Lions steal it at the death
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The Lions pinched a 20-16 Super Rugby win over the Rebels with a converted try from centre Lionel Mapoe two minutes from time in Melbourne on Friday.
Mapoe broke through to score and give the Johannesburg-based Lions the lead for the first time in the match after trailing 13-0 early.
It was the Lions' gritty defence which won them the game with both of their tries coming after defending multi-phases from the Rebels.
It was the Lions' second win of the season and comes after a heavy 6-34 loss to the Crusaders in New Zealand last weekend.
The Rebels dominated possession and led 13-3 at half-time after tries by Mitch Inman and Jonah Placid but despite a welter of possession they could not break down the Lions stout-hearted defence.
The Lions scored a long-range try after a break down the right wing by Sampie Mastriet who drew the last defender before sending flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff racing over to score under the crossbar.
Mike Harris, who had an off-night, landing two from five attempts, kicked the Rebels ahead 16-13 with a 66th-minute penalty before the Lions struck back in the final minutes to clinch a fighting win.
It was the Rebels' seventh straight loss at home with their last three wins all coming away from home.
It was rare victory for the Lions, who had lost eight of their last nine trips to Australia but it was the Johannesburg-based side's first visit to Melbourne to play the Rebels.
The Lions stay in Australia and face the Reds in Brisbane next Friday while the Rebels cross the Tasman to play the Hurricanes.
Man of the match: Mike Harris looked very accomplished for the Rebels in the flyhalf position, his halfback partner Nick Stirzaker did not look too shabby either. Scott Higginbotham was immense as usual in all aspects of his play, a real captains knock! For the Lions the loose forward pair of Warrick Tecklenburg and Warren Whiteley were massive, especially in defence and as such Whiteley deserves the award for his 25 tackles in an absolute crunch battle!
Scorers:
For the Rebels:
Tries: Inman, Placid
Pens: Harris 2
For the Lions:
Tries: Boshoff, Mapoe
Cons: Jantjies 2
Pens: Jantjies 2
Yellow cards: Franco Mostert (Lions, 4 – Cynical play, offsides at the ruck) Steven Cummins (Rebels, 60 – foul play, dangerous tackle)
Teams:
Rebels: 15 Jonah Placid, 14 Dom Shipperley, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Mitch Inman, 11 Tom English, 10 Mike Harris, 9 Nic Stirzaker, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Sean McMahon, 5 Lopeti Timani, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Pat Leafa, 1 Toby Smith.
Replacements: 16 Tom Sexton, 17 Cruze Ah-Nau, 18 Paul Alo-Emile, 19 Steve Cummins, 20 Colby Fainga'a, 21 Luke Burgess, 22 Bryce Hegarty, 23 Sefanaia Naivalu.
Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Elton Jantjies, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Robert Kruger, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Andries Coetzee.
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann, Will Houston.
TMO: James Leckie
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