Hook nails late winner
13 Jun 2009
Replacement James Hook goaled a penalty in the 74th minute to give the Lions a scrappy 26-23 win over WP.
The rain abated from kickoff to climax, but the heavy showers around lunchtime certainly left their mark on the Newlands turf. The greasy ball was even harder to field given the turbulent wind, as WP fullback Joe Pietersen indicated on more than one occasion.
The Lions employed the high-ball tactic to good effect as Pietersen and company dropped several bombs to hand the visitors both territory and possession. The first quarter was characterised by garryowens, probes for touch and low-trajectory grubbers, and for the most part it was the Lions who executed these kicks better.
Willem de Waal kicked two penalties and a drop goal in the first half while Pietersen sunk a drop goal of his own, but unfortunately for the home fans, WP just never looked like scoring a try. The Newlands’ faithful screamed whenever the hosts drew close, but as the move broke down a more prominent cry of ‘Lions, Lions’ could be heard from the travelling contingent.
Wales No 8 Andy Powell stood out for the tourists, beating the first tackler with his dangerous combo of quick feet and powerful upper-body strength. It was a Powell break that sparked the first try as the Lions’ backs and forwards combined to expose some poor WP defence.
Powell offloaded to Martyn Williams who in turn popped a smart pass to Stephen Jones. Rob Kearney took it wide, throwing a great floating pass in spite of conditions. Tommy Bowe received the ball on WP’s 22, spun out of one tackle, stepped inside another and bust through two more to dot down.
Bowe’s direct running set up the visitors’ second try in the 35th minute, and again credit must go to the shocking WP defence. Bowe slid through the first line effortlessly and was eventually hauled in by Tonderai Chavhanga after repelling the hapless Pietersen. He also found the time to deliver a basketball-pass to fellow winger Ugo Monye, who showed great anticipation and pace to finish.
De Waal goaled a penalty right on half-time to reduce the deficit to 18-12, but WP were struggling to stay in the match.
The scrums were a mess with both teams falling foul to a slippery pitch while the Lions’ lineout were solid on their own ball and competitive on WP’s. The breakdowns were also a mess with no team obtaining a clear advantage.
De Waal’s penalty attempt just after the break dropped under the bar, but several moments later he was on target to further narrow the gap. Province began to believe, and this was exemplified by lock Anton van Zyl’s scuffle with opposite number Donncha O’Callaghan.WP were outclassed but were determined to go down fighting.
But there was never enough accuracy in their fight for it to amount to any real threat. They bounced off too many first-time tackles and dropped too many passes. There were several turnovers that the Cape crowd cheered, but these were very minor and insignificant victories.
The Lions piled on the pressure and eventually the WP resistance crumbled again in the 57th minute. They built through the phases never shifting out from the first-receiver, and eventually Williams flopped over in the corner.
Stephen Jones’s goal-kicking radar was off in this fixture and he’ll surely be keen to get back up to the highveld. Newlands is notorious for its difficult goal-kicking conditions but that hardly seem to affect De Waal, who kicked an important penalty in the 61st minute to keep the hosts in the game at 23-18.
Province drew level three minutes later when a sustained period of pressure paid dividends. They looked to have butchered an opportunity but remained patient, and when the overlap was created De Waal threw a good overhead pass to Pietersen who showcased his finishing ability. De Waal, couldn’t convert from the touchline, but at 23-23 with 16 minutes remaining, the stage was set for a dramatic finish.
Hook didn’t fare any better than Jones with his first penalty attempt, and so the Lions failed to take the lead. Brimming with confidence, the hosts fought their way into Lions territory but were undone by a handling error again. This time it was De Waal who dropped the ball cold.
Hook goaled a difficult penalty from 50m out to regain the lead and from here the Lions fought to hang on. Again they were helped by WP’s errors, an attacking movement in Lions territory coming to nought due to a forward pass. On the hooter, Pietersen also grubbered the ball away to hand the visitors victory.
It was a far from polished performance from the men in red, but the bottom line is the Lions have won their fifth match in succession and gained further match preparation ahead of next Saturday’s Test in Durban.
By Jon Cardinelli, at Newlands
657 Comments
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13 Jun 2009, 15:39 pm
#91 goyougoodthing2: Brussouw must start in Durban…Danie will screw things up at 6.
13 Jun 2009, 15:39 pm
#97 grootblousmile: Didn’t he mouth off this week about competing at the breakdown? Who exactly was he referring too… clearly not himself
13 Jun 2009, 15:39 pm
Province cant get their hands on the ball, common problem throughout the tour.
13 Jun 2009, 15:40 pm
Chavanga broken again…. sicknote…
13 Jun 2009, 15:40 pm
You’d never see JPP pulling off such a poor tackle.
13 Jun 2009, 15:41 pm
Ek het nie eers geweet Appel speel nog rugby nie.
13 Jun 2009, 15:41 pm
#101 goyougoodthing2: Lee blikke maak die grootste geraas…. dis Lulu, opgesom !
13 Jun 2009, 15:42 pm
#105 Ed_the_Lion: GifAplontjie speel mos meestal 7′s
13 Jun 2009, 15:43 pm
#107 grootblousmile: O ja. Hy is ‘n 7′s speler.
13 Jun 2009, 15:44 pm
Hope his injury isn’t serious though…
13 Jun 2009, 15:46 pm
well played by watson, first ruck lions have lost.
13 Jun 2009, 15:47 pm
Waar is daai Morgan Newman, Bishops tweede span Emerging Boks senter?
13 Jun 2009, 15:48 pm
Lions 18 / 12
Lemoenetyd
13 Jun 2009, 15:48 pm
#107 grootblousmile:
Het jy Lukas se skoppie gesien?
Klassiek!
13 Jun 2009, 15:48 pm
WP gelukkig om net 6 punte agter te wees.
13 Jun 2009, 15:48 pm
#111 Pietman: Newman skitter ook in sy afwesigheid… swak sentertjie daai
13 Jun 2009, 15:48 pm
WP will get murdered in the 2nd half.
13 Jun 2009, 15:49 pm
#113 Pietman: Swak speler, Watson… soek net die “Glory-geleenthede”
13 Jun 2009, 15:50 pm
#114 Ed_the_Lion: jy’s net suurgat oor die WP n beter fight as die leeus opsit…lol
13 Jun 2009, 15:50 pm
#117 grootblousmile: Jy stel dit mooi. Hy is KAK!!
13 Jun 2009, 15:51 pm
#118 Veltie: Glad nie Veltie. Die weer was beter in JHB en dit was ‘n baie sterker span wat teen die Leeus gespeel het.
13 Jun 2009, 15:52 pm
#120 Ed_the_Lion: WP doen nie te sleg nie. Watson is totaal anoniem, maar as dit nie vir Pietersen se twee foute onder die hoe bal en sy k*k tekkel was nie, was die leeus nie nou voor nie. ek se weer, die leeus impress my geensins nie
13 Jun 2009, 15:53 pm
#116 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke:
Hmmm maybe but they’ve put up a decent fight. I think if Province had gone for the try instead of slotting the drop the complexion of the game might be different. The only time the Lions have been put under pressure (against the Cheetahs) they haven’t looked too flash.
13 Jun 2009, 15:53 pm
Not sure Lawrence understands how a maul works. If your shoulder leaves the back of the maul and you rejoin… accidental offside… and Puke did it twice and then Lions get pinged. Bad inconsistency like that makes it hard for both teams
13 Jun 2009, 15:53 pm
#120 Ed_the_Lion: stem saam. hulle het so min agting vir die wp, dat nie een van die 2 kapteins speel nie.
13 Jun 2009, 15:54 pm
#121 Veltie: Pietersen het ‘n shocker vandag!!
13 Jun 2009, 15:54 pm
WP scrummaging much better than I’d imagined they would.
13 Jun 2009, 15:54 pm
naas is spot on, lions are going off their feet, ref gotta watch that in 1st test.
13 Jun 2009, 15:54 pm
#124 JM: Hulle speel sommer hulle C span vandag.
13 Jun 2009, 15:55 pm
#117 grootblousmile: Watson doen FOKKOL van die vuil werk. Korreksie:- hy doen Fokkol – punt!
Hang net om die fringes en wag vir ander om die werk te doen.
Vermeulen en Louw werk hulle gatte af
13 Jun 2009, 15:55 pm
WP absolutely getting monstered at the breakdown…
13 Jun 2009, 15:56 pm
#121 Veltie: As dit nie was dat Snorre vir Rose onttrek het aan die Goue Leeus se span nie, sou hul gewen het, somer ver ook.
13 Jun 2009, 15:56 pm
#127 cab: Who is the ref for firt test?
13 Jun 2009, 15:56 pm
#130 grootblousmile: se nie veel vir ou watson nie, ne? point proven. hy is brussouw se *****
13 Jun 2009, 15:57 pm
#129 SA Barbarians: nee wag nou. hy loop darem rond.
13 Jun 2009, 15:57 pm
#131 BDB: Praat jy wat tanne het.
#132 goyougoodthing2: Philip Bosch.
13 Jun 2009, 15:57 pm
#131 BDB: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
13 Jun 2009, 15:57 pm
#132 goyougoodthing2: stu dickenson i believe or maybe that kiwi bryce
13 Jun 2009, 15:57 pm
#131 BDB:
13 Jun 2009, 15:58 pm
#132 goyougoodthing2: firt Test… do you mean “third Test”..
Hehehe
13 Jun 2009, 15:58 pm
#135 Ed_the_Lion: WTF? Never. Bosch? YOu must be joking with me
13 Jun 2009, 15:58 pm
#134 JM: ja, hy loop rond en swaai arms!! Ek is na die game terug
13 Jun 2009, 15:59 pm
#140 goyougoodthing2: Just ******* with you. I’m not sure who will handle the first test.
13 Jun 2009, 15:59 pm
It’s Mark Lawrence in Durban… god help both sides.
13 Jun 2009, 15:59 pm
#132 goyougoodthing2:
bryce lawrence, both coaches are meeting with him, they need to watch lions technique, they are going to ground too quickly and controlling it well like that.
13 Jun 2009, 16:00 pm
#142 Ed_the_Lion: You made my heart stop. I mean I know about affirmative action and all that but hell man!
13 Jun 2009, 16:01 pm
**** it’s the Kiwi Bryce…
International Rugby Board high-performance referee panel members Bryce Lawrence, from New Zealand, Christophe Berdos, from France, and Dickinson will handle the three Tests on the first Lions tour of South Africa in 12 years.
13 Jun 2009, 16:01 pm
Ok, kom ons kyk verder en praat later.
BILions met 25, se ek…
13 Jun 2009, 16:02 pm
great tackle by the young newman, totally committed
13 Jun 2009, 16:02 pm
#97 grootblousmile: He’s scared his own team moers him…..
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