Van Rooyen: If Lions Can Colour In The Pictures, They Can Make It Happen In Urc

This was probably one that got away from the Lions, but despite the 25-22 defeat to the Sharks, coach Ivan van Rooyen is still looking at the rest of the season with a glass half-full.

Fighting back from a 17-7 deficit early in the second half to lead 22-17 with 15 minutes to go, it appeared as if the Johannesburg side driven by the outstanding Player of the Match, Morn van den Berg would finally back-up the previous weeks 38-14 victory at Ellis Park.

Their inconsistency over the last few seasons must be driving the Lions supporters crazy, and it seemed like they had turned the corner at last.

Captain Francke Horn and the rest of the forwards hung tough in hot, humid conditions to show real character by scoring a driving maul try through hooker Franco Marais with 15 minutes to go.

But then they failed to control the resultant kickoff, and the Sharks roared back to dot down through Nick Hatton to level matters at 22-22.