HOW LIONS BECAME ALPHAS

There were a few key factors during the season that helped the Lions march into a home Super Rugby final, against the Crusaders at Ellis Park on Saturday. Here, rugby writer highlights his 10 pivotal moments, which have contributed to getting the Lions in

The Lions started the season without first choice props Julian Redelinghuys and Dylan Smith, Ruan Combrinck was missing, Warwick Tecklenburg had hung up his boots, Howard Mnisi was out for the season and back-up No 10s Marnitz Boshoff had left the union and Jaco van der Walt was injured. And now, halfway through Rohan Janse van Rensburg was out too, and later Warren Whiteley would also see his season end. But their depth carried them through the setbacks.