Shell-shocked Lions will use URC break to regroup, says Horn

A shell-shocked Lions team will use a timely three-week break in the crowded schedule of United Rugby Championship (URC) matches to regroup after they wereblown away by the Bulls, skipper Francke Horn says. A humiliating 52-17 loss on home soil at Ellis Park left the Lions with soul-searching to do before they are next in action against the Sharks on February 21. Though the Lions have dropped out of the URC top eight to 10th place, they have the advantage of six home games to bolster their position in the standings.

Despite the setback against the Bulls in the Jukskei derby, the Lions have not given up hope of achieving their first place in the URC playoffs. “All the guys in the changing room are proud men, and we’ll take this loss at home quite hard,” Horn said. “We have a week off to switch off, and then, when we come back, we will look at what we did not do correctly and how we can rectify matters.

“The Lions will put all our eggs in one basket for the URC and focus on that. “I have no doubt the guys will step out of this defeat, and we’ll move forward. “Every player needs to take accountability for their job.

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“I think we lost five or six lineouts against the Bulls, and we probably didn’t get more than one or two phases, especially in the second half. “Players need to take accountability for what we did out there. It’s a team sport, but an individual must also do his part. “There was nothing coach Ivan van Rooyen said in the week’s prep that led us to perform like that today [Saturday].

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