Lions down disjointed Sharks
10 Jun 2009
The Lions were good value for their 39-3 victory over the Sharks, but the Springboks won’t be shaking in their boots.
This match was always going to gauge where the Lions stood just 10 days from the first Test, more so than it would be about assessing where the Sharks were in their preparation for the Currie Cup, and in that regard the Springboks won’t be too concerned.
The Lions were hardly awful, in fact, their patience through the phases was impressive, while there were solid performances by individuals, most notably centre Jamie Roberts who carried powerfully all night, and scrumhalf Mike Phillips who has now surely cemented his place in the Test line-up. But for most of the match they sorely lacked a killer edge and the creativity that needs to be there if they hope to upset the Springboks.
They improved as the game wore on, but their improvement has to be viewed in context. This was a severely depleted Sharks side lacking quality players in key backline positions. The 36-point deficit will be labelled emphatic by some, but you are naive if you believe you can equate this match to the standard the Lions will face in the Tests.
The Lions attempted to blend the measured with the expansive, and ended up with an ugly hybrid of the two for most of the contest. Their backline attacks were generally far too lateral to trouble the Sharks, and the fact that flyhalf Ronan O’Gara resorted to speculative cross-kicks and grubbers underlined the lack of creativity and incisiveness in the back division.
The Lions signalled their intention to boss the set phases and driving mauls when they opted for a lineout instead of a goal attempt early in the match. They set up three powerful drives until they eventually turned over possession. The Springboks, watching from the stands, would have noted the tactic, as it is sure to be a primary avenue of attack during the Test series.
The next 40 minutes would be characterised by much of the same, as the Lions camped in the Sharks’ red zone, only to be repelled by some determined defence and a spirited breakdown contest. The routine became predictable – they would cough up possession, jog back to the lineout after the clearing kick had found touch, relaunch their attack, only to be turned over once more when a try seemed a certainty.
Much was made of Saturday’s poor showing at the breakdown, and tonight’s performance won’t do anything to dispel a perception that it is a facet of play they are vulnerable in. What amplified their woes is that on Saturday they were devoid of a specialist opensider, whereas tonight they fielded skilled scrapper David Wallace. The Irishman failed to impose himself, and his cause wasn’t helped by the limp performance of his teammates at the tackle point and breakdown.
Skipper Paul O’Connell promised improved physicality in this facet of play. On the evidence of tonight’s performance he won’t be pleased.
Given their absolute domination of possession, and the sheer number of times they got onto the Sharks’ 5m line, they should have led by at least 25 points at the break. Instead, the deficit was just four points – Rory Kockott taking the only scoring opportunity they had – and their ineptitude, particularly at the breakdown, must alarm the Lions’ coaching staff.
Their problems didn’t end there. The scrums, an area of the game the Lions pride themselves on, wasn’t as efficient as they would have hoped either, with Sharks tighthead Jannie du Plessis pressuring Gethin Jenkins throughout their duel.
The black and white wall offered plenty of resistance, but the pressure was incessant, and they were finally breached when the Lions played off the top of a lineout on the 5m line and punched through two phases before hooker Lee Mears powered over from close range. Ronan O’Gara added the extras.
There was a bittersweet moment halfway through the first half which would have further jolted the tourists.
O’Driscoll has been spoken up as a master, and that he might be, but it’s indisputable that he is an ageing master, evident by the fact that his speed eluded him when he most needed it. He intercepted a pass on his 22m and sprinted clear. In his prime, the Lions faithful would have been celebrating the moment O’Driscoll laid hands on the pill, but as he shifted through the gears it became obvious that the once mighty stallion no longer had the speed that was a key feature of his play at the height of his powers.
Sharks youngster Lwazi Mvovo will one day boast to his grandchildren that he hauled in the great O’Driscoll, but it will be a shallow boast.
The half ended as it had started, with the Lions surrendering possession on the Sharks’ tryline, and the tourists trudged down the tunnel looking bewildered.
They did, however, start the second half more purposefully, and scored soon after the restart when Mike Phillips jinked his way through some diabolical defence to score in the corner. O’Gara missed the conversion, but extended the lead to 12 points (15-3) shortly thereafter with a penalty.
The Lions seemed to click into gear thereafter, troubling the Sharks’ defensive line with every foray. A period of sustained pressure yielded another three points to O’Gara.
The Lions were always going to have the upper hand in the back division given the experience they boasted in comparison to the Sharks’ rookies, and it was through here that they scored their third try.
The ball was shifted wide to O’Driscoll, who drew the last defender and offloaded to Luke Fitzgerald, who was left with a clear run in on goal.
Their fourth was the pick of the bunch, Lee Byrne scything through the defence after an overlap had been created by some smart work by his inside backs. O’Gara kicked his fifth goal to take the Lions 32-3 ahead before Jamie Heaslip touched down after the siren to end the contest.
‘Must do better’ should be the assessment in the Lions’ report card. The Springboks won’t be shuddering in fear.
By Ryan Vrede, at King’s Park.
573 Comments
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10 Jun 2009, 20:04 pm
#97 grootblousmile:
Ja but this is the Tjarks minus JPP, Kanko, Adi et al. I reckon a full strength Guppies team would be more than holding their own out there tonight. Think we will have taken a lot of confidence from keeping them down to just the one try. If we can hit back early in the 2nd could be an interesting game.
Just as an aside, the Lions still have major work to do at the breakdown, the guys have been all over them which is good to see. The Boks will be tougher.
10 Jun 2009, 20:04 pm
#90 grootblousmile: Dink hy tik met ‘n hamer.
10 Jun 2009, 20:06 pm
#102 BDB: Ek dink hy IS gehammer !
10 Jun 2009, 20:06 pm
#97 grootblousmile: Arghhh…I got the times wrong, only just got here!!
GO LIONS….
10 Jun 2009, 20:07 pm
kockott and terblanche are really letting the sharks down with their kicking, their no relieving the pressure, not good enough, thank god they aren’t in the bok squad
10 Jun 2009, 20:08 pm
Try Philips
Damn, that was just too easy !
#104 carol: Naand sustertjie
10 Jun 2009, 20:08 pm
directly from another kockott mistake.. Kockott go have a shower, you’re pathetic
10 Jun 2009, 20:08 pm
Not good , not good at all. Eish ! it’s not good.
10 Jun 2009, 20:08 pm
Lions 12 / 3
10 Jun 2009, 20:09 pm
#107 Pirlet BEL: Nee wat, ou Knockout sukkel vanaand.
10 Jun 2009, 20:10 pm
Oeee, hierdie soetes gaan nou mooooooooi af !
Gesondheid in die rondheid!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:14 pm
Lions 15 / 3
10 Jun 2009, 20:16 pm
47 MINUTES LIONS PLYERS TOUCHES BALL BEFORE IT GOES INTO TOUCH,,, REF IS OKAY LINESMAN OR SHOULD I SAY VELY VELY SILLY TOUCH JUDGE SEES NOTHING,,,,, OH DEAR SHARKS LOOSE OUT TO CHEATS AGAIN
OUCH OUCH OUCH
10 Jun 2009, 20:16 pm
I like this Mvovo guy. Got a promising future. Deysel is anonymous in this game. very dissapointing
10 Jun 2009, 20:17 pm
jannie is eating grass tonight! Ha ha ha
10 Jun 2009, 20:17 pm
#100 skopskiet: Skop keep smoking that crazy dagga! They’re playing a 2nd string sharks team at best with an unbalanced backline and you reckon the Bokke should be scared! LOL!
10 Jun 2009, 20:19 pm
Brussouw is definitely better than Botes.
10 Jun 2009, 20:19 pm
Lions 18 / 3
10 Jun 2009, 20:20 pm
#114, Deysel is anonymous because he isn’t getting any ball. Kockott is trying to do everything by himself like usual and losing every single ball that comes his way. He’s been the worst player for the sharks tonight, can’t win a game with that guy in your team.
10 Jun 2009, 20:20 pm
Ok now i can understand why the sharks didn’t make it this year , they play dirty
, no ways comeone sharks !
10 Jun 2009, 20:20 pm
Sharks moet nou punte kry, anders kan dit lelik raak.
10 Jun 2009, 20:21 pm
#106 grootblousmile: Not too bad so far!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:23 pm
#122 carol: Lions look good but not finishing off half their opportunities…
10 Jun 2009, 20:23 pm
#119 Pirlet BEL: All I’ve ever seen from you is posts criticising Kockott – does he make you feel insecure or something?!
10 Jun 2009, 20:24 pm
this more or less the real level of guppie rugby minus all the Cheetahs they confiscated by default.
Kockott better off going to play in Aus same with his gentleman Jim captain wouldn’t even get a game in Aus. If this is the level of one of our SA powerhouse franchises I’d hate to see what our poorer franchises would offer.
Pdv JS DM GG better get ready for some heavy sweat sleepless nights I got a hunch you be getting some rugby lessons come the tests.
10 Jun 2009, 20:26 pm
Messy **** !
10 Jun 2009, 20:27 pm
#124, no but I don’t like stupid players and he definitely is one.
10 Jun 2009, 20:27 pm
Lions will know that they’ve received some hits tonight…
10 Jun 2009, 20:28 pm
Try Lions
10 Jun 2009, 20:28 pm
The boks not going to have a easy game that’s for sure. We might be in for a big suprise. I hope snor know’s that it’s not going to walkover , look at that. Eish , eish with ys yes
10 Jun 2009, 20:28 pm
Yeahhhh…..try Lions..
10 Jun 2009, 20:28 pm
well played terblanche lol..
10 Jun 2009, 20:29 pm
Ek **** die damwal kraak.
10 Jun 2009, 20:29 pm
Lions 25 / 3
Eish Tjarks, this is starting to look baddddddddd !
10 Jun 2009, 20:29 pm
#123 grootblousmile: We needed that!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:29 pm
Apologies if this has already been discussed but… is anyone watching this on Sky??? Please someone tell me im not the only one who thinks stephen Jones has taken his unknowledgeable biased commentating to a completely new level?!
10 Jun 2009, 20:30 pm
#134 grootblousmile: Hope Puma is OK!!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:30 pm
and some more poor play from terblanche, thank God he is supposed to bring experience because otherwise he really would be rubbsih
10 Jun 2009, 20:30 pm
#136 TBG: Sounds balanced to me !!! Heheheheeh
10 Jun 2009, 20:30 pm
#125 skopskiet: You’re just dying for things to go wrong! Parasites like you thrive off misery!
10 Jun 2009, 20:31 pm
Sharks sukkel nog heel seisoen om drieë te druk.
10 Jun 2009, 20:31 pm
Die Lions se:
voorry
O’Connell
senterpaar
heelagter
lyk baie goed.
die res is gemiddeld
Bokke sal hul vat.
10 Jun 2009, 20:31 pm
Sharks aint playing up to scratch tonight. Dissapointing
Was expecting a better game.
10 Jun 2009, 20:32 pm
he he. sorry carol, I meant to say any saffers watching this on sky!
10 Jun 2009, 20:32 pm
#138 Pirlet BEL: Are you and Skop the same person?!
10 Jun 2009, 20:33 pm
yeah me
10 Jun 2009, 20:33 pm
O’Driscoll magic. Thats the difference quality thinking in everything when going forward. Brains vs boggerol.
10 Jun 2009, 20:33 pm
Both Kockott and Terreblanche are trying way too hard to prove the Springbok selectors wrong and in the process they’re making horrible mistakes.
10 Jun 2009, 20:33 pm
#144 TBG: I think he heard you, there were a few critical comments after that!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:34 pm
#141 Ed_the_Lion: Ek weet hul speel teen ‘n internasionale span, maar ek is werklik teleurgesteld in hul ‘spelpatroon’. Lyk hul het ‘n twee punt plan:
1. verdedig en hou die telling laag
2. Knockout skop al die balle weg
Hierdie was ‘n goeie geleentheid om die bal rond te gooi en die jong agterlyn (behalwe oom Stefan) ‘n kans te gee om lekker te hardloop.
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