Seventh, and Everything That Came With It

THE FINAL POSITION. Seventh on 54 points, with 532 scored and 473 conceded for a difference of plus 59. Twelve bonus points — more than Munster, Cardiff, the Stormers or the Bulls collected. Level on points with Connacht in eighth and separated by the win column.

THE START. Three matches, three defeats, all in Europe. Cardiff 33-20 at the Arms Park on 27 September. Zebre Parma 22-20 in Emilia-Romagna on 5 October — a two-point loss, and the first time the Italian club had ever beaten the Lions. Benetton 41-15 in Treviso on 11 October. Nine days, three defeats, and no log points at all.

THE RECOVERY. The Scarlets were beaten 29-18 at Ellis Park on 18 October and Ulster 49-31 the following week. On 29 November the Lions went to Loftus Versfeld and beat the Vodacom Bulls 43-33 — an away derby win against a side that would reach the Grand Final, and the single most under-discussed result of the Lions' season.

THE MIDDLE. The Stormers won 34-27 in Cape Town in December. The Sharks were beaten 23-22 at Kings Park on 3 January, by a single point. Ospreys drew 24-24 in Swansea. And then, on 31 January at Ellis Park, the Bulls won 52-17 — the heaviest home defeat of the Lions' URC era and the one blemish on an otherwise outstanding home record.

THE SHIELD. On 28 February the Stormers came to Ellis Park and were beaten 24-10. That result gave the Lions the South African Shield for the first time.

THE RUN-IN. Edinburgh 54-17. Dragons 42-26. Glasgow Warriors 54-12 — the log leaders, beaten by 42 points. Connacht 33-21. Five straight home wins, 216 points scored.

THE FINISH. Leinster won 31-7 in Dublin and Munster 24-17 in Limerick, and the quarter-final at the Aviva on 30 May ended 59-10. A first play-off appearance, and a chastening one.