Gauteng team need to figure out how to win on the road to find better consistency, says ex-Bok

Former Springbok flyhalf Butch James, a member of the Lions squad that won the Currie Cup in 2011 after a 12-year hiatus, believes the class of 2026 has what it takes to reach the top.

They might not have the established superstars of other franchises in the United Rugby Championship (URC), but the Johannesburg side has the potential to match the best of them.

James is ambassador for the 10bet Lions, who suffered a demoralising setback in France this weekend when lock Hyron Andrews was found dead in his hotel room ahead of their Champions match Cup match against La Rochelle, which the Johannesburg team played despite the tragedy, losing 31-14.

The former flyhalf said coach Ivan van Rooyen’s men have all the ingredients for success.

“They probably just have to be consistent,” James told Sunday Times.

“They play so nicely at home at Ellis Park and then when they go away they seem to let themselves down a bit. So if they can consistently play as well as they do at home I think they could find themselves at the top of the table.”

The Lions have a few Springboks in scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, loosehead prop Boan Venter and fullback Quan Horn, but there were plenty of other players with ability.

“They might not have the superstars, but they have got a lot of really good players and I think they play nicely as a team, which we all know is really important.

“I don’t think it’s a huge factor that they don’t have the huge superstars. I think a lot of those youngsters are putting their hands up and every year they’re getting better and better. Maybe in the next couple of years they might have one or two superstars.”

That’s pretty much what the Lions did when they reached three straight Super Rugby finals from 2016 to 2018, though they lost all three matches.

Part of that team were players like Malcolm Marx, Franco Mostert and Faf de Klerk, who all made their debut for the national side in 2016.

I think Julian [Redelinghuys, scrum coach] is doing great work with their tight five and they’re dominating set pieces. I think they’re going to grow nicely, that tight five.

—  Butch James

James was particularly impressed with the Lions tight five, which largely held their own against the Bulls in their third-round URC encounter.

“There’s a lot of them in the pack that are standing out, I like Venter. I think Francke Horn has been incredible as a captain.

“I think Julian [Redelinghuys, scrum coach] is doing great work with their tight five and they’re dominating set pieces. I think they’re going to grow nicely, that tight five.”

Redelinghuys was part of that Lions team too.

James, 47, played 42 matches for the Springboks from 2001 to 2012. He was flyhalf for Jake White’s Boks who won the World Cup in France in 2007.

He made 132 appearances for the Sharks, losing in two Super Rugby finals, and played for Bath Rugby and the Golden Lions, hanging up his boots in 2013.