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
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 12 » Show All
10 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
OK, so I am the only smiley face here tonight!!
Bad luck guys, but I know the ‘heavy mob’ are being held back to ‘shock and awe’ us!!
Bring it on!!
10 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
#196 Bloudraad: sal jou leer.
10 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
#189 grootblousmile:
Ja I think this should be enough to convince PdV to scrap ideas of running rugby. We need to play percentage rugby and rely on our strengths: agressive defence and quick ball. Having said that it is going to be interesting watching the Bok backs attack, Shaun Edwards has obviously done good things with the Lions but we have the players to break down their defence. It is obvious that kicking is going to be crucial which is why it is absolute madness to move JP to FB. Pick ZK there keep JP on the Wing where he is so strong and with FdP and Morne/Ruan we’ll have the kicking game to pin them back in their half and then monster their strike runners in defence. We just need to play Bulls rugby and when there is a chance we have the calibre of player to make it happen with JP/Habs/JdV/JF/Adi ect
10 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
#193 carol: Of course…
Pity the Lions are’nt playing a full strengh Bulls outfit… that would have been a better Test than some of the actual Tests…
10 Jun 2009, 20:56 pm
Also glad Jannie Dup not in Springbok squad cos he was piss poor tonight. Carstens failed to make an impact. Deysel fairly anonymous, Kockott too ill tempered and goes it alone too much, Terblanche starting to lose some form.
10 Jun 2009, 20:57 pm
#201 carol: You have all the right in the world to smile. Your team just crushed the CC champs.
10 Jun 2009, 20:57 pm
#201 carol: be afraid, be very afraid.
10 Jun 2009, 20:58 pm
My bekommernis is, dat die BIL ses oefenwedstryde agter die blad gaan hê, en die Bokke geen. Dit kan mos nie goed wees nie , of hoe ?
Daar is net een oplossing, maak die Bulle almal Bokke, hulle het 15 oefenwedstryde agter die blad.
10 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
#204 grootblousmile: So why were the Bulls not included, remind me please?
That would have been superb!! (Actually scary) !!
10 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
Lions mean business. No more arrogance chaps, this was a good performance.
10 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
#203 Thameside Bok fan: zane wont play, unless we have injuries. frans steyn should be 15.
10 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
#203 Thameside Bok fan: Right you are…. could’nt have said it better…
Bulls rugby rockssssssss !!
10 Jun 2009, 20:59 pm
#208 BDB: **** ****.
10 Jun 2009, 21:00 pm
#206 Ed_the_Lion: Shall I not mention that the Sharks Boks were omitted, might spoil the moment!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
#207 JM:
10 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
phillips had a blinder.
10 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
#209 carol: Heavens only knows… there is the argument that Loftus is getting a Test… but so is Durban and Ellispark..
Maybe they knew the Bulls would be in the S14 semi and final… hehehe
10 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
Confirmed: sharks has no player depth! Nothing! Nada! Zip!
10 Jun 2009, 21:01 pm
Right so…
The Lions are looking slick in the back division. This was a spirited but fairly toothless NATAL Sharks (yes natal, this wasnt the S14 sharks) that had a strong defence (at least in the 1st half) and the Lions backs persisted and broke it loose. O’gara impressed me and he should provide some worry for the Boks. Lee Mears and the Lions number 9 also really stood out. O’driscol class as always, but hey, crazy to see him brought down on a straight and though intercept. Is he really that slow?
Lions forwards… quite a different story. Jones complained to no-end about unfairness at the scrum but seriously… they should have mauled the sharks. Breakdown was and still is a serious problem. Second string loosies are ripping it from the Lions, and the bok loose trio will tear them a new one if they dont fix that.
Dunno about the Lions defence, havent seen it really tested, although i think the Cheetahs did out score them last week.
Finally, everyone needs to keep perspective about these games. It really isnt about the final result, it about what can be learnt about the oppostion before the big games. Even a mud-tracker side made up of the elite of the Home nations should be expected to defeat quite handsomely a Currie Cup side devoid of its Springboks.
My beloved Province should get a pakslae from these guys.
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#210 Heavens Game: A positive comment….cheers!
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
Total capitulation again in the end from the lot in Durban just like they did in ’97. Too much adoration for the team from the old country by those from “the last outpost”. The limited Cheetahs, loaded with rockspiders however, showed us the way. A real pity that the Lions don’t play the team from Pretoria, the other bastion of rockspiders who wiped the floor with the ’97 Lions!
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#214 carol: They still had plenty of the cc players in the team. They didn’t even try to attack a little. To me that was negative rugby from the Sharks outfit. Hopefully they wake up now.
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#211 JM:
I dont mind FS at FB as long as his brief is to donkey-hoof that ball into their half and not try run from the try-line. He is an exceptional player and I’d back him. The only reason I’d go for ZK is that he’s arguably the form Fb of the SA S14 sides and he is everything we need good handler, good running safe under the high ball and a big boot. FS could open up the game for us later but for the first 65-70 mins I’d like to see him receive the ball from FdP and punt it miles.
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#208 BDB: Dit maak my ook vrek bekommerd – veral omdat die Bokke ‘n geskiedenis het van sukkel om op dreef te kom aan die begin van ‘n seisoen.
10 Jun 2009, 21:02 pm
#215 carol: no jokes. i’m serious.
10 Jun 2009, 21:03 pm
This Lions Team is bloody good… hard as nails…
10 Jun 2009, 21:04 pm
#217 grootblousmile: Makes you wonder! Seems a shame really..
10 Jun 2009, 21:04 pm
#226 grootblousmile: They are ******* good. I can’t find fault in their setup at the moment. Asterix better not screw around.
10 Jun 2009, 21:04 pm
A few things I take from the game tonight, mismatch that it was.
1. Jannie du Plessis can’t scrum
2. Deysel is overrated
3. Sharks will struggle if that is their CC team
4. Byrne is world class
5. Phillips gave Kockett a lesson tonight
6. Tom Croft looks a class act
7. David Wallace might beat Martyn Williams to the openside shirt
Sharks were shocking. Kaplan was awful, he missed so many things on both sides of the ball.
10 Jun 2009, 21:05 pm
Ek het nog nooit getwyfel dat dit moeilik gaan wees om die BIL te klop nie. Maar, hoe goed hul ook al is, ons grootste probleem is nie die rugby nie, maar watter span gekies gaan word. So, kom ons wag en sien watter span Snorre kies, en dan sal ons eers weet of ons bekommerd moet raak.
10 Jun 2009, 21:05 pm
#226 grootblousmile: Stem saam – as ons die verkeerde span keuses maak en die verkeerde span kies is ons in die moeilikheid.
10 Jun 2009, 21:05 pm
#222 Ed_the_Lion: How are we going to cheer Puma up now? He was not happy after the super 14 rounds!!
Get Rangerman to nip round with a bottle of red wine, that should help!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#228 Ed_the_Lion: Asterix WILL screw around… that we know… hope to goodness it does’nt cost us too much !
10 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#202 JM: oops, het ek dit hardop gese? Lol
10 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#223 Thameside Bok fan: agree 100%. i also think zane is the best 15 at the moment. steyn is the only one in the squad that i would go for, apart maybe for ruan. jp should stay wing, fourie centre, and morne 10.
10 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#226 grootblousmile:
I still think if the Boks come out firing and dominate the collisions for the first 25 mins the Lions will be far easier to break down. They haven’t been defensively tested yet apart from a Cheetahs side with a lot of heart and look how close that was. It will take intelligent, agressive rugby from the Boks but I still can’t see the Lions wiping them. Kicking is going to be the key, that and the collisio point/breakdown area.
10 Jun 2009, 21:06 pm
#230 BDB: Daar is net een persoon in die oefen groep wat my pla. Ek gaan nie name noem nie, want dan gaan ‘n paar manne hier soos droë rose te kere gaan. Verder dink ek ons het die span om hulle te klop.
10 Jun 2009, 21:07 pm
Do not fear my children.
The magic of Earl Rose will put these Lions to the sword!!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:08 pm
#232 carol: I think Puma expected the Sharks to lose. He wasn’t very confident. When he joins us, we can all sit together and sing kumba ja.
#233 grootblousmile: That scares the living roses out of me.
10 Jun 2009, 21:08 pm
#234 Bloudraad: ja, mens se nie sulke dinge hardop nie.
10 Jun 2009, 21:09 pm
#237 Ed_the_Lion: wil jy nou nog steeds aangaan oor fourie du preez?
10 Jun 2009, 21:09 pm
#201 carol: That makes two of us Carol. Although thhe sharks did not offer much tonight. If the Lions had elected to take the penalties in the first half they could have been up by 20 pts at the half.
10 Jun 2009, 21:10 pm
Why oh why did Snorre not select a specialist full back… that is the single most important element that WILL cost us…
… and a specialised fetcher…
… and a pucker back-up Tight Head… BJ… CJ…
Oi Vei !!
10 Jun 2009, 21:11 pm
#205 Slumtown: Carstens was stood up in the scrums several times.
10 Jun 2009, 21:12 pm
On 3 key areas rests a Lions Tour to SA….
10 Jun 2009, 21:12 pm
#233 grootblousmile: Asterix?
10 Jun 2009, 21:12 pm
#229 jonnymain:
so in other words, hier kom groot kak?
thats a pretty much fullstrength sharks pack.
10 Jun 2009, 21:13 pm
#243 grootblousmile: jy is spot on daar. dis die 3 posisies wat kommer wek. kon maklik opgelos gewees het.
1) zane instede van rose
2) brussouw bo kanko (of selfs bekker)
3) bj bo carstens
10 Jun 2009, 21:13 pm
OK… that was it for me for tonight…
Let me go rest these weary, cold bones….
10 Jun 2009, 21:13 pm
#237 Ed_the_Lion: Nou watter roos in die boktuin soek jy nie daar nie ?
#209 carol: I heard that a possible game between die Bulls and BIL could only be scheduled on the same date a confederation cup soccer game were allready scheduled on loftus. It would have been a great game, even without the boks in the bulls side.
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 12 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.