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, 20:35 pm
Tjarks scrums going back at a rate of knots since Piglet came on
10 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
#148 siener: Yeah not feeling so bad that theyre both out the team now. Kockott definitely isnt making the grade now.
10 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
Hey man I like this Mvovo cat. He´s hands on for a back and is making an impression.
10 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
All Jones can do is complain about the ref, complain about the scrums, complain about the breakdown, how every single decision goes against the Lions. Unreal. Driving me mad! I long for the whiskey laden drivel of Hugh!
10 Jun 2009, 20:35 pm
Pateties !!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:36 pm
Yee, haa Byrne try….!!!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:36 pm
Grrrrr Nogga try
10 Jun 2009, 20:36 pm
#150 BDB: Hulle speel baie negatief. Hulle voel seker maar dat die ‘n toetswedstryd is vir hulle. Nie lekker om te kyk nie.
10 Jun 2009, 20:37 pm
Lions 32 / 3
10 Jun 2009, 20:37 pm
Jim T come and join me for goodness sake……
Let’ savour these precious moments!!
O’ Gara – good lad..
10 Jun 2009, 20:38 pm
Lions backs are looking the business. O’Gara looking crisp, sharp passing, deft kicking. Dunno whats happened to the sharks manic defense this half though.
10 Jun 2009, 20:38 pm
#147 skopskiet: If Sharks are so kak as you like to make out then how is it they finished at 6th way above your beloved WP and would’ve finished 4th if it wasn’t for a 1 point deficit! Jassus you are one thick oke! A squad of the best internationals against a 2nd string depleted provincial side missing 10 of their starting players – what did you expect?! Nothing but mealie pup between your ears boy!
10 Jun 2009, 20:38 pm
My SuperBru is shot to ribbons… I said Lions by 10
10 Jun 2009, 20:38 pm
#158 Ed_the_Lion: Yup, not a nice game to watch. I really hope that WP (with only 3 Boks missing) put up a better show over the weekend.
10 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
Nooooooo! sky brings us back the coverage!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
O’Driscoll is a magician.
10 Jun 2009, 20:39 pm
#163 grootblousmile: I think I said 8 !! hahahaha oooops!
10 Jun 2009, 20:40 pm
#165 TBG: Phew, back…
10 Jun 2009, 20:40 pm
#168 carol: Indeed!
10 Jun 2009, 20:40 pm
Die BIL toer moet teen volsterkte CB spanne wees, of glad nie. Ons gee hul nou onnodig rede om lekker te kry as hul ons spanne so ver wen.
Dink net wat sal gebeur as die Bokke teen al daardie klubspannetjies van die heineken cup speel, sonder al hul BIL spelers ?
10 Jun 2009, 20:41 pm
#164 siener: We will hope for the best, but this lions team looks the business.
10 Jun 2009, 20:43 pm
Sharks are getting klapped. Cheetahs did better than them!
10 Jun 2009, 20:43 pm
You know watching this game it occurs to me that if the Boks play to the Bulls gameplan they’ll be too good for the Lions. One good thing that has come out of these games is that the Lions haven’t really been tested on defence. We need a flyhalf with a big accurate boot to gain us territory (Morne Steyn although Ruan can play that type of game too) then rely on line-outs and agressive defence at the break down to turn over their ball. All we need to do scrum-wise is hold our own which with our pack shouldn’t be too big an ask. The Lions are a good side but I still haven’t seen anything that makes me worry unduly that the Boks will lose. They have scored some soft tries and crucially I think they haven’t been put under big pressure (the Cheetahs did for a while and they didn’t look great under it) Their defence is well organised though so PdV should shelve ideas of running rugby.
10 Jun 2009, 20:43 pm
#152 Slumtown: I still think Kockott is Bok material, but at this stage he doesn’t have the BMT required for a Lions series. Maybe he should be included in the squad for the end of year tour when the pressure is a llot less.
10 Jun 2009, 20:43 pm
pisseasy – men vs boys, poefta sharkies can be lucky this hasn’t been racked up as a cricket score.
If WP perform like this on Saturday I’d die with shame. Somehow I reckon they’ll give a decent account of themselves unlike these half hearted overrated poefta boys.
10 Jun 2009, 20:44 pm
Tjarks is niks sonder hul cheetah spelers ni…
10 Jun 2009, 20:46 pm
#171 Ed_the_Lion: Hi Ed, are you peeking in at work?
10 Jun 2009, 20:47 pm
#175 skopskiet: The Tjarks are missing 8 players FFS.
Get real….
10 Jun 2009, 20:48 pm
#177 carol: Hello Carol. I don’t miss any games, especially at work.
10 Jun 2009, 20:48 pm
#175 skopskiet: Stop stirring Skop !! Tut , tut….
10 Jun 2009, 20:49 pm
Cry me a river Jones, he got the effing yellow card. my god this guy is apratt
10 Jun 2009, 20:49 pm
#179 Ed_the_Lion: Can I have your job?
10 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
#182 carol: Yes you can, the I will play golf all the time.
10 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
Those Sharks just keep getting caught in ‘the net’ !!
10 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
Not a single try. That was unexpected.
10 Jun 2009, 20:50 pm
Kick the F’en ball.
10 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
FFS.
10 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
#171 Ed_the_Lion: Well at least Roberts and O’Driscoll will probably not be playing on Saturday.
10 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
Final try for Lions
39 / 3
Awesome defence by Lions, Tjarks were going nowhere all game…
10 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
very poor game from the Sharks. No wonder they ended 6th on the Super 14 ladder and yes I know they dont have their Boks but their forwrd pack was strong and they had at least 2 of their usual Super 14 backs.
10 Jun 2009, 20:51 pm
SARU needs to reconsider. People aren’t going to pay to see these training runs. Boks need to play for their union.
10 Jun 2009, 20:52 pm
The Sharks are ****
C.R.A.P
How am i expected to watch this nonsense
10 Jun 2009, 20:53 pm
#189 grootblousmile: So, are we still talking?
10 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
#188 siener: If they are playing, I feel sorry for WP.
10 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
I had Lions by 19. Guess that was way wrong.
10 Jun 2009, 20:54 pm
Nou is my superbru in sy m@3r in… Kanni glo ekt di tjarks gekies nie!
10 Jun 2009, 20:55 pm
Now for Western Problems on Saturday…
Lions will play a decidedly weaker Team than tonight… but even their weaker Team’s forwards will destroy the Lighty Capies !
10 Jun 2009, 20:55 pm
The Sharks defended well in the first half … and that’s pretty much the only positive thing that can be said about the way they played.
This was a really poor performance.
10 Jun 2009, 20:55 pm
Nou ja, die drie CB opwarmingswedstryde tot dusver teen die BIL wys vir ons dat die Cheetahs sover die gunstelinge is. Sal moet sien wat die WP Saterdag doen, oor die BB sal ons nie weet vooraf nie.
10 Jun 2009, 20:55 pm
maak julle reg bokke. hierdie lions is hier om te wen. daai 1ste toets gaan groot wees.
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