'War hero' Ruan Dreyer illustrates why the Lions have started winning again in URC

Gnarled veterans aren't exactly in high supply at Ellis Park, which is why it's no coincidence that the Lions' heartening up-swing in form in the United Rugby Championship has been associated with the return to form of several senior players.

It's become abundantly clear throughout the season that experience matters in this competition, even if it's merely to complement an emerging group of stars.

No man provided a more telling reminder of that than Ruan Dreyer, who - along with his front-row partner JP Smith - was instrumental in taking the lead in terms of grunt, guts and work ethic that saw the Lions claim a famous 23-21 victory over Munster at the weekend.

Dreyer and Smith are two of only six players in the current group that are older than 30.

They had come on as part of a whole new front row in the 50th minute and were patently superb.

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"Ruan's face after the game said everything," quipped Julian Redelinghuys, the Lions' scrum coach, on Tuesday.

"He had a broken nose and a little afro standing on his head. All the signs were there that he was in the wars. But it's wonderful to see a guy like him working so hard."

Not that Redelinghuys and the rest of team management consider that a mere courtesy.

"That's what you expect from senior players, the leaders in your group. When they come on, they give stability, clarity and a little bit of calmness along with a massive work rate," he said.

"That's encouraging to see because it's so clear that you need that input from the guys who have been playing for a long time."

Dreyer and co's resurgence forms part of a broader theme of the so-called heavies playing their part in producing what was easily the best defensive showing