Reds steal a draw
22 Mar 2008
A last-minute try from Chris Latham gave the Reds a 24-all draw against the Lions at Ellis Park.
The Lions led for most of the match, but again didn’t show the killer instinct or experience to successfully close out a game. They will again be happy with the performance, but the result can be viewed as a loss for them, as they defended a lead and gave away two valuable points on the log.
Despite a little rain before kick-off, the ground was in perfect condition and both teams contributed to an entertaining game. There was much intent to score tries and to keep the ball alive, but the teams showed why they are in the bottom half of the log as their execution at the end of the moves repeatedly let them down, and as a result the half-time score was 3-0 to the Lions.
The game was played at a frantic pace early on, with both teams swopping many turnovers. The Lions could’ve been three tries up inside thirteen minutes, but for another match this season they again couldn’t finish. Centre Walter Venter and flyhalf Jaco van Schalkwyk both made clean linebreaks, but each came to nothing as wrong options ended the respective movements, while from a good set-piece move flank Cobus Grobbelaar dropped a poor pass from wing Rayno Benjamin with an opening try-line beckoning five metres away.
The Reds also had a chance of their own when Quade Cooper dropped the ball over line after a great tackle from Venter, but the warning signs were there for the Lions as they put in an aimless kick down field, the adequate chase didn’t come, and fullback Chris Latham countered.
The Lions didnt heed this warning as another poor kick and even worse defence from the hosts gifted the Reds a soft try early in the second half, as wing Peter Hynes fielded the ball and ran 70 metres straight down the field after only beating one tackler, and all of a sudden the hosts were down for the first time in the match.
The Lions managed to score from the first-phase off a scrum, something South African teams have struggled to do this Super 14, when Jaco van Schalkwyk made a brilliant break and off-loaded to eighthman Joe van Niekerk who was positioned in the centres. But when Reds replacement prop Rodney Blake scored and narrowed the gap to four points with 15 minutes remaining, a tight finish was always to be expected.
A 60-metre drop from Van Schalkwyk gave the Lions a seven-point lead, but this was never comfortable as they had to continuously defend for the final ten minutes. Latham eventually broke the Lions’ dam wall with his try, and Schifcofske did the rest and added the conversion to secure a draw.
The Lions have a bye before heading to the Antipodes and will have to work on their defence which cost them massively, while the Reds will take on the Sharks next week with some extra confidence.
Lions - Tries: Joe van Niekerk, Rayno Benjamin. Penalties: Jano Vermaak (3). Drop-kick: Jaco van Schalkwyk. Conversion: Jano Vermaak.
Reds – Tries: Peter Hynes, Rodney Blake, Chris Latham. Penalty: Clinton Schifcofske. Conversions: Clinton Schifcofske (3).
By Grant Ball
297 Comments
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23 Mar 2008, 17:20 pm
Yes that Horriman has quite a way with words doesn’t he ? & Skoppie must have licked the blarney stone all over
Saw an amusing movie this evening too – Charlie’s War.
23 Mar 2008, 17:23 pm
251 Princess,
I just watched that the other day. Like the dry humor on the FBI dude.
Did you wait to read the words that came up at the end? …. very funny, very true
23 Mar 2008, 17:24 pm
Chch
No, they just have PMS – chuck them some chocolate & they will be fine
23 Mar 2008, 17:25 pm
haha Liverpool are still complaining that their physco mouthy idiot got sent off
He looked like he was going to smack the ref and his own coach
All the dignity of an Australian cricket side
23 Mar 2008, 17:27 pm
253 Princess,
But did you read the words at the end?
23 Mar 2008, 17:27 pm
Chch
Lots of hidden humour
I found the final words more “sad but true”
23 Mar 2008, 17:29 pm
Chch
Cannot “do” soccer … like watching paint dry for me
23 Mar 2008, 17:31 pm
Must say I am enjoying playing with “Safari” … Fast & more stable that IE … mentioned that at brunch today to my friend from Microsoft after the 2nd bottle of champers … he just giggled
23 Mar 2008, 17:32 pm
257 Princess,
but I also watched the Lions vs Reds game
I was hoping for 6 out of 6 on SuperBru but missed due to the draw
23 Mar 2008, 17:35 pm
258 Princess,
So you have a Mac?
I will soon be back on Opera on my PDA. I am using Firefox on my laptop now (I never use IE, it sucks).
23 Mar 2008, 17:38 pm
No, I am using Safari for Windows
Looked a little digital camera today … Leica D Lux-3 … nniiccee ! Was looking for jelly PJs for my phone (which I keep dropping) – could not find but came home with a bunch of other stuff
23 Mar 2008, 17:42 pm
Can we all laugh at South African math again as the folk on SuperBru still have the Super14 table wrong
23 Mar 2008, 17:46 pm
I thought it was run by Poms ? You are just upset because you are WAY behind me
23 Mar 2008, 17:47 pm
I get an error whenever I try to access my In Box … same error for 99% of the last month – SO ANNOYING
23 Mar 2008, 17:48 pm
261 Princess,
jelly PJs … hmmmm ok I think I know what you mean
I have not tried Safari. The new beta version of FireFox is really cool. All popups are removed to an information bar.
The new version of IE is so ****. All useful stuff is hidden and it is just not intuitive.
23 Mar 2008, 17:49 pm
Ok, I think it is PJ time here … want to go to sleep while I still have a nice little buzz on
Maybe I will be lucky & sleep for more than 3 hours 
23 Mar 2008, 17:51 pm
263 Princess,
I went from 71st to 62nd over the weekend. Respectability is the name of the game.
I may be doing badly but it’s not like I won the competition last year
I am in trouble
23 Mar 2008, 17:52 pm
264 Princess,
What is the error?
What client are you using?
23 Mar 2008, 17:57 pm
Sorry, an error has occurred
If you are trying to make your picks and are unable to, please use our new emergency picks page.
Error details
Number: -
Source: Microsoft OLE DB Pro
vider for ODBC Drive
rs
Page: /super14/mail.asp
Description: [Microsoft][ODBC SQL
Server Driver][SQL
Server]String or bin
ary data would be tr
uncated.
Code: No code available
Line: 110
Description: -
23 Mar 2008, 17:58 pm
Have reported it probably 10 times – to no avail & am naff about it now
23 Mar 2008, 18:01 pm
269 Princess,
I had that once and it happened when I went back in. I then cleared my own cashe and restarted my browser. No problems after that
23 Mar 2008, 18:03 pm
Princess,
Oh, and the SuperBru site does not work without Java scripting enabled ….. the picks themselves are scripted
23 Mar 2008, 18:05 pm
It has been like it for month & I have switched browser from IE to Safari … I am just going to sulk about it now
I cannot find my honey – clearly he is out have a good time on the far side of the world so I am going to hit the showers & bed.
Nigh-night
23 Mar 2008, 18:05 pm
So is it true that South Africa have been relegated to the Northern Hemisphere?
23 Mar 2008, 18:06 pm
I have no problem posting /reviewing my picks ! I can even SEND email, just can read any of the replies – half working is so much more annoying that not working at all !
23 Mar 2008, 18:06 pm
Goodnight Princess,
Magandang gabe, ingat
23 Mar 2008, 18:07 pm
Night Chch
If you say so
23 Mar 2008, 18:08 pm
I can’t imagine “real” Boks would want to spend all their time playing northern rugby so I will take chance & say no.
23 Mar 2008, 18:09 pm
Tagalog …. good night, take care
23 Mar 2008, 19:06 pm
hello everyone
just an article i think news worthy!!!
Spies on his way to New Zealand
23 March 2008 (17:50)
Pierre Spies © Gallo Images
Spies was given the all-clear to return to action after being forced off the field for a pulmonary embolism he sustained before last year’s World Cup and has immediately left for Auckand to join his Super 14 teammates.
Afrikaans Sunday newspaper Sondag revealed the news and quoted Spies’ uncle Dawie, who represents the family as saying that the No 8 was raring to go.
“It’s a wonderful day for our family to get such news. Pierre was at several specialists and they all gave him the all clear to play again,” Dawie Spies told Sondag.
“He left on the next flight to New Zealand.”
Spies was never absolutely sure of his illness, after he coughed up blood in a Springbok training session, but Dawie Spies said he had followed a disciplined rehabilitation regime.
“The fact that the entire country also prayed for him to get better and the fact that the specialists could find nothing, is a miracle,” Spies snr said,“We however followed the rehabilitation programme as suggested by SA Rugby as a precaution and it is wonderful that he is back.”
me personally not sure its a good thing , i am saying this out of a south african point of view
one man cant save the bulls right now and i believe its a big risk
this young man is to valuable to risk
should they not maybe have tried a bulls vodacom game first ??????????????
whats ur views???
23 Mar 2008, 19:13 pm
“The fact that the entire country also prayed for him to get better and the fact that the specialists could find nothing, is a miracle,” Spies snr said,“
I do not know about this praying and miracle business, but anyway I hope the guy is OK to play. Good luck and hope for the best!
23 Mar 2008, 19:14 pm
Sharks_lover
Tacitus must be gazing at his poster of Spies in his bedroom and smiling from ear to ear. He’s just wolfed down another two huge Easter eggs.
I think he should’ve had some contact at Vodacom level first but the Bulls believe otherwise. It’s a bit hardcore to throw him in the deep end but the Bulls fans believe he has the Kryptonite and that he is on a mission from The Most High.
I hope he is cool and pray that it all goes fine.
23 Mar 2008, 19:20 pm
this wepener is a good player. he’s a pain in the *** if you’re not a Lions fan, but he has a way of getting under oppo’s skins and disprupting their concentration. and he’s more than handy in the loose. Personally i cannot stand him, but have to admit that he is a good player, BigJoe is also looking at some sort of form? walter vanter is also looking good, The Lions are going to be a serious handful in the CC this year..
23 Mar 2008, 19:22 pm
jinx, i dont think Tac has smiled in weeks, he’s a Bulls fan like me.
people keep asking me if i’ve had botox shots.
23 Mar 2008, 19:24 pm
lol jinx i have to agree
to be the bulls should blood some new players as they dont have a chance no more
bring in the yound centers that are playing great etc
get them ready for next year
they rusked habana to early after his shoulder injury and the next game he is out again >>??
they are not looking after their players
23 Mar 2008, 19:25 pm
Bluebarb
The Lions, like the Cheetahs are more mentally up for the CC than the S14. The S14 still scares them. They can’t get into the S14 groove. Its all in their heads. They need therapy and hypnosis that it’s all fine.
23 Mar 2008, 19:27 pm
Bluebarb
Nevermind botox shots…I think too of just plain “shots”. Hehehe.
23 Mar 2008, 19:31 pm
therapy and hypnosis, Jinxie, you’re spending too much time in CapeTown dude, somehow i dont see Heinke VD Merwe lying on a couch sharing his feelings with a guy in a turtleneck…
23 Mar 2008, 19:33 pm
good idea, i’m off to have some famous grouse shots. see if they’ll dull the rage that burns within the tortured soul of this blue bull supporter.
seems like i’m spending too much time away from PTA too?
23 Mar 2008, 19:35 pm
I just heard Kanko say,” Pierre Spies? Who’s he?”
Seriously…I hope he adapts and there’s no problems. I still think the Bulls are rudderless as they have no true Captain. Maybe Wickus is the better choice of captain. FdP definitely is not a born captain.
23 Mar 2008, 19:39 pm
Barb # 287
Classic image. Hilarious! The turtleneck just takes the cake. I’m falling about at my computer.
Nah, Heinke prefers seeing a Sangoma in full garb.
23 Mar 2008, 19:40 pm
Meisiekind needs to see a life coach.Hehehe.
23 Mar 2008, 19:45 pm
Barb
Feel those feelings boet. Don’t repress them with alcohol. Make friends with your fear to overcome it. Taste that hurt, that blocked game plan…make anger your friend so you may channel it into creativity bru. Then teach Meisiekind and Psycho JP.
23 Mar 2008, 19:50 pm
Must go and linger in the garden. Such a warm evening and I think some thoughts in the garden is what is needed.
Catch you later.
23 Mar 2008, 20:00 pm
anybody around here watch golf?
who think that Woods will take this Championship, he is currently 3rd , 4 shots from the lead.
So by the way 2 SAfricans Goosen and Tim Clark is in the top 10, 4 and 5 back of the leader Geoff Ogilvy. Woods has won 9 out of the last 10 games he played. Thats total domination.
23 Mar 2008, 21:21 pm
A long read but worthwhile from Jeremy Clarkson in The Sunday Times, UK
Ruck off, you nancy Aussies
When you have spent A$700 on a haircut, the last thing you need is to spend 80 minutes with your highlights up a Welshman’s bottom Jeremy Clarkson
You can never rely on the French. All they had to do was go to Cardiff last weekend with a bit of fire in their bellies and they’d have denied Wales the Six Nations Grand Slam. But no. They turned up instead with cheese in their bellies and mooched about for 80 minutes, seemingly not at all bothered that we’ve got to spend the next 12 months listening to the sheepsters droning on about their natural superiority and brilliance.
Or worse. Give them a Grand Slam and the next thing you know, all our holiday cottages are on fire.
There are, of course, other reasons I hoped the French would win. I’d rather live in France than Wales; I’d rather eat a snail than a daffodil; I’d certainly rather drink French fizzy wine; and I’d much rather sleep with Carole Bouquet than Charlotte Church.
However, as the match unfurled I found myself supporting the Welsh. Even though they seemed to have only three players ? Jones, Jenkins and Williams ? they were just so damn enthusiastic. And there was no doubt their excellent performance was lifting the spirits of the supporters. This made me feel warm and gooey because, like all civilised beings, I truly enjoy seeing a downtrodden people being given a crumb of something that makes them happy.
I was in Wales last week and it was pretty depressing. The place has more speed cameras and more roadworks per square inch than any other nation on earth. It also has more pebble-dashed housing and more rain too.
The only cheer is that children there are given free toothbrushes on the NHS, but this doesn’t seem quite enough, somehow, to make up for the shortfalls. That’s why I’m delighted to see them walk off with a nice cup. Well done, all of you. You beat the civilised world, fair and square. And now, having got that out of the way, we need your help . . .
The problem is that far, far away, in a sinister place called Australia, there is dirty work afoot. They are trying to change the laws of rugby so that it becomes less about mud, fighting and severe spinal injuries and more like ballet. In other words, more like the delicate nancy-boy running game that they play. This must be stopped.
In football there are 17 laws ? or 18 if you count the unwritten stipulation that you must be a wet **** to play it in the first place ? whereas in rugby there are 22 laws. And that’s before you get to the subclauses and subdivisions that conspire to make the whole thing more complicated than the assembly instructions for a space shuttle.
I know a great many rugby fans who claim to know what’s going on out there, but that’s just the beer talking. The fact is that no one does. And yet despite this the game works.
We saw examples of the two extremes in Wales’s game against France last weekend. In a scrum towards the end of the match, the Welsh forwards simply steamrollered the Frenchies clean off the ball. It was an exquisite demonstration of power. And then, moments later, some ugly little ginger burst out of nowhere and ran the length of the pitch in an exquisite demonstration of speed.
You will find this mix in no other game on earth except, I think, American football. But it’s hard to be sure because every time anything happens they cut to an advertisement for Budweiser.
The Australians now say that handling should be allowed in a ruck, that there need not be an even number of players from both teams in the lineouts and that rolling mauls can be dragged down. No, don’t worry. I don’t know what any of it means either.
They are already playing games over there in which quick lineout balls need not be thrown straight, and all players except the scrum-half have to be five metres behind the rear foot. It’s all mumbo jumbo ? and how they can understand this when they can’t even get to grips with the basics of eating indoors and call an afternoon an “arvo” is beyond me.
But what I do understand is that all of the law changes, and there are about 6,000 of them, are designed specifically to take the scrum out of the game. This is important in places such as Sydney. Get that lot into a bending-over position with a bunch of other hunks and you’d never pull them apart.
What’s more, when you have spent upwards of A$700 on a haircut and colouring, the last thing you need is to spend 80 minutes with your new highlights rammed up a Welshman’s muddy bottom.
Well now, look, Bruce. If you want to mince about on a pitch, falling over every time anyone goes near your Botox, give up with the Aussie laws nonsense and play the same wetty-footy that’s seen in the rest of the world. If on the other hand you want to play a man’s game, quit your whingeing ? that’s our job ? and get stuck in.
Changing the laws because you’re no good in a scrum would be like us saying that the winner of a cricket match should be the team best at saying “The rain in Spain”.
Happily, despite some support from New Zealand, the Aussies are unlikely to garner much sympathy from their other southern hemisphere colleagues, South Africa, who did rather well out of the current laws in the last World Cup.
But to make the Barbie Boys give up, we must ensure there’s a united front up here in the developed half of the world. That means Jean Claude, Iueeaneuauun, Mick, Leonardo and William Wallace coming together, united as one, and reminding our Australian friends that if it weren’t for Nigel they’d still be scorpions and snakes.
24 Mar 2008, 00:50 am
sh*t
that was a good read JL1
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