Lions dispatch Cheetahs in emphatic fashion
CURRIE CUP MATCH REPORT: The Lions scored a bonus-point win over the Cheetahs on Saturday, to put them back in the race for a top-two finish.
Outscoring the Cheetahs by five tries to two, the Lions recorded an emphatic 39-23 win – with the Cheetahs’ two tries both second-half consolation efforts, after the game was already over as a contest.
The Lions set-pieces – scrums and line-outs – were far superior.
And from such a solid base they launched several raids, with the Cheetahs forced to make twice as many tackles as the Lions.
However, it is the 30-odd tackles the Cheetahs missed and their poor discipline (14 penalties) that really hurt them.
* As it happened. To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
Tian Schoeman opened the scoring with a penalty in the second minute, before Frans Steyn launched a monster from over 60 metres out.
Elton Jantjies (11th minute) and Schoeman (15th minute) then exchanged penalties.
The Lions thought they got the first try, when a powerful maul gave hooker Jaco Visagie the armchair ride over the line in the 24th minute. However, the TMO ruled the ball was held up.
However, they got their try soon afterwards – another maul, a few phases and big Willem Alberts barged over from close range. Jantjies added the conversion to make it 10-9, just short of the half-hour mark.
Five minutes before the break Jantjies slotted a penalty to stretch the lead to 13-9 – which is how it stayed to half-time.
The Lions started the second half in rousing fashion – a counter from deep inside their half, with Jaco Kriel running 60-odd metres before off-loading to André Warner for the try. Jantjies’ conversion attempt drifted wide – making it 18-9 after 42 minutes.
Five minutes later Warner got his second try, from a Willem Alberts offload, before veteran Springbok prop and former Bloemfontein resident Jannie du Plessis charged over to the great delight of his teammates. Jantjies made it 32-9 with the conversion of the second try.
Replacement Ruben de Haas pulled a try back for the Cheetahs (the Schoeman conversion making it 16-32), before Marvin Orie got the Lions’ fifth try from a series of forward raids. Jantjies made it 39-16 with the conversion.
The Cheetahs launched another impressive raid, with replacement Marnus van der Merwe worming his way over the line. Steyn added the conversion – 23-39 with 10 minutes remaining on the clock.
Despite the Cheetahs launching a couple of desperate raids, the Lions held on for a deserved win.
Man of the match: Elton Jantjies directed the show, while Vincent Tshituka and Marvin Orie were also impressive. However, three of the oldest players on the field were the most valuable to the Lions. Flank Jaco Kriel (31) was once again racing down the wing in full flight, setting up tries. Willem Alberts (36), playing lock instead of loose forward, provided the muscle the Lions’ pack needed. Our award goes to World Cup-winning veteran prop Jannie du Plessis (38) – the former Cheetahs player and resident of Bloemfontein – helped the Lions scrum win some set-piece penalties and still had enough energy to score a second-half try in a not insignificant contribution to the rout.
The scorers
For the Cheetahs
Tries: De Haas, Van der Merwe
Cons: Schoeman, Steyn
Pens: Schoeman 2, Steyn
For the Lions
Tries: Alberts, Warner 2, Du Plessis, Orie
Cons: Jantjies 4
Pens: Jantjies 2
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Malcolm Jaer, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Victor Sekekete, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Dries Swanepoel.
Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Willem Alberts, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Roelof Smit.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Griffon Colby
TMO: Jaco Peyper
