The Lions had the best weekend among the South African teams in EPRC competitions in last weekend’s Round 3.
The Bulls, Stormers and the Sharks all lost in the Champions Cup, while the Cheetahs also failed to win in the Challenge Cup.
Ivan van Rooyen’s Lions side is enjoying an upward trajectory in form having registered back-to-back victories for the first time since last November.
LIONS BAG IMPRESSIVE WIN
Their 42-33 victory was no small feat considering they beat last season’s runners-up in the competition, Lyon.
This will be an incredible boost for a team that has in patches looked like they could break through and trouble a lot of the big teams in the URC and Challenge Cup.
The win over Lyon has given them a fighting chance of making the playoffs should they win in Round 4.
Should they emerge victorious against Perpignan on Saturday, 17 January (19:30 SA time), they stand a decent chance of making the knockout phase of the Challenge Cup.
THE ARRIVAL OF A SUPREME TALENT
Perhaps the biggest positive at Ellis Park on Saturday was the introduction of Bathobele Hlekani as a Lions player.
Hlekani recently moved to the Lions from the Sharks after spending two years in Durban and his impact was instant.
The 20-year-old loose forward was a drafted into the starting line-up after a late withdrawal.
He had a barnstorming performance culminating in him being voted Player of the Match on what was his Lions debut.
Hlekani brings a new dynamic with his athleticism, physicality and slight of hand. The Lions will undoubtedly benefit from this as the Zwide native gets used to life in Johannesburg.
If he can be the focal point against another French challenge this week, the Lions could have a deep run in the competition.
CAN THE LIONS PULL OF A VICTORY IN FRANCE TO MAKE THE KNOCKOUT STAGES?
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