Lions coach measured as they knock over European giants: 'Our best character fight all season'

Lions flanker Emmanuel Tshituka scores one of his two tries against Leinster at Ellis Park on Saturday.

It might come across as strange for Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen to label Saturday's sterling 44-12 demolition of Leinster as passing a character test - with distinction it would seem - but it's important to remember that there's a bit of history involved here. Last season, the men from Doornfontein had been playing sumptuous rugby to establish a 36-21 foothold over what was admittedly very green opponents, only to inexplicably disintegrate and hand the grateful Irish heavyweights a 39-36 comeback win.

Van Rooyen and his coaching staff didn't necessarily obsess about absorbing lessons from that painful experience, though it was at the back of the mind.South Africans need to be in the know if we want to create a prosperous future. News24 has kept the country informed for 25 years, and we're about to enter a new chapter of fearless journalism. Join our free subscription trial to unlock this story and a world of news aimed to inform, empower, and inspire.

Ivan Van Rooyen Urc

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