Tahs crush lousy Lions
12 Mar 2010
The Lions delivered another poor defensive display as Drew Mitchell scored four tries in the Waratahs’ 73-12 win in Sydney.
This fixture was talked about as the Lions’ best chance of victory, even though they had never beaten the Tahs in Sydney. That hope was short-lived, however, as after just 32 minutes, the hosts wrapped up the bonus point. The Lions have now conceded 29 tries in the tournament, which tells the story of a shocking start to the season.
The Tahs were under pressure from their supporters and the Australian media, but their fans had plenty to cheer about as they crossed the line 11 times.
Carlos Spencer gifted the Tahs their first two tries, the first when the Lions won a turnover but opted to run from deep. This is the approach coach Dick Muir loves to see, but it cost the Lions as the Tahs won the ball back, and from an ensuing penalty, Drew Mitchell tapped and dived over the line. Earlier in the move, Tonderai Chavhanga had also rushed out of the defensive line handing the Tahs the momentum.
The Waratahs winger went from hero to villain momentarily as a mistake behind his own goal-line gifted Chavhanga a score. The Tahs led 7-5 after seven minutes, but then Spencer was again at his worst. His kick was charged and gathered by Dean Mumm who cantered over with the cover defence non-existent.
The Lions’ defence was typically porous as they missed 12 tackles inside 25 minutes. The Tahs were hardly made to work as the Lions handed another Australasian team a bonus point – the third time they’ve conceded five log points in 2010.
Tom Carter crashed over before Wandile Mjekevu’s mistake (which was similar to Mitchell’s) saw Lachie Turner claim the fourth try.
The Lions were intent on running, but clearly lacked confidence, as Spencer and Earl Rose hacked away possession aimlessly. The Tahs were buoyed by the visitors’ mistakes and looked to counter from deep, and Berrick Barnes also drove the Lions back with some lengthy touch-finders.
Muir finally lost patience with his halfbacks as JP Joubert and Spencer were replaced by Jano Vermaak and Burton Francis at half-time. The latter pair didn’t lack effort, but without the platform from their pack, they battled to make an impact.
The Lions have successfully brought other teams, such as the Brumbies, down to their level, but the Tahs kept their structure and scored a further six tries in the second half. The Lions opted to run everything in the final 40, and Mitchell capitalised from their numerous errors to complete a personal tally of four tries.
Muir will undoubtedly find ‘positives’ in this display, but the Lions are going nowhere slowly. The seven-time champions Crusaders lie in wait, and if the Lions’ woeful defence continues, they can expect another hiding.
By Grant Ball
620 Comments
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13 Mar 2010, 09:43 am
@The Almighty Shaun: 596
Hmmm now let me enlighten you from the female perspective.
Soccer players lack the quality rugby men possess in spades.
LEG DRIVE
13 Mar 2010, 09:44 am
@The Almighty Shaun: Class!! Money cannot buy class, you of all people should know that
13 Mar 2010, 09:49 am
@JL1: Money can buy class!!! Just imagine Earl buys himself a proper ‘safari pak’ wif a ‘kam innie kous’
13 Mar 2010, 09:54 am
@RugbyRulz: 597.. I am just a normal intelligent person who has many interest… I can strip an engine, write about economics, I have a great interest in organisational dynamics and I am super hot at Excel. Great writing skills and I have an above average understanding of commercial law… Played, coached and administered in football. Also played Baseball and tennis( not really good) but I am decent at squash… I also have a great interest the organisational dynamics of rugby. It is a strange sport that requires constant change to keep it relevant as a world sport while it battles to sell its initial agenda of White supremacy
13 Mar 2010, 09:59 am
@The Almighty Shaun: 602
I too am quite accomplished in many ways, but do not feel the impulse to prostitute myself here.
Dude you are way too caught up with the skin you’re in. Man I couldn’t give a rats ar$e about anyone trying to trivialise Rugby by trying to taint the game with racism.
You certainly need to find a barrow worth pushing because the grip you have on the handle is coming up short.
13 Mar 2010, 10:02 am
@JL1: 600..Luckily I am not classist.. so that is beneath me
@RugbyRulz: Leg drive?? There lies your problem.. Its pelvic thrust thats more important.. unless you are a bigger woman
.. but let me not be judgemental 
13 Mar 2010, 10:07 am
@RugbyRulz: 603.. Your poetry is wonderful.. but it does not counter my argument about Rugby’s dilemma
13 Mar 2010, 10:10 am
@The Almighty Shaun: 605
In Your Humble Opinion, Rugby has a dilemma;!I do not agree with your view.
We can agree to disagree.
13 Mar 2010, 10:11 am
Anyhooo Shorks and Brumbies up within the hour, have a pleasant day ya’ll.
13 Mar 2010, 10:14 am
@RugbyRulz: 606..Copout??
13 Mar 2010, 10:23 am
@The Almighty Shaun:
Good grief, we do love yourselves don’t we?! You sound like the type of guy I would chew my own arm of to get away from at a bar…
13 Mar 2010, 10:25 am
Ourselves…. and off… a EDIT button would be nice.
Anyway, it’s a new day and I still feel the same as yesterday.
GO STORMERS!
13 Mar 2010, 10:26 am
@KWAGGA ROBERTSE: Bwhahahahaha!!
13 Mar 2010, 10:27 am
@Grrrr….I used to be a Lion!: The presumption is that you are female… I don’t chat up woman at a bar.. It tends to be the other way around.. My friends call me magneto
13 Mar 2010, 10:30 am
@The Almighty Shaun: @602 you wouldn’t know an organisational dynamic if it bit you on the arse. Only thing you’re good for is counting bricks and complaining about white people being superior
13 Mar 2010, 10:31 am
@The Almighty Shaun:
Ag, I will just call you d**s.
13 Mar 2010, 10:32 am
@Big Hit: cant help yourself can you Biggles, does anything good rugby wise ever come out of NZ?
I think youll find most kiwis were gracious enough to admit that the 2003 English side were the best at the time, yet in my 3 years here I dont think Ive ever heard you mention NZ in a positive light.. have you even been to NZ, a true rugby mad country?
where people live and breathe the game? where every kid wants to grow up to be an AB, and at any school you will invariably see kids kicking or running with a rugby ball? not the round version you guys fawn over?
or is it the fact that a country with a population probably smaller then half the size of London continually serves your pretenders a plate of whoop @rse…
13 Mar 2010, 10:39 am
@Grrrr….I used to be a Lion!: whaever
@Porto: Havn’t counted bricks for a while.. 52 imperial in m2.. single skin.. 104 in 1bk wl.. Ah.. now I remember.. can’t remember the concrete mixes.. but I always get confused with it.. is 6:2:1. 10MPA
13 Mar 2010, 10:42 am
@The Almighty Shaun: Love the restraint. Is this a newer, more mature Shaun (sic)?
13 Mar 2010, 21:52 pm
Victors armblade is “a bit of sponge”
yeah, right. It’s reinforced poly-plastic weaponry no less. Matfields arm injury was 7yrs ago, WTF does he still need it for ? Cory Flynn has broken both arms, many times, and check out what he was wearing in the Crusaders v Chiefs match – nothing other than normal strapping !
Matfield is a thug, no less. Try telling Kelleher & Elsom, to name just 2 of the most obvious egs, that it’s just ‘sponge’.
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