Emirates Lions Eye URC Playoffs as Haashiem Pead Awaits Breakthrough

The Emirates Lions’ United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign has been one of promise, grit and growing belief. Sitting seventh on the standings, the Johannesburg-based side remain firmly in contention for a coveted play-off berth, and former Springbok and Lions centre Gcobani Bobo believes there is much to admire about their season so far.

“They will be proud of their recent performances,” Bobo told SportsBoom.co.za. “They’ve shown a lot of fight, and the youngsters are really stepping up.”

Crucially, the Lions have bucked a long-standing trend of fading late in the season by delivering two statement victories on the road. They beat the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld and the Sharks in Durban.

“Traditionally, the Lions have fallen away towards the end of the season, but this time they’ve delivered two massive results away from home,” Bobo said. “The important thing about those wins is that they came against much more fancied teams loaded with Springboks.”

He added: “The Lions have a young squad of soldiers who have really stood up, and you can’t take that away from them.” 

While acknowledging the progress made under head coach Ivan van Rooyen, Bobo was clear about what success should now look like.

“The Lions still have a chance to finish in the top eight and make the URC play-offs. That should be their target,” he said. “If they don’t achieve that, it would be a failure.”

Bobo suggested that patience with the rebuilding process can only stretch so far. “They’ve been building since 2022/23, and now is the time to draw a line in the sand. They must ask themselves what is needed to be successful, or whether change is required. You can’t keep doing the same thing and fall away at the end every season.” 

One of the season’s biggest talking points has been the management of young scrum-half Haashiem Pead. The lively No.9 burst onto the global stage at the World Rugby U20 Championship, where South Africa lifted the title and his performances drew comparisons with French star Antoine Dupont.

Despite that rise and a recent nomination for SA Junior Player of the Year, an award he is widely tipped to win, Pead has seen limited minutes at URC level. With Springbok scrum-half Morne van den Berg and former Junior Springbok Nico Steyn also in the squad, competition has been intense.

Fans have voiced their frustration, but Bobo urged a more measured view. “I can imagine how frustrating it must be for him,” he said. “He was touted as one of the players who broke Antoine Dupont’s records at the U20 World Championship, and now he’s getting limited opportunities.”

However, he stressed that unseen factors matter. “We as the public are not at training. We don’t see whether he’s meeting the requirements or the performance metrics the coaches use. The step up from U20 rugby to the URC is massive, especially in terms of game management and leading a team.”

While some believe Pead should have featured earlier, Bobo feels patience remains key. “Yes, maybe he could have been given a chance earlier, but we don’t know if he was ticking all the boxes. I’ve been impressed by him, but he shouldn’t be entitled to the jersey. He must earn it. I praise him for keeping his head up and staying positive.” 

Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has also defended his approach, describing it as a balancing act between three quality scrum-halves.

“We’re super excited about all our nines,” Van Rooyen said. “Hash is a special player. The way he speeds up our game is incredible. He’s had good exposure touring with us and learning the bigger picture.”

“We’re as excited about him as everyone else is, and we’re confident he can make a difference when given the opportunity.”

With momentum building and belief growing, the Lions now have a genuine chance to turn potential into tangible success and finally secure a place in the URC play-offs.

Credits SportsBoom: link: https://www.sportsboom.co.za/rugby/exclusive-former-bok-tips-lions-to-sneak-into-urc-playoffs