Lions grow in belief as Pead delivers when it counts

The SA Under-20 product came off the bench and finished the job, scoring the try that edged the Lions to a 23–22 URC victory at Kings Park.

The coach believes the youngster’s steady involvement in senior competitions this season has prepared him for those moments, adding that regular game-time at URC and Challenge Cup level is helping him adapt quickly to the demands of professional rugby.

"Haashim is a special player, I've been working hard with him and he has gotten great exposure after touring with us. We are just as excited about him as everyone else is, and I'm happy he could make the difference today."

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Pead was included on the bench as cover for Springbok scrumhalf Morné van den Berg, a call that paid off as the Lions backed youth in a high-stakes contest.

van Rooyen also pointed to the composure shown by his side during a difficult middle period of the match, after the Lions were reduced to 14 players for almost 20 minutes.

Facing a Sharks team packed with international experience, the visitors resisted the urge to chase the game.

Instead, they stuck to their structures, managed territory well, and limited damage while down a man.

The coach says those moments reflect a group that is starting to understand how to close out tight matches.

The result sees the Lions begin the new week seventh on the URC table, keeping them within touching distance of the playoff places as the season takes shape.

For the Sharks, the loss leaves them 14th on the standings and hands head coach JP Pietersen his first defeat since taking charge.

van Rooyen brushed aside talk of records at Kings Park, saying the focus remains on performance rather than venues.

He added that the real positive is how consistently the Lions are staying in games, regardless of opposition.

"We won't dwell on how many years or how many games, we just want to stay in the moment. Obviously, this shows that we're a lot more competitive, but we won't get side-tracked."

Captain Francke Horn says the response during the red-card period set the tone for the closing stages of the match.

He adds that belief never faded, even under sustained pressure, and that the squad always felt a result was possible.

Horn believes that mindset will be crucial as the Lions prepare for upcoming URC challenges against Munster and Glasgow Warriors.

"We said to ourselves, whatever happens, we just need to deal with it and carry on playing our game. There was always that belief that we could win."