Welcome to fortress Ellis Park
Beating the table-topping Western Province 35-33 has given Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann hope that they could turn Ellis Park into an impenetrable fortress.
Heading into the encounter in Johannesburg at the weekend the visitors had been unbeaten so far this season, but the Lions showed that teams should not bank on earning easy points – as they claimed their third victory from three attempts at home.
"We hope that the teams would see that it is difficult here [at Ellis Park], I think every team strive to make it difficult on their home ground," Ackermann said.
"The guys enjoy playing here and we are proud to have kept our unbeaten record at home in tact."
The match was a display of everything the South African public hold so dear in the Currie Cup, with both teams playing with reckless abandon.
Since taking the reins at the Lions, Ackermann has made no secret of the brand he expected of his charges – which was to entertain their supporters with an expansive game.
Late in the second half the Lions had scored five tries before Province added two more in the dying moments of the match to make it three.
"That's why I was so disappointed about the standard of play after the Bulls game," he said, adding: "When I mentioned the words boring, because it was [boring], if you look at the quality of game [this weekend] from both sides," Ackermann said.
"It was individual brilliance from both sides from Lionel Mapoe, Armand van der Merwe, Albertus Smith, Jaco Kriel then Cheslin Kolbe for Province with the try he created."
Van der Merwe was instrumental throughout the match and along with relative rookie flyhalf Jaco van der Walt they kept the Province defence guessing.
Taking advantage of playing at altitude the Lions beat Province at their own game.
"We said at 14-13 at half-time if we can get points early and put them under pressure the altitude and the temp would probably catch up with them.
"When we scored the two tries and started stretching the lead we knew we could pull it through but at the end they made the comeback and luckily time ran out."
The victory could come at a price for the Lions, as lock Luvuyiso Lusaseni and replacement hooker Malcolm Marx left the field injured.
Source: SAPA
