Lions look for comeuppance against 'bogey' team Ospreys

When the Lions look back at their 2024/25 season, they will note with exasperation a number of matches that torpedoed their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.

Flying high at the start of the tournament with victories over Ulster, Edinburgh, Dragons and Zebre, there was a sense that something special was brewing at the Joburg-based outfit. Losses were expected, everyone agreed, but they would be quickly forgotten – the team now having enough experience and wherewithal to bounce back and mount a successful push for the Top 8.

That charisma was certainly on display when they dispatched a Springbok-laden Sharks team at the beginning of March this year, winning 38–14; the match was proof positive of what this Lions team is capable of.

It’s unfortunate the URC saw so little of that version of the Lions.

On the other side of the coin, damaging losses to Munster (17–10), the Bulls twice (35–22 and 31–19), Cardiff (20–17), Benetton (42–31) and Scarlets (32–19) will no doubt haunt the team when they reflect on their URC campaign. One could also include a December defeat to the Ospreys in the opening round of the EPCR Challenge Cup.

The Lions were flat-footed and disjointed in that clash, with signs that their bubble had already burst after away defeats to Leinster and Munster on the preceding weekends. The latter was particularly disappointing – the Red Army were battling coaching upheaval and injuries, and were there for the taking, but the Lions failed to capitalise.

They fielded a second-string side a week later against the Ospreys and, while they started with confidence, they were nonetheless outplayed 30–14. Although squad rotation was necessary and forgivable, the performance did little to instil confidence in the fringe players.

Truth be told, the Welsh outfit have been something of a nemesis for the Lions in recent seasons. They were denied a Top 8 finish last season after the Ospreys narrowly beat Cardiff in the final round to snatch eighth place away from them. Both teams ended the regular season on 50 points, but the Ospreys had one more win.

Moreover, the Lions have not beaten the Ospreys in their last three encounters, including a 38–28 loss at Ellis Park two seasons ago. Although the upcoming fixture is a low-stakes encounter, the Lions will be desperate to defeat the visitors for a measure of comeuppance, while also ending the season on a positive note as they look to the upcoming Currie Cup for redemption.

“The Ospreys have been like a bogey team for us,” Lions assistant coach Julian Redelinghuys admitted earlier this week. “It will be a little bit of a consolation to do well this weekend.

“They are a good team,” he added. “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 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 will look to correct them this weekend.”

The Lions will be further buoyed – and relieved – ahead of their final URC clash by the inclusion of several players in Rassie Erasmus’ second Springbok alignment camp later this month. That list includes Renzo du Plessis, Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Quan Horn, Morne van den Berg and Edwill van der Merwe.

Kick-off for the match against the Ospreys on Saturday is 5.15pm.