Lions hammer bleak Bulls
24 Jan 2009
The Lions caused a shock when they gave the Bulls a 44-21 hiding in their friendly at a packed Wits University.
The Bulls may have opted to field an understrength unit without Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez to name just two, but they would have expected to be competitive at the very least.
But the Lions produced some stupendous rugby for this early in the season, scoring five first half tries, and seven in all, that entertained the 6 000 strong crowd.
The key to the win was quick ball they won at rucks, as this afforded the backs the necessary platform to pressure the Bulls’ defensive line. The first four tries were all scored on the overlap due to the earlier sterling work at the breakdown.
Such was the Lions’ dominance that they would have earned the bonus point - had this been competition time – after 32 minutes. The fifth was possibly the best of the evening after a 20m break from captain Baywatch Grobbelaar sent Jaque Fourie over to make the score 34-0 heading into the shed.
Fourie also highlighted his importance to the team with his marshaling of the defence, which kept the Bulls scoreless for the first half. One such hit on fellow Bok Danie Rossouw where he drove him backwards was particularly memorable.
What would have also pleased Lions coach Loffie Eloff was the form of his recruited Bok wingers, Ashwin Willemse and Henno Mentz. Finishing has been a problem, but both grasped any opportunity that came their way and were also productive around the park.
The second half saw a number of replacements on for both sides, and as a result the match deteriorated into a scrappy one. The Bulls managed to open their account five minutes into the second half with a try from replacement flank Deon Stegmann, but the Lions hit straight back.
Michael Killian, on for Willemse, charged down Burton Francis’s clearance and flopped on the ball to snuff out any hopes of an unlikely Bulls comeback.
The Lions have no more official friendlies and must wait three weeks until their Super 14 opener against the Cheetahs. Conversely for Frans Ludeke’s Bulls, they have two warm-ups where they will hope to gain some confidence.
Lions - Tries: Ashwin Willemse, Henno Mentz, Gert Muller, Earl Rose, Jaque Fourie, Michael Killian, Jano Vermaak. Conversions: Rose (3). Penalty: Rose.
Bulls - Tries: Deon Stegmann, Bakkies Botha, Akona Ndungane. Conversions: Burton Francis (2), Bryan Habana.
* The Lions B team beat their Bulls counterparts 22-13 after leading 12-3 at half-time. Lions centre Walter Venter was a standout for the hosts.
By Grant Ball, in Johannesburg
320 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 » Show All
24 Jan 2009, 20:56 pm
Mossie is back – I imagine him breaking the line and beating the scambling defence to score a try from the 50m line
24 Jan 2009, 20:56 pm
When are the Stormers playing Sarries?
24 Jan 2009, 20:56 pm
JA DIE S14 GAAN SIEK WEES KANI WAGI
24 Jan 2009, 20:57 pm
50 point are on offer for the Lions. Who will bet against that from happening?
24 Jan 2009, 20:57 pm
MORE 16.00 OF 17/00
24 Jan 2009, 20:57 pm
Tweede helfte gaan Loffie sy b span opsit, en Ludeke sy a span ?
24 Jan 2009, 20:58 pm
WHO ME
24 Jan 2009, 20:58 pm
#102 Mackie:
Tomorrow they will play against their victims. Right now it is the Lions who are spoiling Ludeke’s carefully planned warm up’s.
24 Jan 2009, 20:59 pm
SPOON
24 Jan 2009, 20:59 pm
#93 wooden spoon:
I’ve always rated Loffie, even when he does dumb things like playing Rose as pivot.. you got me all wrong I never wrote Loffie off, he has always had my respect, last year he got his balance wrong but his front row are awesome probably the best in the country, I’ve always rated Loffie, unlike some other whiter shade of pale palookas, who we’ll refrain from mentioning now.
24 Jan 2009, 20:59 pm
#109 KING JEEP: Ja, ek vra vir jou – hoekom SKREEU jy?
24 Jan 2009, 21:00 pm
JA HULLE DOEN
24 Jan 2009, 21:01 pm
SOZ beter
24 Jan 2009, 21:02 pm
#110 yliad: I must be mistaken. I thought you jumped on the bandwagon last year, when the topic was why PDV had never coached a S14 team.
Eloff has been at the Lions a while now – when will the “rebuilding” stop and the winning start? How much time would you give him if you were sitting in the GLRU?
24 Jan 2009, 21:03 pm
tahs 17 reds 5
24 Jan 2009, 21:05 pm
#114 wooden spoon:
It was JL1 that often talked Loffie down, I’ve always liked his style, they’ve been very thin for backup if they pick up injuries much like Cheetahs, but full strength they’ll give anyone a go, J.Pretorius might have made a big mistake crossing the Jukskei this year, much like W.Van Heerden before him.
24 Jan 2009, 21:06 pm
I’ve got to duck. Later.
24 Jan 2009, 21:07 pm
6 tries to one so far and 5 of them by backline players and wings.. looks like Loffie’s got his story straight so far this time, long as they can just keep it pumping.
24 Jan 2009, 21:07 pm
Heeeeeeeee haaaaaaaaaa Bulls are on the score sheet !
Hehehhehe
See Stegmann is on… makes an immediate impact, that boytjie…
24 Jan 2009, 21:09 pm
#117 wooden spoon: Cheers Woody
24 Jan 2009, 21:10 pm
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak,
All of these players can play for the Boks tomorrow, except for Doppies no comment on Rose
The only players missing from the pack are Mostert and Ernst.
What a good looking team.
24 Jan 2009, 21:10 pm
And looks like Walter Venter had a top notch game in the B team, so Lions looking A-Ok in the backs this year to go with their awesome front row and Willem Alberts and Jannes Labuschagne as rough rider second row and back row enforcers
24 Jan 2009, 21:11 pm
en andre
24 Jan 2009, 21:13 pm
Nothing wrong with Doppies, he makes some nice little breaks inside, nice feed off to Jacque, and there is still Walter Venter off bench.. maybe even Rose will come of age this year too.
24 Jan 2009, 21:15 pm
Andre can soak it up on the bench and come on last 30 minutes if necessary, that way save his brittle bode
24 Jan 2009, 21:20 pm
Nog ‘n driekie, dryf daai spyker diep in die kus in boys. Ja!
24 Jan 2009, 21:21 pm
Die Bulls span lyk my is op pad agteruit, iemand beter a noodhulp oproep aan Heyneke deursit gou gou.
24 Jan 2009, 21:22 pm
#126 yliad: Geluk, julle is eerste op die log … met ‘n bonuspunt
24 Jan 2009, 21:23 pm
Come on Lions, one more converted try to the 50.
24 Jan 2009, 21:25 pm
#128 alf:
Noggie… maar watch net
24 Jan 2009, 21:27 pm
Pity its not a real game.. what counts… long as Loffie and the boys don’t go getting kop toe over this little rehearsal.
24 Jan 2009, 21:28 pm
Bakkie kry n drie… bietjie laat ou maat.. koels al lankal deur die kerk die keer.
24 Jan 2009, 21:31 pm
Sheez Bulls 2nd team is kak! Anyone know when the Sharks are playing?
24 Jan 2009, 21:32 pm
#121 RedLion roars again: Earl Rose over Pienaar? Bru what am have you been smoking?!
24 Jan 2009, 21:32 pm
Mmmmmm…….. look who scores for the Bulls……….. not the B-Team guys… the benchies…. who are actually A-Team guys….
And the Lions did not pull away after halftime… wonder why…. maybe because the Bulls started putting some better players on the pitch ??
Lions, don’t read anything into this win….. as I said before this game even started…. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
24 Jan 2009, 21:34 pm
‘Ashwin shrugs off Habana hype’
Looks like maybe he was right after all… more hype than substance… looks like a whole lot of glory boys going to have to be doing some serious soul searching all over again… the laurels are long past available for resting on, time to put in some serious hard work for a change.. or get your *** whipped.
24 Jan 2009, 21:34 pm
#121 RedLion roars again: sorry but I fail to see how Willemse is better than JP unless ofcourse he’s got his speed back and can play as replacement for JP in case of injury.
24 Jan 2009, 21:35 pm
#134 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: Sharks beat the lowly Pumas 19 / 7…. also with a B-Team.
There is a BIGGGGGGGGGGGG difference between Bulls & Sharks A and their respective B-Teams…..
Be verrrrrrrrry afraid of the Bulls and the Sharks… be verrrrrrrrrry afraid !
24 Jan 2009, 21:35 pm
#136 yliad: Is Habana playing today?
24 Jan 2009, 21:35 pm
#135 grootblousmile:
We took it easy after that 1st half blitz no need risking injuries on B-team players
24 Jan 2009, 21:35 pm
#131 yliad: 28 Februarie is die ware jakob, dan speel die Leeus teen die A span, op Ellispark.
24 Jan 2009, 21:36 pm
Apparently Sharks also sukkeled against the mighty Pumas, just scraped a win.
Bulls and Sharks will have to get some serious momentum going if they going to live up to all their pre season hype.
24 Jan 2009, 21:36 pm
#137 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke:
I am not saying that they must replace any of the current Boks, merely saying that they are Bok quality.
24 Jan 2009, 21:37 pm
#138 grootblousmile: Jeez that is poor, I hope there is a big big difference between Sharks A and B teams otherwise I’m going to be crying into my Castle! Well its only pre-season, all will be revealed on 14th Feb!
24 Jan 2009, 21:39 pm
#141 alf:
Ja dis die ware Jakob, dan sien ons die ware verhaal.. tot dan, vandag was definitief 1-0 Leeus, en dis altyd lekker om te weet jy’s op pad voorentoe, nie agteruit nie.
24 Jan 2009, 21:40 pm
#144 Crouching Tiger Hidden Bokke: Bro…. your Black & White Team and my Blue Team will be right up there…. whaen it really matters !
Watch the Sharks demolish the Stormers on 14 Feb….. I predict it now already…
24 Jan 2009, 21:41 pm
Afternoon guys
The last time I mentioned Lions were going to be competitive this year in super 14, I was told I was on Crack.
Ok its pre season, but just look at their pack for starters
24 Jan 2009, 21:42 pm
Mmmmm final score 44 / 21…
….. so the Bulls won the 2nd half 21 / 10….
Interesting…….. indeed……..
24 Jan 2009, 21:42 pm
We shouldnt get too excited. Wont be that easy against one of the better teams.
24 Jan 2009, 21:42 pm
Grant skryf in sy verslag: “The Lions caused a shock when they gave the Bulls 44-21 hiding in their friendly at a packed Wits University.”
Ja, ek stem saam, dit is vir almal ‘n groot skok as selfs die Leeus se A span die Bulle se B span klop …
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.