The Lions are eyeing more local derby success in the United Rugby Championship (URC) following an inspiring win over the Stormers this past weekend.

🎓 Hoërskool Linden's graduate Morne van der Berg goes supersonic 💨

Quan Horn showcasing @Paarl_Boishaai skills 🔥@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO | #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/YhrXyWwcwz
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However, they can't celebrate the victory too long as the Bulls await at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the return Jukskei derby, another crucial outing for the Johannesburg side.

While they didn't get the opportunity to surpass the Cape outfit on the official URC points log, they are only one point from it with two games in hand. A bonus point win this weekend will also see them surge into the top eight.

“We haven't beaten the Stormers in a while and this makes it worthwhile.”

“We haven't beaten the Stormers in a while and this makes it worthwhile,” Van Rooyen said about the performance.

“There are still a lot of things we can look at, but I think we looked a lot more comfortable in the chaos, which against the Bulls (a couple of weeks ago) we didn't.

“This is a big month for us, is it not,” he added about the derbies left to play against the Bulls and Sharks.

𝗙![CDATA[]]>𝗨![CDATA[]]>𝗟![CDATA[]]>𝗟 𝗧![CDATA[]]>𝗜![CDATA[]]>𝗠![CDATA[]]>𝗘 | Emirates Lions 30 – 23 DHL Stormers
Back to winning ways…#LIOvSTO #ForOurCity @vodacom #URC | #HitsDifferent
#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/tzaYnNargE
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) February 15, 2025

Apart from going to Loftus this weekend, the Lions must still face the Sharks home and away in the local derbies before the run-in of the URC.

The win over the Cape side should give them plenty of confidence going into the next few weeks.

“We want to play more consistently against the South African teams. Looking over the last couple of seasons, where we play them twice if you can win your home games, for instance, it would make a 16 to 20-point difference on the general log.

“This win was important for us. It will be equally important to prepare well for the Bulls.”

“This win was important for us. It will be equally important to prepare well for the Bulls. It will be interesting playing the same team twice in a row (the Sharks). We are happy with the win, but there are three tough and physical games coming."

Lions captain Francke Horn believes they've gotten the proverbial monkey off their backs by finally breaking their losing streak at home against the Stormers.

He, alongside Player of the Match Quan Horn, outside centre Henco van Wyk and scrum half Morne van den Berg were outstanding.

“It was still not perfect, because we would've loved a bonus point.”

“This is a good step in the right direction for us. It was still not perfect, because we would've loved a bonus point. But, we got the win. In the end, it was quite scrappy, but that is the character of this team. We can fight to the final whistle and make sure we get the victory.

“It was a really good effort.”

Van Rooyen added that they were disappointed having scored three tries in the first 40 minutes and not going on to get the fourth one. He assured, though, that it is not something that concerns the side.

😎 Henco van Wyk droppin' @HMonument game 😎

Quan Horn doin' @Paarl_Boishaai proud 🤝@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO | #OriginRound #GrassrootsToGreatness pic.twitter.com/DTph7yRJUL
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) February 15, 2025

According to him, they created opportunities in the second half which could've been used to score another five-pointer for that five points.

The coach also raised a slight concern about the high penalty count and added conceding 14 is not where they want to be.

“We can be a little more accurate. Those offside penalties you can't concede. The goal is to give away between six and eight per game, but 14 penalties are too many.”