game winning run heading into the semi, but they weren't able to repeat the trick again. It will have been a frustrating watch for Sharks coach John Plumtree, as despite dominating possession and territory in the first half, they couldn't get over the tryline, while he then had to watch them fall away after briefly fighting back at the start of the second. It was during a period from the 27th to 49th minute, when the Sharks had a man advantage the whole time, that they should have been able to battle ahead. Sebastian de Klerk first got a yellow for a professional foul, followed by Cameron Hanekom for a tip tackle and Marcell Coetzee for pulling down the maul after a warning from the ref, which meant they played from the 36th to 46th minutes two men down against the visitors. One score But the Sharks could only score once in that period, Makazole Mapimpi going over in the 44th minute, before the hosts were back to their full complement, followed by an Ethan Hooker try in the 52nd minute making it 15-13, but the Bulls then pulled away again. 'We had plenty of opportunities (to score) before half time. We put the Bulls under pressure and they got three yellow cards, but we weren't quite good enough to finish them off. We should have been closer to 15-15 at half time, but didn't cash in close to the line,' explained Plumtree. 'We got held up over the goal line just before half time which was an absolute disaster. But I was still pretty confident at half time. We were starting to get our game going and had the territory we needed. 'We scored a couple of good tries (in the second half) to get back into the game, but weren't quite accurate enough and they managed to get that try (from David Kriel) that broke our backs. 'We were a bit off our game on attack. Sometimes we played too deep when we had momentum and sometimes too flat when we didn't.' Goal kicking was also a problem for the Sharks over the game, flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse missing three shots at goal, two penalties and a conversion, while only slotting one penalty, while his brother, scrumhalf Jaden missed a conversion, as they left 10 points out there.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
URC final: Kick off time reminder as Bulls jet into Dublin
After overcoming the Sharks this past weekend, the Bulls have reached yet another URC final, and will touch down in Dublin on Monday. Jake White's charges are preparing for one final challenge against the much-vaunted hosts, Leinster, who will undoubtedly be favourites at Croke Park this Saturday. Kick off is at 18:00 (SA time). Bulls determined to finally claim victory in the URC final This will be the Bulls' third appearance in the final in four seasons – and coach Jake White is desperate to see his side finally take the next step to glory. 'It's a massive achievement to reach another final, but we haven't won anything yet,' White said after the match. 'This is just another step. We need to learn from tonight's battle and prepare for an even tougher test ahead. 'Next week's final will be the biggest test yet,' he added. 'We'll face a team with many internationals and British & Irish Lions, away from home. Our players want to be part of these big games – that's how you get better.' Despite the immense pedigree of both teams, neither has lifted the trophy during the URC era. The Bulls have lost two Grand Finals, while Leinster — eight-time league champions — will be competing in their first-ever BKT URC Grand Final. Adding to the intrigue, two of Leinster's three URC semi-final defeats have come at the hands of the Bulls. The quality on the pitch will be unquestionable, with stars of the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour lining up against a host of Springboks, including double World Cup winner Willie le Roux. DO YOU THINK THE BULLS CAN GO ALL THE WAY? Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
