Departing Burger signs off at Lions with a smile and win: 'No-one remembers a loss'

Pickings are a bit slim at Ellis Park nowadays, which explains why a muted Burger Odendaal was satisfied with simply winning his final home fixture in a Lions jersey.

The dependable, underrated midfielder has easily been the franchise's most consistent performer in the inaugural United Rugby Championship campaign and proven a worthwhile investment after being signed from Loftus in mid-2020.

But the 29-year-old will now be reunited with his former Bulls director of rugby John Mitchell at Wasps in England at the conclusion of the season.

READ | Lions end home run in URC on a high note with victory over gallant Benetton

"It was great to get a win," Odendaal said following this weekend's 37-29 victory over Italian heavyweights Benetton.

"Your last game at your [current] home ground is always one you want to remember with a victory. If the last one is a loss, it's not one you really want to remember at all. I'm really glad we pulled it through.

"I'm looking forward to my final game [later this month against the Dragons] and we'll be going with the mindset that we have nothing to lose. We can just go and express ourselves."

Typically, Odendaal was at the heart of one of the game's most crucial moments, breaking down the openside to launch the run that allowed wing Edwill van der Merwe to score the try that instigated the Lions' comeback.

He also chuckled heartily after being asked about the tap he took after the whistle, a decision that backfired as the hosts lost possession and allowed the Italians to score a bonus point try.

Poetry in motion ??@Vodacom #URC #LIOvBEN #NorthvsSouth #SSRugby @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/VxUwz0TVWE

"Yeah, unfortunately we couldn't get that one over the try-line," Odendaal said with a big smile.

"We