Boan Winter strengthens the Lions squad ahead of the United Rugby Championship tournament

Lions coach Ivan van Ruyen expressed his belief in Hashim Pead's potential, stating that the player could have a significant impact on the team in the upcoming United Rugby Championship (URC) season.

The Lions made it clear that they view the young Springbok Hashim Pead as a future international player, despite attempts by the Stormers to recruit him. This young midfielder was one of the topics discussed before the start of the new URC season after the Stormers put forward a transfer offer, but 21-year-old Pead decided to stay in Johannesburg.

Lions coach Cash van Ruyen believes there is still much for Pead to reveal and promised him a more significant role in the coming season. Van Ruyen noted: 'I am proud of his first season with us. He joined us after the U20 World Cup and did not participate in our pre-season training. But he has played 15 matches with us, which shows some trust from our side. He is an exceptional player.'

Van Ruyen sees Pead as a player capable of changing the course of a match, rather than just occupying a position. He emphasized: 'We want Hashim to create moments of magic for us. He is that kind of player. I am confident he will get more minutes. I am confident he will get more opportunities. I am confident he can become a Springbok with us.'

The Lions deliberately managed Pead's workload during the Currie Cup, as van Ruyen explained that the goal was to prepare the young athlete for the demands of the URC, not just to provide him with domestic appearances. He added: 'We didn't give him too much time in the Currie Cup. We wanted to prepare him and get him in shape for matches against the All Blacks and for the URC, instead of just giving him Currie Cup games.'

The Lions' strong pre-season preparation, which included a daring 41-35 loss to the All Blacks in Johannesburg, raised expectations ahead of the URC. However, Pead is not the only interesting option at the midfield position. Morne van den Berg has established himself in the Springboks squad and may be absent from the Lions for long periods, making squad depth at this position particularly important.

Nico Stein, who is himself a former junior Springbok, also impressed against the All Blacks. Van Ruyen believes that all three midfielders bring something unique. He observed: 'All three have an exceptional X-factor. All three have very good kicking game. You cannot start a season with only one midfielder. They are all different horses for different tasks, different game plans.'

The team's task will be to satisfy all three players while utilizing their contrasting strengths. Van Ruyen concluded: 'Obviously, all players want to start every game. But we must find a way to use them all wisely.'

Damian Willemse, the Springboks fullback, played a crucial role in South Africa overcoming a 1-0 deficit to defeat the All Blacks 3-1, thereby winning the title of 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry'.

Willemse, a versatile defender for the Springboks, already has two World Cup medals and participation in the triumph of the British & Irish Lions, but his final phase of international career in matches brought another significant achievement.

He became a key figure for the South African team, which managed to turn the tide of the matches to beat the All Blacks 3-1 in the debut four-match series of the 'Greatest Rugby Rivalry'. Willemse was significantly involved in the 43-28 victory in Baltimore, following his return from an injury that caused him to miss the second match. This win added another special achievement to his already impressive international career.

At only 28 years old, he achieved more than most players throughout their careers, yet he dedicated his success to the favorable environment and the privilege of wearing the green and gold colours. Willemse stated: 'Yes, it is very special. When you step onto the field representing the Springboks, and the Springboks are in your heart, you just want to go out there and make everyone proud—your teammates, your family, and South Africa.'

He continued: 'When I go out there with all my friends and buddies, it is a dream come true. So this victory belongs not only to us; it also belongs to South Africa.'

The achievement became even more valuable due to the Springboks' ability to turn the series around after losing the first test match at Ellis Park stadium. After South Africa lost first place in the world rankings following a 33-16 defeat in Johannesburg, the team responded with three consecutive victories: in Cape Town (33-26), Soweto (29-24), and finally in Baltimore, concluding the series 3-1.

Willemse believes that the failure in the first match forced the group to look at themselves more closely, which triggered the desired reaction. He noted that after the first match, there were certain aspects of the game they needed to work on, and perhaps they had not been paying enough attention to them.

He added that this allowed the group to do internal work, help each other, improve the game, and focus completely. He expressed gratitude to the coaching staff for developing plans and solutions that helped them regain confidence after the first match. He emphasized that it was a huge event, especially for many players for whom it was one of the first major series, and the team's growth during the National Series is a significant positive point.

The final match in Baltimore was physically demanding as the All Blacks tried to level the score after halftime. They increased the pace and tried to unsettle the world champions. Nevertheless, South Africa's defence repeatedly repelled attacks at the try line, keeping the opponent at bay.

Willemse was particularly proud of how the team reacted when New Zealand pressured them before halftime, and he was glad they maintained their composure. He noted that it was a difficult match, and they expected its difficulty. He also mentioned that New Zealand, being down 2-1, aimed to attack and level the series.

However, in his opinion, the decisive factor was how they reacted after halftime when the opponent scored a try. The team stuck to its principles, implemented the plans developed during the break, and he is very proud of all the team members, the coaching staff, and all participants for finding answers and playing decisively. Overall, he expressed satisfaction with the series victory, noting that it means a great deal to them and to South Africa.