Altitude no longer in play for the Lions

It has been a particular busy news week as far as it concerns South Africa’s best Super Rugby side, the Lions. They have been making headlines for more reasons than just their unexpected defeat against the Blues.

The far-reaching affects of that loss, albeit in the last seconds of the closely-contested game, could have direct influence on the national team’s fortunes this year as well.

With the Lions still having a handy lead on top of the South African Conference, it is the Blues who are sitting at the bottom of the New Zealand Conference, not that any Kiwi side should ever be considered as weak, as the Blues indeed proved.

But almost ironically it’s the Bulls who have recorded the only win over a Kiwi side – the Hurricanes – while the Stormers suffered two massive defeats on the road to two other Kiwi powerhouses, the Crusaders and the Highlanders.

But what does develop into a major concern for the Lions is that in all three of their home matches they have failed to take full advantage of the dreaded altitude factor, once thought to be their biggest ally.

Against the Sharks, the Jaguares and now the Blues, it was the visiting teams who rocked the home side with a lot of tries and points being scored in the last 20 minutes, when the altitude factor is supposed to really kick in.

Against the Sharks and the Jaguares, it didn’t cost the Lions the win but against the Blues it did.

Lions flanker Kwagga Smith said they probably missed the calming influence of their injured skipper Warren Whiteley during that vital last quarter, when the side probably started to panic a bit, according to the now former Sevens star.

It could, however, also be a sign that the Lions will probably have to tweak their running at all cost approach, because at times they need to show the maturity to tighten the screws.

Lions hooker Malcolm Marx also touched on the subject when he said they could sense the Blues were more tired and suffered more from fatigue in the last 20 minutes, but yet it was the visitors who showed the resilience to score the final two tries of the match.

But Marx did point out that it’s maybe better it happened rather now than later.

In the end it would benefit SA rugby if the Lions showed more composure.