The Lions are sitting fourth on the URC log with three rounds left — a position this franchise has never been in before — and the belief inside the camp has shifted accordingly. Scrum coach Julian Redelinghuys stopped short of making bold promises but didn't shy away from the question either, saying the squad has the physicality, the game model, and crucially, the consistency to go deep into the playoffs.
The piece points to a few converging factors behind the Lions' rise: an early Challenge Cup exit that gave them extra prep time, growing squad depth, and the impact of players like Chris Smith. Their 50-point demolition of log-leaders Glasgow is framed less as a fluke and more as evidence of a genuine structural improvement built over time. The immediate focus is Connacht at Ellis Park — a team that just beat the Stormers — before a tough tour to face Leinster and Munster. Home ground advantage in the knockouts is identified as the key variable. Worth reading if you want the inside view on whether this Lions revival has real legs.