Lions hold off Cheetahs comeback in Bloem try-feast

MATCH REPORT: The Lions took a massive leap towards the Currie Cup play-offs with a bonus-point win over the Cheetahs in a nine-try thriller in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Outscoring their hosts by six tries to three, the Lions moved to within one point of securing a place in the tournament’s semifinal round.

More significantly, they stayed in touch with the unbeaten Bulls ahead of next week’s Trans-Jukskei derby – a match that could easily decide who finishes top of the standings.

Both teams in Bloemfontein favoured a high-paced expansive approach, but the Lions were just a bit more clinical in the opening quarter.

The one aspect the Cheetahs could dominate was the scrum, earning penalties in the first two set pieces.

However, after dominating the scrums for the first hour, the arrival of Asenathi Ntlabakanye allowed the Lions to win a crucial scrum penalty.

Also, the 38 missed tackles (a tackle completion rate of just 75 percent) counted heavily against the home team.

* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!

* Article continues below …

After a scrappy start – including a couple of early penalties – Tapiwa Mafura put the Lions within metres from the Cheetahs’ line with a well-struck 50-22 kick. Renzo du Plessis, after the initial maul was halted, worked his way over the line with brute force. Kade Wolhuter added the conversion – 7-0 to the visitors in as many minutes.

Prop RF Schoeman put the Lions further ahead when he charged over from close range – a try set up when the visitors raced down the left wing, with Mafura again heavily involved. The Wolhuter conversion made it 14-0 after nine minutes.

Just past the quarter mark Cheetahs flyhalf Ethan Wentzel was yellow-carded for cynically slapping the ball down with a clear linebreak by the Lions.

From a subsequent line-out, captain Jaco Visagie broke away and charged clear for his team’s third try. Wolhuter made it 21-0 with the conversion.

It was now the Cheetahs’ turn to cough up some penalties, as they made errors in their desperation to get back into the contest.

Daniel Kasende joined his Cheetahs teammate in the sin bin, after a high tackle on Mafura.

From the subsequent line-out, centre Rynhardt Jonker produced a sublime crossfield kick to Rabz Maxwane, who scored the bonus-point try. Wolhuter was wide of the mark with his conversion attempt – 26-0 after on the half-hour mark.

The Cheetahs finally fired some shots in anger – a scrum penalty, followed by a maul and a series of close-range forward raids saw hooker Corne Fourie going over for the home team’s opening points. Flyhalf Ethan Wentzel added the conversion to make it 7-26 at the half-time break.

After another scrum penalty against the Lions, the visitors sent gargantuan prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye into battle.

That did not stop the Cheetahs from being the first team to score after the break, with wing Daniel Kasende going over after a few forward raids and a sweeping move to the right. Wentzel narrowed the gap to 14-26 after 46 minutes.

The Lions countered with another moment of magic – centre Rynhardt Jonker playing scrumhalf at a ruck and launching a crossfield kick collected by Du Plessis, who darted over for his second try. The conversion was wide, but at 31-14, the Lions were still in a commanding position with 25 minutes remaining.

Continuing their comeback the Cheetahs replied with a powerful maul that saw Vernon Paulo going over just short of the hour mark. Replacement Reinhardt Fortuin added the conversion, making it a 10-point game- 21-31

The Cheetahs now started to dominate the territory and possession, but Paulo was penalised for crawling towards the line and allowing the Lions an easy exit.

With the Lions now enjoying a bit of territorial advantage, the Cheetahs attempted to break out from their 22 – allowing Tapiwa Mafura to launch a counter and send Kade Wolhuter over for the match-winning try. Wolhuter’s conversion made it 38-21 with four minutes remaining.

The Cheetahs continued to chase that four-try bonus point, but the Lions held firm for a deserved 38-21 win.

Man of the match: Flyer Daniel Kasende and captain Victor Sekekete were the most productive Cheetahs. For the Lions Rabz Maxwane (chasing high kicks and finishing one of his team’s six tries) and fullback Tapiwa Mafura (a former Cheetah that started a crucial counter for a match-winning try) were the most dangerous backs. Locks Darrien Landsberg (especially in the line-outs and mauls) and Ruben Schoeman put in huge performances for the visitors. Our award goes to Lions flank Renzo du Plessis – who was involved in everything, including winning crucial turnover penalties and scoring two tries.

The scorers

For the Cheetahs
Tries: Fourie, Kasende, Paulo
Cons: Wentzel 2, Fortuin

For the Lions
Tries: Du Plessis 2, RF Schoeman, Visagie, Maxwane, Wolhuter
Cons: Wolhuter 4

Yellow cards: Ethan Wentzel (Cheetahs, 23 – cynical foul, deliberate knock-on); Daniel Kasende (Cheetahs, 31 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Aidon Davis, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Pierre Uys, 20 Ulrich Stander, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin.

Lions: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Tiaan Wessels, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlman, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Luca Ribbens, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Marius Louw.

Referee: Morné Ferreira
TMO: Quinton Immelman

@king365ed
@rugby365com