The Lions emerged from their battle with now United Rugby Championship (URC) log leaders Leinster with heads held high in Dublin on Friday.
They slipped to their fifth straight defeat but kept the champion team in check and were 21-13 down when the final whistle arrived.
Spurred on by excellent scrumhalf Morne van den Berg the Lions showed great resolve in defence and went toe-to-toe with Leinster in the collisions. Apart from a wonky line-out they acquitted themselves well at set piece. They had a 90% tackle completion rate while their discipline was again exemplary. “We conceded just eight penalties,” said Van Rooyen. “I think our average is nine per game and that is what we strive for. I think our attitude in defence was self evident,” said Van Rooyen.What pleased the coach most was the manner in which the young players in the group rose to the challenge. “We finished the game with a lot of young players.
Perhaps equally deflating were the injuries suffered by prop Morgan Naude and centre Burger Odendaal. The extent of their injuries are not yet known but Van Rooyen believes Naude's injury is more severe.
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