Mighty Marx roars biggest as Lions win battle of the cats

Malcolm Marx was colossal for the Lions in their 40-23 Super Rugby quarter-final win against the Jaguares in Johannesburg. The Lions will host the Waratahs in the semi-final and the Crusaders will be at home to the Hurricanes. 

The Lions led 24-9 before the Jaguares struck back with two tries after halftime to make it a four point game at 27-23.

All the momentum was with the Jaguares at this stage, but two crucial turnovers, executed by Marx, saved a desperate Lions.

And once this visitors’s surge had been repelled through Marx and Clyde Brink’s heroics at the breakdown, the Lions struck with a seven pointer and Elton Jantjies added more points through place and drop kicks.

The Lions scored four tries and Jantjies was outstanding in contributing 20 points for the victors.

Biting the Bullet – Keo and James Dalton’s Super Rugby preview

• Each of the last seven games between the Lions and Jaguares has been won by the home team on the day, with the ledger now favouring the Lions 4-3.
• The Lions have won five of their previous six finals games on home turf, scoring 40+ points on four occasions in that time.
• The Jaguares have lost their last nine games in succession in South Africa

Keo and the Oracle’s Heart versus Head Super Rugby Play-off Picks

Lions versus Jaguares Live Match Centre

It’s over Lions win 40-23.

• Martin Landajo comes on for Jaguares.
• 75‘Gonzalo Bertranou leaves the field.
• 75‘Dillon Smit comes on.
• 75‘Ross Cronje comes off.
• 75‘The touch judges raise their flags as Elton Jantjies kicks the penalty goal.
• 74‘Pablo Matera has made 10 good tackles so far this game.

• 71‘Johannes Jonker comes on.
• 71‘Ruan Dreyer comes off.
• 69‘Howard Mnisi comes on.
• 69‘Harold Vorster comes off.
• 69‘Lions decide to make a substitution, with Lourens Erasmus getting some game time.
• 69‘Lions decide to make a substitution, with Marvin Orie being replaced.
• 69‘Lions make a substitution with Corne Fourie coming on.
• 69‘Lions make a substitution with Malcolm Marx coming off.
• 67‘Harold Vorster has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 66‘Jaguares have won 80 rucks so far this game.
• 66‘Warren Whiteley has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 66‘Kwagga Smith has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 65‘Jaguares sub Juan Manuel Leguizamon comes onto the field.
• 65‘Javier Ortega Desio departs for Jaguares.
• 64‘Tomas Lavanini comes on for Jaguares.
• 64‘Marcos Kremer leaves the field.
• 64‘Matias Alemanno comes on.
• 64‘Guido Petti Pagadizaval comes off.
• 63‘Elton Jantjies has kicked a drop goal.
• 63‘Lions have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 62‘Sebastian Cancelliere comes on.
• 62‘Matias Moroni comes off.
• 62‘Juan Pablo Zeiss comes on.
• 62‘Santiago Garcia Botta comes off.
• 62‘Jaguares decide to make a substitution, with Julian Montoya getting some game time.
• 62‘Jaguares decide to make a substitution, with Agustin Creevy being replaced.
• 61‘Lions make a substitution with Courtnall Skosan coming on.
• 61‘Lions make a substitution with Aphiwe Dyantyi coming off.
• 59‘Marvin Orie has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 59‘Ruan Combrinck makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 57‘Jeronimo De La Fuente has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 57‘Jaguares sub Santiago Medrano comes onto the field.
• 57‘Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro departs for Jaguares.
• 57‘The touch judges raise their flags as Elton Jantjies kicks the conversion.
• 56‘Fabulous play by Lions has led to Andries Coetzee being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 56‘Elton Jantjies played a key part in that try.
• 56‘A series of passes by Lions results in a try for Andries Coetzee.
• 55‘Lions have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 52‘Jaguares have won 60 rucks so far this game.
• 52‘Dylan Smith comes on for Lions.
• 52‘Jacques Van Rooyen leaves the field.
• 52‘Ruan Dreyer has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 48‘Nicolas Sanchez adds the two points for Jaguares.
• 47‘Trouble here as Pablo Matera breaches the defence.
• 47‘That’s a great try assist by Gonzalo Bertranou.
• 47‘Jaguares are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Pablo Matera touching down.
• 46‘This is dangerous for the defence as Jeronimo De La Fuente bursts through to advance the Jaguares attack.
• 43‘Elton Jantjies adds the points for Lions.
• 42‘Nicolas Sanchez does the business as his conversion attempt goes over.
• 42‘A gap opened in the defence and Marnus Schoeman took full advantage.
• 41‘Jeronimo De La Fuente sets up the try.
• 41‘Great hands by Jaguares leads to a try for Bautista Delguy.
• 41‘The defensive line has been broken as Bautista Delguy goes through the gap.
• 40‘Marnus Schoeman comes on.
• 40‘Cyle Brink comes off.
• 40‘Franco Mostert has made 10 good tackles so far this game.
• 40‘The second half is underway.
• 40‘The half-time whistle blows and both teams’ head for the dressing rooms.
• 36‘Nicolas Sanchez does the business as his penalty goal attempt goes over.
• 35‘Jaguares have won 40 rucks so far this game.
• 28‘Lions have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 27‘Elton Jantjies makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.
• 26‘What a run here by Gonzalo Bertranou as they gets over the gainline!.
• 26‘Malcolm Marx intercepts the pass to race ahead and score the try for Lions.
• 26‘Malcolm Marx makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.
• 25‘Elton Jantjies makes no mistake with that penalty goal attempt.
• 23‘Fabulous play by Lions has led to Cyle Brink being able to wriggle through a gap.
• 15‘Elton Jantjies converts the try.
• 14‘Trouble here as Harold Vorster breaches the defence.
• 14‘What a kick! Harold Vorster takes full advantage to score for Lions.
• 12‘Jaguares have won 20 rucks so far this game.
• 8‘Elton Jantjies has kicked a conversion.
• 7‘This is dangerous for the defence as Ruan Combrinck bursts through to advance the Lions attack.
• 7‘The kick through from Lions has allowed Ruan Combrinck to touch down.
• 5‘Nicolas Sanchez kicks the penalty.
• 3‘Nicolas Sanchez has kicked a penalty goal.
• 2‘A gap opened in the defence and Pablo Matera took full advantage.
•  The defensive line has been broken as Tomas Lezana goes through the gap.
•  We are underway as the referee blows his whistle.

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Courtnall Skosan, 23 Howard Mnisi

Jaguares

15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Matias Moroni, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Marcos Kremer 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 22 Martin Landajo, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere