VIDEO: Lions secure second spot for home play-off
SUPER RUGBY REPORT: The Lions demolished the Bulls in clinical fashion to ensure they will finish second on the tournament standings.
The 38-12 win at Ellis Park on Saturday (six tries to two) means the Lions will host a quarterfinal next week and a semifinal the following week – if they progress that far.
The Trans-Jukskei derby was an entertaining affair that showed the Lions are regaining some of their best form.
The Bulls got off to a perfect start, racing into a 12-0 lead inside 10 minutes.
However, the Lions eventually settled down and by half-time – with their forwards dominating the set piece and contact exchanges – they had claimed the lead.
The Bulls had 80 percent of the possession and territory in the opening exchanges, but by half-time, the Lions had changed that to 60 percent of the possession in their favour.
That dominance continued after the break and there was just no way back for the Bulls.
The Bulls lack of discipline – they conceded three times the number of penalties the Lions did – further aided to the visitors’ demise.
It was a frenetic start to the match.
The first break in play came after five breathless minutes, as both teams started at breakneck speed – a period that included several turnovers.
The first score came from Bulls stand-in flyhalf Manie Libbok, who started a weaving run inside his own 22 – exposing the Lions defence and sprinting 80 metres for the opening try.
Soon afterwards Jessie Kriel exposed the Lions’ porous defence, sniping down the left wing for the visitors’ second try.
The Lions finally opened their account in the 18th minute – Ruan Combrink getting the try after a scrum penalty, a solid line-out maul and some sublime hands creating the space on the right wing.
On the half-hour mark, the Lions drew level. The try, scored by burly hooker Malcolm Marx, came after a string of penalties against the Bulls – allowing the home team to dominate territory.
The Bulls were soon a man down, as penalty magnet Pierre Schoeman was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes – for a ridiculous late charge on a Lions player.
The Lions hit the front right on half-time – more penalties and a couple of powerful scrums, followed by captain Warren Whiteley sending over wing Courtnall Skosan on the left wing. Elton Jantjies’ conversion, his second for the match, made it 19-12 at the break.
The breakneck speed of the game continued after the break, but the scoring opportunities were reduced dramatically – until the 60th minute, when replacement Lourens Erasmus over, only to be denied by the TMO.
The first score of the second half was a penalty try to the Lions, as their scrum destroyed the Bulls’ set piece yet again.
Minutes later Ruan Combrink scored his second – and the Lions’ fifth of the match.
The Bulls eventually found, what appeared to be a scoring opportunity, with just over 10 minutes remaining – Travis Ismaiel collecting a soft pass from replacements scrumhalf Embrose Papier to sprint over. However, the try was not awarded, as a Bulls player had illegally taken out an opponent.
The game concluded with replacement Aphiwe Dyantyi dotting down – after chasing a great chip-kick by scrumhalf Ross Cronje – the final score 38-12.
Man of the match: Manie Libbok was a menace on attack, regularly exposing the Lions’ defence. Marco van Staden produced some crucial early turnovers and did a lot of work on defence. Malcolm Marx matched Van Staden for breakdown turnovers, while Albertus Smith also had a massive influence. Lions lock Franco Mostert, yet again, topped the tackle count. Our award goes to Lions flank Cyle Brink, who made plenty of powerful carries – giving his team some much-needed go-forward momentum and also managed a few turnovers.
The scorers:
For the Lions:
Tries: Combrink 2, Marx, Skosan, Penalty try, Dyantyi
Cons: Jantjies 2, penalty try does not require a conversion, Coetzee
For the Bulls:
Tries: Libbok, Kriel
Cons: Libbok
Yellow card: Pierre Schoeman (Bulls, 33 – foul play, late charge)
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Teams:
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nicholas Groom, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Francois Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Johannes Jonker, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman/Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Howard Mnisi/Shaun Reynolds.
Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Johnny Kotze, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Hanro Liebenberg , 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Rudolph Snyman (Captain), 4 Jannes Kirsten, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Matthys Basson, 18 Mornay Smit, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Nick de Jager, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Boeta Hamman, 23 Divan Rossouw.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Christie du Preez (South Africa)
