Ivan van Rooyen hails 'in our hands' breakthrough as Lions take control of URC playoff push

The Lions head coach was speaking after his side extended their winning streak to six matches with a hard-fought victory over Connacht at Ellis Park, a result that lifted them into third place on the URC log and strengthened their push for a first-ever knockout qualification.

Van Rooyen was quick to underline how significant the position is for a team that has previously relied on other results going their way at this stage of the season.

"We're keeping ourselves alive, which is the nice part," he said. "It's in our hands. That's the difference compared to the last two or three years where we were hoping for results elsewhere."

While acknowledging the improved situation, he was careful not to suggest complacency had crept in.

"It doesn't make me sleep better, but it gives us confidence in our preparation. We've grown a lot as a team."

The Lions' rise into the top four conversation marks a notable turnaround after multiple campaigns where they faded in the closing stages of the competition.

Van Rooyen admitted those experiences have shaped the current group's mindset.

"In the last three seasons, we were outside the top eight chasing results. Now it's up to us to decide where we finish. The feeling is different."

He added: "We slipped up before, but this shows growth - from the players and the management. I'm proud of the hard work. I'm also relieved, but we're not there yet."

On the field, the Lions were forced to dig deep against an in-form Connacht side, with captain Francke Horn highlighting a crucial defensive stand that helped secure the win.

"There was a stage on our tryline where we defended for three to four minutes and managed to hold out," Horn said. "It was a massive defensive performance for 70 minutes."

Despite conceding two late tries, Horn praised the overall control shown by the squad.

"With a yellow card, they only scored seven points and we still scored. It shows maturity. It was a 23-man effort."

The result sets up a defining two-match tour of Ireland, where the Lions face Leinster and Munster as they close out their league phase campaign.

"It's a tough tour, but at least it's still up to us," Van Rooyen said. "We'll focus on Leinster first. The competition is so tight, and the top nine teams are all still in the mix."

The Lions will regroup after a short break before finalising their touring squad, knowing that for the first time in several seasons, their playoff destiny is no longer out of their control.

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