Lions edge courageous Cheetahs
6 Jun 2009
A Heinrich Brüssow-inspired Cheetahs team went down 26-24 to a second-rate Lions side in Bloemfontein.
This game was one of two halves with the sin-binning of flanker Stephen Ferris the watershed. The tourists were 20-0 up after 24 minutes before Ferris paid the price for the umpteenth breakdown transgression. The Cheetahs scored 14 points in the blindside’s absence to trail 23-14 at the break.
The option-taking and defence wasn’t always great from the home team. Their line defence repelled many a Lions surge, but a soft try by Ferris allowed the visitors to shoot to a 10-0 lead after 12 minutes. A subsequent chip by James Hook was gathered by centre Keith Earls who swerved past a couple of defenders en route to the tryline.
During this period, referee Wayne Barnes allowed the Lions to spoil on defence and seal the breakdown ball off on attack. Brüssow made a couple of turnovers but the Lions were still getting away with illegal play.
It took 23 minutes for Barnes to brandish yellow, and from here the Cheetahs began to gather some momentum. Danwel Demas rounded off a good move that exploited the Lions’ one-man disadvantage, and prop Wian du Preez reduced the deficit further when he steamrolled a defender from close range.
Back to their full compliment, the Lions sought to keep it tighter. They had the better of the Cheetahs’ scrum, Andrew Sheridan applying unsustainable pressure on the outclassed Kobus Calldo. The Lions’ set-piece even held its own when Ferris was off, and the Springbok management should take note, the Lions’ scrum is going to be a massive factor in the Test series. Hook goaled three penalties accrued from the Cheetahs’ scrum transgressions, and it kept the hosts at arm’s length.
The breakdown, however, was a different story. On defence, the visitors did everything they could to spoil the Cheetahs’ ball. Brüssow had another industrious outing in the tackle-department, but it was his ground-zero scavenging that proved the biggest boost to the hosts. Because of his proficiency, the visitors battled to get go-forward after the initial set-piece.
Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked well initially but missed a great opportunity in the 52nd minute when he pushed a penalty-attempt wide. The three points would’ve reduced the deficit to 26-20 at a critical stage of the game.
The Cheetahs tried their hearts out, and it’s just a pity there weren’t more people at the stadium to witness their brave efforts. Vodacom Park saw 23 000 patrons through the gates, a shocking number considering the stadium now holds 48 000.
The Lions were shaky and it’s only through little errors that the Cheetahs didn’t put them away. Yet another Lions breakdown infringement gifted the hosts a penalty, but Potgieter proceeded to kick it dead. The Cheetahs’ inferiority at scrum time also continued to cost them possession and territory from ensuing penalties.
And yet, it was their strength at the tackle point that kept them afloat. Brüssow never relented in his quest for dominance and his team-mates never dropped their intensity. The Lions have a long way to go if they’re going to compete with the Bok breakdown in the coming Tests.
Both sides were exhausted by the hour mark and it was here that the Cheetahs were always going to be tested. They made another crucial turnover after the Lions launched a multi-phase assault on their tryline. It was clear the Lions would not be coasting to victory in the final minutes.
Replacement flyhalf Louis Strydom missed a difficult penalty attempt in the 70th minute to allow the Lions to keep their nine-point cushion. However, a brilliant reading of a flat Shane Williams pass allowed Corne Uys to sprint 80m for a seven-pointer. With six minutes to go, the Cheetahs had a chance of a massive upset.
The Lions were running out of puff as the clock wound down and the local supporters began to find their voice. After Meyer Bosman crashed it up into the suspect Irish midfield, Strydom slipped into the pocket for the drop-goal. Unfortunately, the kick drifted cruelly wide.
The Cheetahs looked to have another opportunity to win it when Lions fullback Lee Byrne dropped a high ball and his retreating team-mates played it from an offside position, but it was a transgression that the fallible Barnes missed.
The Lions eventually won a penalty in the final play and hacked it into touch. The win takes them to a three-from-three tour record, but there will be more concerns than positives for Ian McGeechan as he prepares his charges for the Tests.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Vodacom Park
718 Comments
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6 Jun 2009, 16:30 pm
Ohh Nooooo
6 Jun 2009, 16:30 pm
YOU BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:30 pm
#242 grootblousmile: We will have Victor, Bakkies, Spies and Burger. Our line outs will be fine. Its the breakdowns. Hope that Plum is working hard on that with them.
6 Jun 2009, 16:30 pm
Tryyyyyyyy Staat, under the posts !!
Game on !!
Fuglies 26 / 24
6 Jun 2009, 16:30 pm
And now how important are those missed kicks.
Morne Steyn better play 10.
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
#248 Puma: Must say, kinda dumb thing for Plumtree to say…
Geez if Rose had more talent, weighed 30 kgs more and was a foot taller and had the nouse of Carter he’d ‘be devastating’ too
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
#247 grootblousmile: 26 -24 Shiver shake!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
#254 grootblousmile: YES GO ORANGE KILLER MACHINE………..HEHEHEHEHE.
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
Nice try!!!!!!
#245 Slumtown: Slum I think they are murdering the Cheetahs front row.
Anyone else sensing the BL backs are ever so slightly hesitant going into the tackle ball in hand, if so the Bokke gonna hurt them.
6 Jun 2009, 16:31 pm
Listening the BBC, there presenters are gobsmacked.
6 Jun 2009, 16:32 pm
Ag nee Floors man !
6 Jun 2009, 16:33 pm
#256 goyougoodthing2: I know but he did say it not me. I was just quoting what Plum had said. Read it on Supersport but Transie just turns it around to suit himself as usual.
6 Jun 2009, 16:33 pm
En jy sien net leeus orals lê …
6 Jun 2009, 16:33 pm
#263 Puma: No worries, I hear you…
6 Jun 2009, 16:34 pm
Vrystaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat
6 Jun 2009, 16:34 pm
#259 Puma: Steady on Puma…..!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:35 pm
Lions MURDERING Cheaters scrum.
6 Jun 2009, 16:35 pm
Put Juries on man!! Let the boy have a go. The Cheetahs tails are up!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:35 pm
9 points missed…
6 Jun 2009, 16:35 pm
#265 goyougoodthing2: Thanks mate.
PdV better have a kicker in the Bok side. Ruan has not played for a long time at FH only had a few games this season. I would start with F. Steyn. Those kicks at post are vital.
6 Jun 2009, 16:36 pm
#267 carol: Don’t worry Carol. I have my cricket bat with me today…….hehehehe.
6 Jun 2009, 16:36 pm
All the Staat needs is a droppie….
6 Jun 2009, 16:37 pm
droppie
6 Jun 2009, 16:37 pm
1 min and 50 seconds to go arghhhhhhh
6 Jun 2009, 16:37 pm
#267 carol: Also have the flu and only drinking soup.
6 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
Phweew…. droppie just missed….
very bloody close
6 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
eish
6 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
#272 Puma: I will be very careful!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:38 pm
#271 Puma: IMO Ruan would NOT be my first choice kicker because he is such a confidence player. When he kicks he kicks but when he misses… woah it can be a shameful day at the office. And when he kicks IMO he loses the rest of his game at flyhalf…
But then, you know I think Snor is about as wise as a very dumb thing pickled in a jar of stupid juice.
6 Jun 2009, 16:39 pm
#276 Puma: Sure it is not just a cold, I know what men are like? Heheheh
YEAH LIONS, JUST…….PHEW !!!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:39 pm
Big lesson being delivered to the Lions here hahahahahah
6 Jun 2009, 16:40 pm
Barnes is sucj a *** sukker
6 Jun 2009, 16:40 pm
#276 Puma: Your Sharks will be a different proposition next week!!!
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
Mooi Cheetahs.
Dankie vir ‘n lekker middag.
6 maklike punte weggegooi.
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
#248 Puma: you confidently told everyone that questioned schalk’s efficacy @ the breakdown that plum said what you said in caps & that you were happy about that development…
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
Fuglies won by the skin of their teeth… only by 2 points.
Cheetahs should have gotten a penalty right at the end… one could see the disgust on Helgaart’s face !!
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
Show us a replay of the last penalty
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
Vertel hulle, Helgard, vertel hulle …
6 Jun 2009, 16:41 pm
Cudos to the Cheetahs. Good workout.
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
Gutted for the Cheetahs. They should’ve never tried the drop goal but gone for the try instead.
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
Good game Cheetahs. Could have won that. Those missed kicks at posts.
PdV hope you watching. M. Steyn for FH. We need a kicker. Ruan is pure class but has not had enough game time at FH this year. Also never took the kicks for the Sharks. M. Steyn’s kicking has been spot on.
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
So close…………………………………….Boks had better pick a goal kicker. M Steyn at 10!
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
Kicking lost the Cheetahs the game today – Morne Steyn for 10 or we will regret it.
Three frigging cheers for the Cheetahs for flying the flag after the capitulation by the Golden Lions… These boys are having a tough tour. Yeah!
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
cheetahs were the better team, well played guys
6 Jun 2009, 16:42 pm
well done Cheaters.
If you don’t kick your points you will lose close matches.
Many salutary lessons
Kick your points
Make sure you have a competitive scrum
Make sure you have players who tackle
win the break down
The Lions like the high ball kick and chase – your 15, 14 & 11 – need to be able to catch, kick and tackle.
Omission of Zane & Brussow still the dumbest decisions made in a long long time
6 Jun 2009, 16:43 pm
I really cannot understand why people are so upset about Barnes now. Is he any different from Cardiff game?
6 Jun 2009, 16:43 pm
#271 Puma: Uhm have you ever heard fo bloody Morne Steyn? Frans Steyn at flyhalf instead of Ruaan? You must be joking surely?
6 Jun 2009, 16:43 pm
Cheetahs were better, it’s just the missed kicks that cost them.. Lions were beaten when you also consider how they scored their 1st lucky try
6 Jun 2009, 16:44 pm
#291 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: I thought they would have tried the drop too. Pity. For me I thought they deserved to win it. Came back at them in the 2nd half.
Well done again Cheetahs. That was a good game. Just the missed kicks.
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