The Johannesburg Lions came within six points of beating New Zealand on Wednesday, eventually falling 41-35 in a tour match that went down to the wire. The All Blacks had to recover from a significant scare to complete a clean sweep of their South African fixtures, according to multiple reports.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen said he felt pride in his team’s performance, telling News24 that his captain described having goosebumps during the match. The coach’s remarks came after a game in which his side pushed the world’s top-ranked team far closer than expected.
The result means New Zealand finished their tour of South Africa without a loss, as Sky Sports and SuperSport both noted. The All Blacks’ win was secured after they came from behind, with Rieko Ioane standing out as a key performer, according to eNCA. The Lions’ effort earned praise for bravery and won hearts and minds even in defeat, SuperSport reported.
For the Lions, the frustration was evident. SA Rugby magazine quoted a player identified only as Cash as saying the team felt they had let the match slip away. That sentiment reflects how close the home side came to a landmark result against a side that rarely loses on African soil.
The match served as a reminder of the gap between the two teams, but also of how quickly that gap can close on a given day. The Lions will take confidence from the performance, while New Zealand will likely review how they nearly let a commanding position slip.
What to watch next: whether the Lions can carry this level of performance into their next competitive fixture and build on the near-miss.
