Sloppy Lions ease past Kings
The Lions hardly moved out of first gear and produced a sloppy performance that would have given coach Johan Ackermann more than just heartburn.
However, despite being way below their best, they still had too much class for a Kings team that shows lots of endeavour, but lacks the quality that will make them competitive at the top end of Super Rugby.
Democratic Republic of Congo-born Madosh Tambwe scored his first Super Rugby tries.
The teenage wing failed to score on debut last weekend when the Johannesburg outfit romped to a 30-point victory over Australian visitors the Reds.
But Tambwe took just four minutes in Port Elizabeth to become a try scorer, intercepting a pass and racing over after the Kings had taken an early seven-point lead.
His second try during the first half at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was even simpler, collecting a pass on the tryline and dotting down.
Tambwe has been groomed by Lions coach Johan Ackermann and is starting for the 2016 Super Rugby runners-up because of an injury to Springbok Ruan Combrinck.
"Madosh is a really exciting prospect who has worked extremely hard to get where he is," said former Springbok lock Ackermann.
After scoring five converted tries to lead 35-12 at half-time, the Lions did not add to their total until four minutes from time.
A break after a line-out allowed flank Jaco Kriel to carry the ball into Kings "22" before sending centre Harold Vorster over.
It was a vital score, giving the Lions a six-three advantage in tries that earned a bonus point.
The match in the Indian Ocean city was unusual in that all 61 points came from tries and conversions, with no penalties or drop-goals scored.
Tambwe (to), hooker Malcolm Marx, flyhalf Elton Jantjies, Kriel and Vorster scored tries for the Lions.
Jantjies kicked five conversions and fullback Andries Coetzee one.
Flank Andisa Ntsila, wing Yaw Penxe and full-back Malcolm Jaer were Kings try scorers and flyhalf Lionel Cronje slotted two conversions.
The Lions host fellow South African side the Sharks next weekend while the Kings have a bye before a three-match tour of Australia.
Man of the match: Andisa Ntsila was a nuisance at the breakdown and showed some great strength with ball in hand. Chris Cloete also produced an enormous workrate. Malcolm Jaer was a threat on attack, the few opportunities he had. Rohan Janse van Rensburg had the odd decent run, Warren Whiteley was busy and Malcolm Marx was strong. However, the most productive player in the field was Lions flank Jaco Kriel – our man of the match.
The scorers:
For the Southern Kings:
Tries: Ntsila, Penxe, Jaer
Cons: Cronje 2
For the Lions:
Tries: Tambwe 2, Marx, Jantjies, Kriel, Vorster
Cons: Jantjies 5, Coetzee
Teams:
Southern Kings: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Lionel Cronje (captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Chris Cloete, 5 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 4 Irne Herbst, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Kurt Haupt, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Chris Heiberg, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Tyler Paul, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Johan Steyn, 22 Pieter-Steyn de Wet, 23 Luzuko Vulindlu.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jacques Nel, 23 Sylvian Mahuza.
Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge (South Africa), Egon Seconds (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
