The Lions gloriously played themselves back into Super Rugby contention at Ellis Park yesterday.
It wasn't just a precious win, but the manner in which they vanquished the Stormers that would have had others sitting up and taking notice.
However, it took a while for them to click into gear, and when they did they looked a potent force.
The Lions came into this match with the lingering subplot that saw playmaking flyhalf Elton Jantjies stood down for the clash. They hardly missed him.
His replacement, Shaun Reynolds, is a neat distributor and he showcased that skill splendidly. Out wide, Aphiwe Dyantyi played like a man whose confidence had been restored to optimum levels, Andries Coetzee continues to play with a spring in his step, while Lionel Mapoe grew more influential as the match developed.
It was upfront, however, where the Lions made the biggest impression. Front rowers Carlu Sadie, Malcolm Marx and Dylan Smith firmly came to grips with their perhaps more celebrated opposite numbers.
For all their possession in the first 25 minutes the Lions could not make much headway on the scoreboard. They squandered several opportunities of real promise in that period as poor handling and questionable decision-making conspired against them.
They rediscovered their roar after halftime and wrested the initiative with tries from Smith and a wonderful effort from turnover possession from Courtnall Skosan.
Lions(13) 41
Stormers(10) 22
Lions - Tries: Kwagga Smith (2), Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Hacjivah Dayimani; Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (4); Penalties: Reynolds;
Stormers: Tries: Johan du Toit, Herschel Jantjies, Joshua Stander; Conversions: Joshua Stander (2); Penalty: Stander;
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