Big, tough rugged men who backed down from no-one and could taste blood a mile away.
They seemed to have disappeared for a while but they were back in big numbers at Ellis Park in Johannesburg yesterday.
The Lions manhandled the Highlanders for much of the Super rugby semifinal, winning 42-30 after leading 17-6 at halftime.
The Lions deserved the win - if anything, the scoreline flattered the Highlanders, who scored 19 points in the final quarter of an hour of the match.
The Lions were relentless, tough and hard in the ruck and maul and too strong at the set piece, and could sniff out a chance and take it.
The Highlanders always looked a tad slow. The patience was not there and ball security had to be better.
The home team was expert at getting over the advantage line and its loose forwards dominated the match, getting on the front foot and not giving the Highlanders any chance at the breakdown.
The killer blow came five minutes into the second half.
Impressive Lions first five-eighth Elton Jantjies spotted a break in the Highlanders defence within sight of his own tryline.
He sped round a couple of tight forwards, ran 40m and then drew the last defender, offloading to electric winger Courtnall Skosan, who dashed away to score.
That pushed the score out to 25-6 and though the Highlanders scored straight from the kick-off through Matt Faddes, the climb back was too steep.
When big flanker Jaco Kriel got on the end of a Jantjies cross kick to score in the corner, giving his side a 24-point lead, it was game, set and match to the home team.
The Highlanders put some nice stuff together at the end but the game was over.
Best for the Highlanders were winger Waisake Naholo and midfielder Malakai Fekitoa, while up front lock Alex Ainley tried hard and replacement hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate was into everything.
The Lions looked dangerous in the first half and their set piece was the foundation for much of their game.
The Lions scrum was super strong throughout and got them on the front foot.
The home team scored its first try after just nine minutes.
The Highlanders had a golden chance in the opening minutes when Ben Smith made a break but winger Patrick Osborne could not quite get clear.
The Lions came right back and rolled to the line for Jantjies to dive over under the posts. He converted the try to get his side on the board.
Sopoaga and Jantjies then traded penalties until just before the 25-minute mark, when the Lions were in again.
A poor pass from Faddes led to Lions second five-eighth Rohan Janse van Rensburg picking the ball up and scampering 60m to score.
The Highlanders had chances, none more so than when Elliot Dixon dropped the ball in the act of scoring, after good work from Naholo and Fekitoa.
Sopoaga added a penalty in the final act of the first half to double his side's score.
Super rugby
Semifinal scores
Yesterday
Lions 42
Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel, Lourens Erasmus tries; Jantjies 4 con, 3 pen
Highlanders 30
Matt Faddes, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Joe Wheeler tries; Sopoaga 2 con, 2 pen
Halftime: 17-6
Saturday
Hurricanes 25
Beauden Barrett, Willis Halaholo, Victor Vito tries; Barrett 2 con, 2 pen
Chiefs 9
Damian McKenzie 3 pen
Haltime: 15-6
