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, 21:13 pm
#242 JimT: Jim at last, did you hear me calling you out?
Hey, not to bad in the end!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:14 pm
#241 JM: Ek wou nie name noem nie, maar jy lees my soos ‘n boek.
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
i cant believe some of the rubbish i am reading on here ?? did some of you morons think the sharks were goning to win against the test team of the lions ?? 4 strong rugby nations in one
against a watered down provincial team without 9 boks?? seriously some of you okes have problems , and it involves the lack of brains …….
the ref did stuff up and 3 of the lions tries came from knock on’s and forward passes
the lions played offside 90% of the game
never retreating after any tackles etc etc etc
trust me the bulls without rheir boks would have done no better
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
#247 cab: not really a full strength pack. no smit, beast, bismark, kanko. 50% yes.
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
#246 carol: Yeah… the little man with the heavy hairy growth ubove the lips…. Mr Helium himself… otherwise known as Snorrie !
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
#249 grootblousmile: Oi waarnatoe hardloop jy now? Hoe die blink kant bo Africaans broer. xxxxx
….and wear more clothes next time!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
#250 BDB: Victor Matfield.
10 Jun 2009, 21:15 pm
Nou ja, saterdag skree ek vir ‘n slag vir die WP, nie op die WP nie.
10 Jun 2009, 21:16 pm
#252 Ed_the_Lion: pasop ja, weet net wat jy dink. jy maak asof jy van marsmannetjie praat, maar ek weet…
10 Jun 2009, 21:16 pm
#253 sharks_lover: I know what you feel like Sharkie. Let it all out!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
#256 carol: ….anyone looking in would think I talked like a ‘local’.
Hahahahaha
10 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
#259 JM: Jy ken my te goed. Tyd om ‘n nuwe blog te gaan soek vir my.
10 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
#248 JM: ons se dit al heel week dat kirchner vir rose , brussouw vir bekker want danie speel flank en slot , en BJ vir nokwe or january
10 Jun 2009, 21:17 pm
#261 carol: You support the Bulls. You have to sound like a local.
10 Jun 2009, 21:18 pm
#257 Ed_the_Lion: Ons moes al lankal van hom en Bakkies ontslae geraak het …
10 Jun 2009, 21:18 pm
#260 Ed_the_Lion: lol boet im fine just feel some peeps cant seem to understand rugby
10 Jun 2009, 21:18 pm
#255 grootblousmile: I see, does that make **** Muir Obelisk? He is the tall one!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:18 pm
#258 BDB: Hehehe, Saterdag kyk ek as ‘n “Neutral observer”… hehehe
Joke sommer net, sal darem die WEEEPEEE ondersteun teen die Bleekbene !
Goooooo Prooooblems !
10 Jun 2009, 21:18 pm
#251 carol: I’m not sure what the Lions were trying to prove in the 1st half. Passed up on 3-4 penalties. Got across the line 3-4 times(?) & no score. Where’s the killer instinct?
10 Jun 2009, 21:19 pm
#253 sharks_lover: Julle dink soos verloorders, en daarom …
10 Jun 2009, 21:19 pm
#264 Ed_the_Lion: Oh yes, otherwise it could be ‘gevaarlik’ !!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:20 pm
#265 BDB: Sê ek ook. Jammer niemand luister na die ondersteuners nie.
#266 sharks_lover: I thought the Sharks would do a little better, but that was a very strong B & I Lions side. Keep your chin up.
10 Jun 2009, 21:20 pm
#266 sharks_lover: Haal asem, en in, en uit, en in en uit … nog ‘n keer, en in en uit …
10 Jun 2009, 21:21 pm
#269 JimT: I missed the first half, got the timings wrong and went for a run!!
10 Jun 2009, 21:21 pm
#271 carol: Very gevaarlik Carol. You made your choice, now I can’t help you anymore.
10 Jun 2009, 21:22 pm
#266 sharks_lover: Hey, bad luck tonight…..good job there is more to life at the moment!! Have you bought the new grandaughter a rugby ball yet?
10 Jun 2009, 21:23 pm
OK fellas and flattellas… Cheers
Goooooooooooi Mielies !
10 Jun 2009, 21:23 pm
#275 Ed_the_Lion: cheers !!
10 Jun 2009, 21:23 pm
#254 JM:
the only one there who i’d say would’ve added anything against the lions would’ve have been bismarck.
cruised thru them like a knife thru butter.
even the FS game, there B side was 20 points up with 20 gone, FS only got back into it when ferris was sent off and they lost their shape.
Their tight 5 are too strng for our lot.
Hier kom groot kak.
10 Jun 2009, 21:24 pm
#277 grootblousmile: Cheeers GBS.
Rollllllllll Mielie.
10 Jun 2009, 21:24 pm
#266 sharks_lover: Tjarks were plain kak tonight, get over it !
10 Jun 2009, 21:25 pm
Die groot teleurstelling met die verloor vir die Sharks, is nie die verloor nie, maar die hoe. Hulle het opgedraf om te verloor, het net verdedig om die telling laag te hou (wat nie gewerk nie), en Knockout het nie sy agterlyn vertrou nie, en daarom alles weggeskop of alles self probeer doen.
Niemand het enige hande opgesteek vir Snorre om raak te sien nie.
10 Jun 2009, 21:25 pm
#256 carol: GBS not wearing clothes AGAIN?
10 Jun 2009, 21:26 pm
#278 carol: BDB, Staal, GBS, Bul_a_Bhloo and Superbul will still help you. I don’t know the Pretoria slang and I don’t know all the different Ford Cortinas, so you will need to ask them for advice.
10 Jun 2009, 21:26 pm
#272 Ed_the_Lion: lol bro chins up mate i was one that kept saying all day we in trouble as our backline if far to weak and inexperienced
10 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#281 grootblousmile: you think bulls would have done better without their boks??
i dont think so
10 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#274 carol: Bet you were red faced, not from the run but sheer embarrassment
10 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
#285 sharks_lover: Its over now. We are all looking forward to the tests. If we lose those games, you will see an uproar of note here.
Atleast the didn’t score 70+ points against your team
10 Jun 2009, 21:27 pm
Ja hier kom GROOT KAK better believe it, and anybody not shaking in their boots just yet you better start shaking cos the Bokkie Boys up in the stands with their David Bekham hairsyles and their fairy god mother coaches are shaking in their boots as we speak.
10 Jun 2009, 21:28 pm
#276 carol: lol carol eish let her walk first
10 Jun 2009, 21:29 pm
#288 Ed_the_Lion: lol ed
10 Jun 2009, 21:32 pm
Ek wonder wanneer skopskiet weer hier gaan kom ‘stir’, wonder wat het van hom geword ?
10 Jun 2009, 21:33 pm
#292 BDB: Hy was seker ‘n jaar terug hier. Hy kom glad nie meer op keo nie.
10 Jun 2009, 21:33 pm
ja vir seker, the Bokke better have hunger and committment, cos they could very well lose this 3-0 and be embaressed.
how many times have we seen our lot breying and bragging b4 a gig bladdy fall?
they are in for a helluva hard fought series of rugby.
forget the trinations, this lions team is capable of pomping the boks 3-0.
10 Jun 2009, 21:33 pm
70 + points were on the cards here, only reason it wasn’t a cricket score is every time Lions went over the try line nobody put it down on the ground, the possession and territory stats was ONE WAY traffic all 80 mins long.
And this supposed to be one of our front line powerhouse franchises, Sies man, the Royal Bafokeng Kings did 100 times better than this bunch of powder puff poeftas with their poefta captain always smiling sweetly and graciously bowing and curtsying pleasantly like a gratuitous gentleman in defeat.
10 Jun 2009, 21:35 pm
#286 sharks_lover: Ons sal nooit weet nie. Wat ek wel weet, as die Bulle sonder hul bokke vanaand teen die Sharks gespeel het, sou hul ook maklik gewen het.
10 Jun 2009, 21:35 pm
#162 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: Agree toa degree, but the Sharks have lacked any real try scoring ability, they fed off the other teams mistakes in the S14. Even the wooden spoon Cheetah’s thrashed them !!
The Sharks have been pretty ordinary since the beginning of the year, even though they were winning some games initially, they didn’t impress
10 Jun 2009, 21:36 pm
Prepare to watch a Bok scrum moving backwards. And still win. Nothing else seriously worrying in this game except the Sharks.
10 Jun 2009, 21:36 pm
#269 JimT:
It looked to me like their one-dimensional approach in the first half was a deliberate tactic to give their pack a workout.
10 Jun 2009, 21:37 pm
#295 skopskiet: Agreed Skoppie, it could have been 60 pts. I’m still puzzled by Lions tactics in the 1st half.
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