Lions’ late rally sinks Cheetahs
14 Aug 2010
Two tries in the last five minutes secured the Lions a 30-26 victory over the Cheetahs at Ellis Park.
Elton Jantjies and Jannie Boshoff rescued what looked a lost cause for the Lions, the former putting on an expert all round performance for one so young.
The Cheetahs will lament poor defence in the dying minutes, after resisting well for most of the match. The Lions squandered good scoring opportunities and a more accomplished side would have capitalised on those errors.
The try count reflects that both sides acquitted themselves well enough in defence, but then the attacking play was hardly testing and was marked by a plethora of fundamental errors.
The hosts were the worse in this regard, seeking to play expansively from anywhere on the track. They largely lacked penetration because of their refusal to establish an attacking platform through phase play. This often exposed their ball carriers at the breakdown and offered the Cheetahs chances to slow or turn over possession. What infuriates is that when they did build patiently through phases, as was evident in their tries, they look a very competent side.
The Cheetahs were more structured and controlled the ball better through phases, but their failure to breach the gain line initially meant their possession counted for very little.
Louis Strydom took them into an early lead with three penalties, but that advantage was quickly cut to three points by Lions flyhalf Jantjies’ boot. Jantjies then produced a touch that would have had his backline coach Carlos Spencer smiling, chipping the rushing defensive line to put Deon van Rensburg clean through on goal. He duly converted to give the Lions a 13-9 half-time lead.
The Cheetahs’ response was immediate, Ashley Johnson scoring after a powerful 5m scrum. Strydom converted and added another penalty for a 50th minute 19-13 lead.
The Lions crafted the better chances in the period that followed, none more so than a 12-phase move. It, however, ended with Jano Vermaak spilling a pass forward with the tryline in sight. It summed up the amatuerish errors that continue to undermine the cause of John Mitchell’s side.
Jantjies bank three points, but a Kobus Calso converted try 13 minutes from full time, marked by some poor one-on-one defending, gave the Cheetahs a comfortable 10-point buffer.
But Jantjies set up a tense last five minutes when he converted his own try in the corner, and two minutes later the Lions snatched victory when Jannie Boshoff chased a Michael Killian punt and grabbed a fortuitous bounce to score. Jantjies sent the touchline conversion sailing over and the Lions held on for a rare victory.
177 Comments
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14 Aug 2010, 18:52 pm
@Senga(Senga)-148:
14 Aug 2010, 18:53 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-149: Pretty pleased with the Bulls defence – WP have been hot on attack this Currie Cup, and the Bulls weak on defence.
14 Aug 2010, 18:54 pm
@Petri(Petri)-150: MOM
WHAT!!!
I Changed the channel quickly Vermeulen should’ve been MOM
De Waal MOM
What a shocker!!!
14 Aug 2010, 18:55 pm
Province just too strong in the end
They should have taken the penalties on offer in the 1st half which would have created a cushion.
Bulls played negatively and Jonker not keen to dish out cards.
But nevertheless result a fair reflection.
Province stronger in the end…
14 Aug 2010, 18:55 pm
Brok Harris just named MOM
what were you on abt Petri
14 Aug 2010, 18:55 pm
@Papoose(papaown)-153: brock harris
14 Aug 2010, 18:55 pm
well unsung hero then Brok
i did notice Provinces scrum was VERY strong
ok
well done buddy
14 Aug 2010, 18:56 pm
Brok the MOTM.
Gotta love it.
14 Aug 2010, 19:24 pm
IF Naka Drotske was non-white he’d be burned to ashes right now! Anybody wanna prove me wrong?
14 Aug 2010, 19:45 pm
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-159: um, but naka’s players get ripped from him by the sharks & western province.
14 Aug 2010, 19:51 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-160:
What’s your point? I thought coaches had no excuses.
14 Aug 2010, 20:21 pm
well done to the Lions… now run off and leave the cup for a real rugby team
14 Aug 2010, 20:55 pm
Just a quick one. i am a WP fan, but a big up to the Lions and John Mitchell. I think P Divvy should rather shut up about NZ landers “sniffing around”. Mitchell has done wonders with this team, much more than **** the **** Muir. Did you see how Jantjies gave credit to Mitchell and Spencer for the man of the match award. I hope Mitch and King Carlos can keep “sniffing” around by the Lions, great work guys! Oh, and off course, Provinceee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To all the Bulls fans, great game, thanks. And by the way, 8 Bulls by the Boks and 8 WP players by the Boks, so don’t even try that axcuse.
15 Aug 2010, 01:13 am
Yip best of luck to Mitchell def one of the best coaches in the world, not sure what he can do with the lack of talent but nice to see him in sa, the okes can surely learn a helluva lot
15 Aug 2010, 02:03 am
Naka is kaka! Freestate have such great talent bu moegoes that run the show. Dickandalike!
15 Aug 2010, 06:50 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-159: Nah, he won’t get slaughtered if he was dark; as a non-white he’ll just the play the race card to live another day!
15 Aug 2010, 14:16 pm
@kwas(kwas)-166:
Yes, playing the race card is pathetic. So what card is Naka playing.
15 Aug 2010, 18:15 pm
ROAR!
15 Aug 2010, 18:16 pm
My beautiful Lions WON.
15 Aug 2010, 18:17 pm
… although against the farm boys which really is no difficult task. Now for the big boys.
15 Aug 2010, 18:17 pm
@RedLion is born again(RL)-169: hahaha. Nice one. Well done to your Lions. They are playing FAR better with Mitchell as their coach.
15 Aug 2010, 18:18 pm
Vrede you anti-Lion fool … what do you have to say now my boy?
15 Aug 2010, 18:19 pm
@Puma(Puma)-171: agreed, we have a good coach and some nice young talent coming through.
15 Aug 2010, 18:24 pm
@RedLion is born again(RL)-173: Lions do. They my 2nd team so feel great for the Lions. Really want to see them back up there. Hope they can keep Mitchell though read Force want him back for the S15. Hope Keven de Klerk can work something out about that.
15 Aug 2010, 18:25 pm
Here is a proper match summary … read and beware.
Beware, the Xerox Lions have arrived!
August 15 – The Xerox Lions revival that has been threatening for the past matches was very evident on Saturday as they wiped out a ten-point deficit for their 30-26 win over the Free State Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park.
It was only their second win in the Absa Currie Cup this year and the Lions’ first over a major union and will be seen as a major stepping stone in their revival. In fact, the Free State were Currie Cup finalists last year!
It is also significant that the Lions have played four of their six matches to date – against Western Province, The Sharks, Griquas and the Platinum Leopards – away from home and therefore have five of their remaining Currie Cup matches at home.
It was a well-deserved win with the home side standing their ground in the scrums, holding their lineout throws and often looking threatening on attack.
Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies was named Man of the Match after scoring 20 points, including a try, and succeeding with all six of his kicks at goal.
The win keeps the Lions in touch with the top four sides on the log, avoiding a loss that would have put an end to their semi-final aspirations.
The hosts went into the half-time break 13-9 ahead, and deserved their lead. They carried the ball more often than the Cheetahs, looked dangerous on a number of occasions, and crossed the line twice, although one try was rightly denied by the TMO.
The highlight of the first half was the immaculate chip by Jantjies two minutes before the break that was collected by right winger Deon van Rensburg to give the Lions the lead.
The home side showed greater patience at the breakdown than they have done in previous matches this season, but it remains a concern that they, like most South African sides, do not get the ball away quickly enough for an effective attack.
The Free State regained the lead less than four minutes into the second half after a sustained effort that ended in a five-metre scrum to the visitors, from where Ashley Johnson went over and Louis Strydom converted (16-13).
Another penalty by Strydom (19-13) and patient phase attack by the pack and the Free State backs seemed to have the Lions on the rack. The hosts, however, survived despite the yellow-carding of young flanker Renaldo Bothma, who had a lively game in his first start.
The match then turned the Lions’ way. They attack and the drove and with Jantjies – who had a good game after some average handling early on – and captain Franco van der Merwe prominent in the sequence, that brought them close to a try heading into the last quarter.
The pressure produced some reward as Jantjies reduced the lead to 19-16 from a penalty with 17 minutes remaining, but six minutes later Cheetahs replacement prop Kobus Calldo seemed to have sealed the match with a converted try (26-16).
However, the Lions regained control in the following eight minutes, most of which was played in the Free State quarter. Good patience, solid support and varied options kept them in control, eventually resulting in a try for Jantjies after prominent work from replacement flank Joshua Strauss.
With Jantjies converting from touch, where he had scored, the Lions were only three points behind when the death knell sounded for the visitors.
Michael Killian received after a maul following the restart where Jano Vermaak – again outstanding, did some sterling work. Killian broke and kicked ahead. The bouncing ball eluded him, but replacement Jannie Boshoff picked up and went over, and again Jantjies did the trick from touch and the Lions held out to win.
Scorers: Lions: Tries: Deon van Rensburg, Elton Jantjies, Jannie Boshoff. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3). Penalties: Jantjies (3).
Free State Cheetahs: Tries: Ashley Johnson, Kobus Calldo. Conversions: Louis Strydom Meyer Bosman. Penalties: Strydom (4).
15 Aug 2010, 22:54 pm
I have to say that Naka could be doing a lot better in the S14 with the players he has at his disposal. Hell he has two serious CC contender teams playing for him (Grieqwas and Free state), as well as the best feeder school in the world.
Perhaps it is time for a better coach. I would like to see what Jake White does with them.
PS why is it that Grey Bloem never gets invited to the World Schools Rugby competition?
16 Aug 2010, 00:58 am
@cab(cab)-164: I’d laugh if PDV noticed his success and drafted him as assistant Bok coach before the World Cup. How sweet revenge on the NZRU would be for Mitchell were he to succeed with SA.
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