Sharks do the double over hapless Lions
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Sharks made it a double over the Lions, beating them 27-17 in Durban on Saturday.
Not only was it their second win over the Johannesburg outfit this season, but it meant the Lions are still winless against South African teams this year.
The three-tries-to-two victory saw the Sharks rise to second in the South African conference and sixth overall, while the Lions slipped to second from last in the SA conference and dropped to eight overall.
While it wasn’t the absolute demolition job of their encounter at Ellis Park earlier in the season, it was a performance the Sharks could be proud of.
The forwards were dominating at the set-pieces, not only poaching the odd line-out, but in the scrums in particular were too strong for the Lions – who wilting under the early pressure.
The Sharks’Springbok wing Makazole Mapimpi scored an intercept try on 60 minutes to set up the win.
The Bok flyer leapt to catch an intended pass from Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies and sprinted 90 metres to give the home side a 10-point lead.
Jantjies had a nightmare Round 15 match, as another of his passes was intercepted by Curwin Bosch earlier and the Sharks flyhalf raced unopposed to touch down and open the scoring
A few minutes after Mapimpi struck, Jantjies missed a penalty that ultimately cost the Johannesburg team a losing bonus point.
The hard-earned victory snapped a three-match losing streak at home by the Sharks, who are among the most unpredictable sides in the southern hemisphere franchise championship.
“That was a really tough South African derby,” said Sharks skipper and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder.
“Hats off to our pack who mauled and scrummed well.”
Rival captain and Lions No. 8 Albertus Smith lamented the intercept tries, saying: “They cost us dearly. Otherwise, I thought we played really well.”
Although the Lions lacked injured skipper Warren Whiteley, they were a vastly improved team from that humiliated 42-5 by the Sharks in Johannesburg earlier this season.
In a seesaw struggle, the Sharks built a 14-point lead that was cancelled by Lions’ tries either side of half-time.
A Bosch penalty regained the lead for the Durban outfit and then came the crucial Mapimpi try after the Lions had looked likelier to score through a 14-phase attack.
Bosch, No.8 Daniel du Preez and Mapimpi scored a try each for the Sharks and Bosch slotted three conversions and two penalties.
Centre Lionel Mapoe and flank Cyle Brink were try scorers for the Lions, while Jantjies kicked two conversions and a penalty.
Man of the match: Lionel Mapoe and Harold Vorster stood their ground in the midfield battle against the highly rated Sharks duo of Lukhanyo Am and Andre Esterhuizen, while Mapoe was the best of the quartet. Marius Schoeman and Albertus Smith were energetic and real menaces, while Cyle Brink was the one Lions forward who matched the Sharks brutes for physicality. Sibusiso Nkosi comfortably won his head-to-head battle with fellow Springbok wing Aphiwe Dyantyi. Aphelele Fassi also made a statement about World Cup selection options. Makazole Mapimpi made some crucial plays on defence and even won a turnover. Curwin Bosch at times made fellow Bok flyhalf Elton Jantjies look like a rank amateur. Jantjies threw two intercept passes, gifting the Sharks 14 points, while Bosch outscored him – making a personal contribution of 17 points, a try, three conversions and two penalties. He wins our award.
The scorers:
For the Sharks:
Tries: Bosch, D du Preez, Mapimpi
Cons: Bosch 3
Pens: Bosch 2
For the Lions:
Tries: Mapoe, Brink
Cons: Jantjies 2
Pen: Jantjies
Picture credit: Wayne Seagreen
RECAP: Sharks v Lions
Did you miss any of the action? Recap all the drama here!
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Louis Schreuder (captain), 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Philip van der Walt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Mzamo Majola.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Jacques Vermeulen, 21 Cameron Wright, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Kobus van Wyk.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Albertus Smith (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Tyrone Green.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Stefan Geldenhuys
TMO: Christie du Preez
