Crusaders cruise in Jozi

Crusaders cruise in Jozi

1 May 2009

The Crusaders kept their play-off hopes alive with a 32-20 bonus-point victory over the Lions at Ellis Park.

The Saders were the worst attacking unit in the tournament before the start of the round, but they gained only their second four-try bonus of the season.

Andre Pretorius had a poor start and a disastrous game all-round, kicking directly out and continually breaking the momentum of the home team with his wayward distribution and poor option-taking.

The Lions looked productive in the opening exchanges and in the third minute they took it through eight phases but poor handling proved their undoing close to the line.

Another promising move broke down with Pretorius’s pass, and then the pivot’s aimless kick straight down the field was lapped up by Leon MacDonald who drew two defenders and sent lock Isaac Ross away. MacDonald, one of the best counter-attackers in the game, was gifted many chances to run and he didn’t need a second invitation.

The Lions also looked dangerous off a counter that led to Jano Vermaak’s try, sparked by a spot-tackle by wing Deon van Rensburg, and finished by the scrumhalf.

Debutant Johan van Deventer had a prosperous match in stealing crucial turnovers and he gave his all for the full 80, while he also put his side into the lead (12-7) with a brilliant individual effort. The former SA U20 opensider put both the Saders props on their backsides with some great stepping as he went over untouched.

But the Lions continued to make the same mistakes they have throughout the campaign. They have made it a habit of giving up points as soon as they’ve scored, and Louis Ludik’s charged-down kick did exactly that as he took an age to clear.

MacDonald and Pretorius then traded penalties as the Saders held a 17-15 lead heading into the break.

Van Deventer continued to harass the Saders at the breakdown but two turnovers were wasted by poor kicks as the visitors dominated territory throughout the second stanza. The visitors missed many try-scoring chances which could have made the scoreline even worse, Brad Thorn’s clear run-in hampered by the pass not going to hand just one example.

The Lions’ defence was improved on their woeful earlier efforts in the season, but they continued to kick poorly and hand the Saders chance after chance. The concerted pressure for the opening quarter had to tell and Thorn crashed over.

Anton van Zyl’s brilliant chip and chase – where he showed great skills for a big man in scooping up the ball - brought the hosts some hope at 24-20, but it was short-lived.

A neatly worked move around the front of a lineout sent replacement hooker Dan Perrin over as the Saders secured the five points.

By Grant Ball

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50 Comments

  • 1.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:01 pm

    Assefarkenblief manne!!!!

  • 2.Ou-Jakkals: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:06 pm

    Sterkte Maanhare! – Van ‘n bloed-Cheetah!

  • 3.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:09 pm

    Goooooo Lions

    Mik ‘n uitklophou na die Saders…

  • 4.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:17 pm

    Kry ek darem nou ‘n bek vol hier van Handbriekie omdat ek die kuiermense alleen laat kuier…. ek vermoed ek slaap vanaand in die kantoor… hehehe

  • 5.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:17 pm

    Nou ja, hier sit die manne…
    Wetie vir hoe lank nie, voor die gamatte soos Langkop en sy en menstruerende vroue-gevolg opdaag nie, maar laat ons n rustige doppie drink en maar hoop vir die beste…

  • 6.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:20 pm

    Sien later… ek moet gaan kuier…. my fokkkk ek is omgekrap…

  • 7.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:22 pm

    #1 Ed_the_Lion:
    Sien ons twee het bietjie ge-score op Superbru…moet daai biertjie wees wat ons vanmore saam gedrink het….

  • 8.superBul: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:22 pm

    #5 Pietman:Bulle better hierdie week nie slip nie, anders is ons met die rug teen die muur. Jy roer nou daai Superbru, ek better nie die week verder agter raak nie. Sien jy het vir Crusaders met 14 gegaan ek het amper Lions gepick maar uitgechiken. Ek pick toe maar Saders met 7

    Die volgende een kan my kos of baie help ek het Cheetahs gepick

  • 9.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:24 pm

    #6 grootblousmile:
    Braai gougou, steek die swaeries innie werk…

  • 10.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:24 pm

    Leeus met 25

  • 11.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:27 pm

    #8 superBul:
    Superbru gaan nie nou meer oor kundigheid nie, dis n toss…
    soos in heads or tails.

  • 12.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:28 pm

    #7 Pietman: Moet wees Pietman, hehehe. Ons moet elke aand/ oggend voor ‘n game maar ‘n biertjie kap.

  • 13.grant10: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:29 pm

    jeez please rugby gods…let this be the start of a saffa full house…bliksem it is dark and threatening here now…a moer of a storm brewing in cape town…

  • 14.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:29 pm

    #11 Pietman: Ja nee Pietman…….raai raai riepa.

  • 15.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:29 pm

    Mirrag mense

    Go LIONS!!

    Sien hier is op die oomblik nog ordentlike geselskap – weet nie vir hoe lank nie……..

  • 16.grant10: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:30 pm

    saders without mc caw like a braai without boerewors…

  • 17.grant10: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:30 pm

    J Fourie…show them the class my man!!

  • 18.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:31 pm

    #14 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: persoonlik dink ek my en Pietman se rugby kennis begin nou wys.

  • 19.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:32 pm

    #15 SA Barbarians: Toemaar….klink my GBS gaan so rukkie weg wees hehehehe

  • 20.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:33 pm

    #18 Ed_the_Lion: hehehe met hoeveel het jy die Lions gepick Ed?

  • 21.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:34 pm

    #19 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: hehehe amper sê ek nou iets … sal maar nie, want miskien lok dit ongewensde elemente hierheen

  • 22.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:35 pm

    Wonder watter leeuspan gaan vandag speel….hulle is rerig ‘n yo yo span. Ten minste is die stormers konsekwent……kuk.

  • 23.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:35 pm

    #20 SA Barbarians: ek het die Saders gepick, ek dink met 10.

  • 24.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:36 pm

    #15 SA Barbarians:
    Nee, ons moet maar gou rugby praat…hier is n hele lot agter die skerms besig om hulle panties te verander en hare te was en kam….amper soos by Boegoeberg se Dam…
    Hulle sal wel netnou hier toesak en begin skel en raas.
    Met die hoofleier Shaun voor in die koor, moesie op die bo-lip en al…
    Maar hulle se ma se moere, ek is reg vir hulle vandag.

  • 25.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:36 pm

    #19 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: dink handbriekkie meng in met sy rugby tyd..

  • 26.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:37 pm

    #22 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: hey! Ons het darem vir Brok – die nuwe kragman van SA rugby….

  • 27.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:37 pm

    #23 Ed_the_Lion:
    Ek het Saders met 14, weer eens naby, ek en jy…

  • 28.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:37 pm

    #22 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: ek hoop maar ‘n goeie een want my pa gaan bietjie met Loffie praat na die game. Hoop vir Loffie se part die Leeus wen.

  • 29.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:38 pm

    #27 Pietman: Deon is tussen ons. Hy het Saders met 12, maar hy kyk wat ek kies, en dan sit of vat hy 2 by of weg.

  • 30.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:39 pm

    #24 Pietman: hehehe hsllou Pietman. ‘n moesie op die lip sê jy? Ek kon sweer dis ‘n spatsel van al die kuk wat hy praat

  • 31.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:39 pm

    #29 Ed_the_Lion:
    Oooo, hy werk hom so….ok, hehehehe!

  • 32.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:40 pm

    #31 Pietman: hehehehe, ek verstaan hoekom hy dit nou so doen. Nou kan hy darem so paar punte maak di naweek.

  • 33.cane: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:45 pm

    This must surely be the most inexperienced Crusaders team for at least 6 or 7 years, maybe longer.

  • 34.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:45 pm

    #26 SA Barbarians: Ja nee……ek sien julle is opgewonde hehehe#29 Ed_the_Lion: Ja……….vat julle 2 se scores, tel bymekaar, maal met 5…….se vierkantswortel

  • 35.K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:46 pm

    #25 Ed_the_Lion: Erg man……..

  • 36.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:48 pm

    #34 K9 the Lion: King of Beasts: heheehehehe, nou is ek deurmekaar.

  • 37.race of tan: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:49 pm

    hoe com almal praat afrikaans vandag?

  • 38.superBul: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:51 pm

    #15 SA Barbarians: mirrag ou maat ek pick Saders maar worry nie as ek verkeerd is nie , dit sal lekkerrrrrr wees

  • 39.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:52 pm

    #37 race of tan:
    Ok, since you and Cane have joined us, we will change the lingo!
    Howzat?

  • 40.Puma: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:53 pm

    Altitude going to be tough for the Saders. Run them off their feet. GO LIONS.

  • 41.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:53 pm

    #38 superBul: ek gaan ook glad nie omgee as ek verkeerd is nie. ek wil verkeerd wees.

  • 42.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:54 pm

    #38 superBul: Ek ook Super. OK ek gaan nou eers die games kyk cheers

  • 43.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:57 pm

    OK, my mediazone hardloop hier by die werk. Wens mens kon bier gedrink het op die job wanneer daar rugby op is.

  • 44.ray-bulls_fan: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:58 pm

    GO LIONS!!!!!!!!

  • 45.superBul: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:58 pm

    Raait al my aandag nou op die TV, sal inpop so nou en dan.

    Geniet Rose in volle swang….

  • 46.Nils: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 14:59 pm

    In Saders we trust.

  • 47.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 15:00 pm

    Gou weggeslip…. hello maaitjies… veral ‘n groot hello aan SA Barbarians en K9 Plaasarbeiderbrak en Ed, Edd & Eddie… die res het ek al gegroet of mee gepraat, die wat ek belangstel om te groet..

  • 48.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 15:02 pm

    #47 grootblousmile: hello mater. jy moenie handbriekie toelaat om met jou rugby in te meng nie. heheeheheh.

  • 49.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 15:04 pm

    #48 Ed_the_Lion: Hel, ek is onkant betrap gewees man, die hele skoonfamilie is hier…. die lot van hulle….

  • 50.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    1 May 2009, 15:04 pm

    #49 grootblousmile: hehehehehe, geniet dit my maat. niks wat jy daaraan kan doen behalwe om dit te geniet nie.

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