Lions hammer bleak Bulls

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

  • 251.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:03 am

    #249 SpringbokSarah: No.

  • 252.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:06 am

    #250 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Let’s! Otherwise I’ll be all emo til the 14th (probably go even more emo).

    And I really like this high so I can’t let them ruin it…

  • 253.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:06 am

    # K9_BaasPatrolliehond: is he STILL injured?

  • 254.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:08 am

    #253 SpringbokSarah: No…Loffie is holding him back….for the bigger teams ;)

  • 255.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:09 am

    #254 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: I was about to say! That guy plays 2 minutes and gets injured… he and Jaque remind me of Wilko

  • 256.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:11 am

    #255 SpringbokSarah: Well lets hope he holds out this season. The lions AND SA needs him.

  • 257.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:13 am

    #256 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: I know… that’s why he needs to be all tough and match fit… so he can slam into the ABs!

  • 258.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:15 am

    #257 SpringbokSarah: What time r u leaving for Newlands?

  • 259.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:16 am

    #258 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Latest 14:00…

    But if I could leave now I so would… but I don’t think they’ll let me in :-(

  • 260.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:19 am

    #259 SpringbokSarah: Only another 7 hours to go……. Between FB and Keo u should be able to kill off that time quickly.

  • 261.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:19 am

    Hope the weather gets better…

  • 262.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:21 am

    #260 K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Actually I have to go now…

    Still need to shower, wash hair, dry hair, eat and get dressed…

    I’m a girl… hair is already an hour…

    But I’ll probably be back later…

    Bye bye!

    Support the Stormers today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 263.K9_BaasPatrolliehond: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 07:22 am

    #262 SpringbokSarah: Ciao

    I will ;)

  • 264.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 08:31 am

    Congrats to SA

    I think they have this one

  • 265.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 08:38 am

    SA need a total of 4 to win. Yes 4!

    Game limited to 4 overs. NZ lost too many wickets and so ended on 3.

  • 266.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 08:40 am

    SA on 5 in the 2nd over. They will go for a 9 to give them some breathing space

  • 267.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 08:42 am

    #266 church – like chch but pronounceable:

    Woops … I mean 11

  • 268.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 08:48 am

    Chris Harris good bowling but SA using the rules well. They have a huge lead. This one is all over red rover

  • 269.church - like chch but pronounceable: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:07 am

    Big win by SA congrats

  • 270.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:24 am

    Thanks Keo, yes the Sharks also played yesterday, a second string team won convincingly.

    (The Sharks may not be province, but they still play rugby, you may have heard of them). ;-)

  • 271.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:27 am

    How well did earl rose play? It look’s like he will be able to hold his own in the s14. Look how **** percy was at 1st until he turned it around.

  • 272.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:29 am

    #271 Wezwp: ER will never to top rate, until he puts on 20 kgs and learns to tackle and not run away.

  • 273.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:36 am

    ER is the next naas botha! No1 told naas to put on more kg’s or to tackle like a demon but he is still a legend. I think earl is much better than naas defensively.

  • 274.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 09:43 am

    Fedderer is making a fine comeback!:-)

  • 275.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 10:49 am

    is the stomers/saracens game being televised?

    and where is the thread about the sharks warm up? they are only the CC champs i suppose……………..

  • 276.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 10:51 am

    The Stormers beat the Bulls in a warm up game a couple of years back.

    Later that same year the got an almighty hiding conceding more than 70 points.

    Read into warm-up games what you want…

    Anycase, I am off to Newlands later, notebook under the arm and will hopefully hold up – at the moment it is partly cloudy but mostly sunny and damn warm.

  • 277.RedLion roars again: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:14 am

    #275 rangerman:

    I hope it is being televised. The NH teams are all sub-standard, The 2 teams I saw yesterday play a Heineke cup match were like CC teams, 2 levels down from Super teams.

    If the Stormers do not thrash them by 50 points I will be dissapointed. :grin:

  • 278.RedLion roars again: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:18 am

    #270 goyougoodthing2:

    LOL?

  • 279.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:19 am

    Game is not televised according to SuperRugby.

  • 280.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:19 am

    #273 Wezwp: Naas played in the 1980s, there is a slight difference in the size of players these days

  • 281.RedLion roars again: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:25 am

    #280 goyougoodthing2:

    Just for you, I went into a forbidden site (the Sharks site) and found the Sharks match 22 that ate the Pumas.

    Sharks Match 22, it looks like an experimental team.

    15. Len Olivier
    14. Lwazi Mvovo
    13. Luzuko Vulindlu
    12. Andries Strauss
    11. Chris Jordaan
    10. Monty Dumond
    9. Charl McLeod
    8. Warren Whiteley
    7. Justin Downey
    6. Skholiwe Ndlovu
    5. Johan Snyman
    4. Alistair Hargreaves
    3. John Smit ( C )
    2. Craig Burden
    1. Melusi Mthethwa

    Replacements
    16. Frik Venter
    17. Wiehahn Herbst
    18. Steven Sykes
    19. Nikolai Blignaut
    20. Rory Kockott
    21. Ruan Pienaar
    22. Riaan Swanepoel

  • 282.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:31 am

    Wow! That’s impressive. The sharks outfit definitely looks the part .

  • 283.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:32 am

    just read that CJ V D Linde on way home and in negotiations with Bulls And Wp …come on Rassie…get him to sign on the dotted line!!!

  • 284.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:33 am

    Leaving for Newlands at 14.30….heeehaaaaaa!!!!!!

  • 285.RedLion roars again: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:35 am

    :shock:

    “Lions too strong for our B team”

    Can one believe this rubbish appearing on the Bulls site? It makes me feel sick, they even go on to say that the Bulls won the second half 10-22. Newsflash we only really played for 40min. In the second half we played to avoid injury.

  • 286.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:35 am

    Hi Carol…Bath and Stormers to shape today…i am so excited about watching some rugby today…damn its been too long!

  • 287.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:36 am

    #285 RedLion roars again: great win by Lions…they will be the real deal this year…Willem Alberts will come through…watch out Kankowski and Spies!!

  • 288.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:38 am

    If the Stormers get C J V D Linde we just a class lock away from being real super 14 challengers!!

  • 289.RedLion roars again: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:40 am

    #287 grant10:

    Does any WP muppit have a cell phone to post live scoring from Newlands. That would be great.

    And what is the WP match 22?

  • 290.grant10: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 11:58 am

    #289 RedLion roars again: i am a bit technically challenged so although i am at game with cell not sure what to do boet? Team is percy…nagelavuki…chavanga….bobo …jean de villiers….grant…januarie…watson…duane vermeulen…francois louw…andries bekker…fondse…moller…s brits and mujati…only schalk burger missing out due to slight ankle issue…10 on bench..

  • 291.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:08 pm

    I’ll be at newlands! Just let the keo boys put on a post and i’ll do the live texting from newlands.

  • 292.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:09 pm

    #289 RedLion roars again:

    Keo’s journo’s will be there.

    As will I, so if they do not post anything I will look to post some comments during the game.

  • 293.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:15 pm

    i dont understand why a visiting team like saracens, boasting star players from around the world, would be in an untelevised game against one of our (allegedly) big unions?

    mostly i am just irritated that i wont get to watch really.

    and pissed off that the stupid aussies scheduled a one day game for a monday instead of a sunday.

    who is in charge? who makes these decisions?

    aargh!

  • 294.cane: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:32 pm

    Well done the Lions and the Lions B Team.

    A very good double. Well done to Loffies Louts.

    It’s always good to see the underdog snap back.

  • 295.cane: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:36 pm

    Barack Obama has become the most powerful man in the World, as president of the US………. Black.

    Lewis Hamilton won the F1 championship on points in his second season………. Black

    Tiger Woods is the best golfer in the world…………. Black

    Will Smith is the highest paid actor in the World………….. Black

    Now is a very good time to be black.

    Michael Jackson must be kicking himself!

  • 296.Wezwp: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:40 pm

    Don’ forget the best wing in the world, bryan habana is black!

  • 297.PdV The Head Coach: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:45 pm

    #295 cane:
    #296 Wezwp:

    Funny you lads should mention this on a Lions thread
    A union that seemingly stubbornly refuses to embrace diversity
    Our most successfull teams are also our most diverse teams: Bulls,Sharks & Stormer
    Lions seem to want to remain of similiar hue
    Shall show them no support
    May they get hammered 13-0 this year

  • 298.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:48 pm

    #295 cane: :lol:

  • 299.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:51 pm

    I assume you all will be supporting the Stormers today, right? Please? Pretty please?

  • 300.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    25 Jan 2009, 12:52 pm

    #296 Wezwp: He’s coloured isn’t he?

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Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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