Lions' magical performance against All Blacks sends URC warning shot
OPINION: The way in which the Lions took the contest to the All Blacks in their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry match at 10Bet Ellis Park should announce them as a major threat in the United Rugby Championship.
The Lions produced the best performance of all South African teams, including the Springboks, in their 35-41 defeat in Johannesburg on Tuesday night.
*Also read: VIDEO: Francke Horn’s full-circle family moment against New Zealand
The most impressive part was how Ivan van Rooyen’s men fought fire with fire and scored five beautiful tries by staying true to their game and really challenging the All Blacks in the high-tempo style the New Zealanders punted so tirelessly in the build-up to the series.
Their defence was simply outstanding, and while the All Blacks’ lightning-quick breakdown work alone would have been enough to rattle most teams, the Lions kept their cool despite visible fatigue creeping in towards the end of the first half.
Naturally, an outing like that had a good few standout performers.
Scrumhalf Nico Steyn was a man possessed as he delivered a performance that’d have you thinking he was the Bok scrumhalf in the Lions team.
He opened the scoring and gave a brilliant overhead pass to create the Lions’ third try, while his box kick laid the foundation for their fourth score. And then there was that turnover…
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Man-of-the-Match Siba Mahashe was sensational, with that intercept and long-distance sprint probably his most stunning contribution. But it’s far from all he did.
His silky-smooth ball carrying was key in the Lions’ fourth try, and he was no less impressive on defence.
Francke Horn led from the front, and Ruan Delport was colossal, while Chris Smith was as instrumental in this clash as he had been in last season’s URC campaign, just better, as he played arguably the game of his career and showed that it would be unfair to describe him as simply “metronomic” in future.
And that obliterating Lions scrum that had the All Blacks in reverse deserves its own mention.
But while many players can be praised for their individual brilliance, it was the team effort from the hosts that saw them lead the All Blacks for so long that they had fans entertaining the idea of a historic win.
Many would be quick to remind South Africans that this wasn’t the All Blacks’ main line-up, but it makes no difference to the Lions’ brilliance; they did better than the Sharks, the Bulls, and even the Stormers and provided a proper challenge despite having last played almost three months ago.
Imagine what this team can do when fully physically ready?
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While the Lions were everyone’s favourite underdog last season, never given a real chance at winning matches against competition big guns despite winning the South African Shield and reaching a historic first play-off, predictions of 50-plus point hammerings and praise for mere participation should be a thing of the past.
Yes, Leinster thumped them 59-10 in the quarters in Dublin last season, but that was their first-ever taste of URC play-off rugby. It was always going to be a baptism of fire.
The Lions’ performance was much needed after the Springboks’ disappointing loss to the All Blacks in the first Test at the same venue. It may not have been a win, but it certainly restored pride.
And after that performance against the Kiwis during their preseason with zero match fitness – being able to fight them like that – should have their fans and all lovers of beautiful rugby excited for what’s to come when the URC kicks off next month.
