Lions centre Henco van Wyk was unlucky not to make it to the first Springbk alignment camp, but strong performances going forward for the Joburg side could see him stay in the national picture going forward.
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The Lions are turning heads across the United Rugby Championship (URC) after spectacularly clinching their first-ever South African Shield title — and their resurgence has not gone unnoticed in the Springbok camp.
A handful of standout performers have already played their way into the first Bok alignment camp under head coach Rassie Erasmus, but the door remains wide open for more Lions players to force their way into national squad camps — and potentially into matchday action with the world champions later this year.
Following a string of impressive URC victories, the Johannesburg outfit sits comfortably inside the Top 8. With a couple of crucial home fixtures still to come, they have a golden opportunity to cement their place and secure a first-ever playoff appearance in the URC era.
That will also secure them a first-ever place in the European Champions Cup next season.
For Erasmus, watching the Lions rediscover their edge has been particularly satisfying. The franchise was a powerhouse during the latter years of Super Rugby, under former coaches Johan Ackermann and Swys de Bruin, but that dominance has yet to translate consistently to the URC.
Currently, scrumhalves Morné van den Berg and Haashim Pead, fullback Quan Horn, prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, utility forward Ruan Venter and loose forward Bathobile Hlekani are attending the national camp. Van den Berg, Horn, Ntlabakanye and Venter have had their taste of Bok under Erasmus, while flanker Renzo du Plessis attended one of the camps last year.
“When Lions players come into the camps, you don’t have to worry about their attitudes,” Erasmus said of the Johannesburg side.
“All of the coaches here who have worked with them will tell you they have great attitudes. They just want to help the team. Not that I’m speaking ill of the other franchises, but I think it comes from their grind.
“They lost in Super Rugby, lost coaches. It’s not always easy to attract crowds to their stadium, and when you’re not winning, when your stadium isn’t centrally located, and players are leaving, you have to be a really gutsy player to stay.
“I think something similar is happening at the Sharks as well — although it’s not quite as difficult to stay in Durban as it might be in Joburg.”
The Lions are building towards something special this season and showed with their recent SA derby victories that they are no longer just looking to be competitive; they want to establish themselves as contenders. And if this trajectory continues, the Springbok pipeline from Johannesburg may only grow stronger.