Lions break Sharks hearts
25 Sep 2010
Franco van der Merwe scored a last minute try as the Lions beat the Sharks 22-20 at Ellis Park, writes GRANT BALL.
While the grounding of the ball in Van der Merwe’s score was dubious, you couldn’t say the Lions didn’t deserve to win. Sharks fans who complain about the try will also be well served to remember Lwazi Mvovo’s second score, which shouldn’t have been allowed.
Earlier the Lions suffered the worst possible start when Mvovo cantered over in the second minute, while in the same movement the hosts’ hooker Martin Bezuidenhout threw a punch and was yellow carded. Leading 5-0, playing against 14 men and exuding ultimate confidence in the try-scoring movement where they ran from their own 22, the odds were in the Sharks’ favour.
However, the Lions outscored the visitors 3-0 in that 10-minute period via an Elton Jantjies penalty. It’s been repeated throughout the season how different this Lions outfit is compared to the Super 14, but it can’t be emphasised enough. With the numerical advantage, on one occasion the Sharks pounded away for 19 phases at the Lions line and also exhibited brilliant offloading, but the Lions wouldn’t relent.
That theme continued for the rest of the half as the Sharks had all the possession, but the Lions’ cover defence and turning over ball at the breakdown was outstanding. After another multi-phase Sharks attack, a dropped pass fell into the hands of a Lions player 5m from their own line. The hosts countered rapidly, another feature of their play this season, and with Jannie Boshoff feeding Jaco Taute, the fullback finished off under the poles.
The Sharks replied through Mvovo’s brace, and even though the visitors had dominated possession, they were lucky to head into the shed level at 10-all. Mvovo again showed impressive pace and strength, but he had clearly placed a foot out in the build-up, but the assistant referee inexplicably missed the act.
Jantjies, who had been in exemplary goal-kicking form before last week’s match against the Bulls, also missed three penalties at goal, while Lambie hit the upright with an easy conversion for the first try.
In the first fixture between the sides at Kings Park the Sharks’ similar first half onslaught also didn’t yield results on the scoreboard, but eventually the defending took its toll on the Lions as they conceded 50 points. However, that didn’t look like repeating itself when they took a five-point lead when Waylon Murray scored against his former side after running an incisive angle to break the line.
But the impact of having to make 100 tackles in just 55 minutes eventually told when Odwa Ndungane benefited from quick ruck ball to score his side’s third try. Lambie nudged over his first kick of the match and then a penalty to hand the Sharks a five-point lead.
While the hosts had to defend in the opening half, the Sharks were forced into many tackles in the final quarter, while Ryan Kankowski’s ill-discipline for stomping on a player saw him miss the final four minutes.
Poetically the Lions’ inspirational captain scored in the final movement and while all his team-mates have showed improved resolve from earlier in the year, special mention must also be made of Josh Strauss, Jano Vermaak and Doppies la Grange.
The Lions face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and Pumas at home with their semi hopes still alive, while the Sharks versus Western Province match could prove vital in who tops the log.
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202 Comments
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25 Sep 2010, 19:04 pm
Lion Dragons!!!
25 Sep 2010, 19:05 pm
Very well done to the Lions. Questionable that it was a try, but they deserved the win none the less.
25 Sep 2010, 19:06 pm
One of the best games of the year let alone the currie cup, even if I am a sharks supporter. Well done both teams
25 Sep 2010, 19:07 pm
The sharks need kockott badly. Both at scrum half and to kick. Mccleod’s service is horrible and lambie’s kicking is pathetic.
25 Sep 2010, 19:07 pm
lions!!!!!!!!!!!
25 Sep 2010, 19:07 pm
ROAR!
25 Sep 2010, 19:07 pm
Well done Lions.
See what happens when you play for 80 minutes.
The CC is now wide open again.
25 Sep 2010, 19:08 pm
A shocking decision to cap a terrible night for the officials. What a shame that was allowed to stand. A blight on our rugby to allow these inexperienced officials to influence a huge game like this. What a fantastic game, but what a crying shame.
25 Sep 2010, 19:08 pm
the sharks lost to the surrender m-onkeys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
25 Sep 2010, 19:09 pm
The Lions have improved again. The fitness level of their forwards was amazing, and they could have scored more tries. The Sharks also squandered some opportunities earlier in the game, but the Lions have really come a long way. If they contract a few more quality players they could be an impressive team.
25 Sep 2010, 19:10 pm
SO now we have quotas officiating the game of rugby. Only in Serf Erfrica.
25 Sep 2010, 19:11 pm
@thefeather(thefeather)-8: I think 22 all would have been fair, but would have liked a sharks win.
But yep, the ref is well off the pace, no matter what Joel says, he missed so much, as he always does.
25 Sep 2010, 19:12 pm
Is it just me or is Joel a massive corksucker?
25 Sep 2010, 19:14 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-13:
No he is.
25 Sep 2010, 19:16 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-12: Spot on…little boy blue looking to stamp misguided playground angst on the bigger boys now that he has a whistle in his hands. A draw would have been a fair reflection though.
25 Sep 2010, 19:16 pm
I’m a stormers supporter …
This was an awesome game …
Ref and Assistants was def out of their depth …
Seems try from both Sharks and Lions should have been disallowed ….
So guess what?
Lions won fair and square ….
John Mitchel and Carlos Spencer doing wonders …
25 Sep 2010, 19:17 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-9:
As spoken by an ape?
Sorry, I didn’t mean to denegrate the apes …
25 Sep 2010, 19:17 pm
What a great game of rugby – I enjoyed this immensely.
Joel is a douche though
Guys from this game that must be on bok radar some time in the future – even 2012:
Willem Alberts
Mvovo
Jantjies
Keegan Daniels
Lambie
McCloud
Taute
Jabo Vermaak
Congrats to the Lions, but I bet you my Sharks will still take the CC this year. Their wake up calls are always at the right time.
Also, I respect Oupa Stef, but he should not be captain – questionable calls all the time.
25 Sep 2010, 19:19 pm
@Jughead(Jughead)-16: don’t remind them that mvovo’s foot was in touch…
25 Sep 2010, 19:19 pm
@Jughead(Jughead)-16: There’s a major difference in an incorrect try with 30 minutes to go and one at the death where the TMO should have been used for a completely unsighted non-grounding and where the final result is on question by one single act of refereeing stupidity. To apply a *** for tat mentality here is not only shortsighted, it’s plain ignorant.
25 Sep 2010, 19:19 pm
Well, I’m suitably impressed.
Both sides scored a try that shouldn’t have counted, so in the end, a fair result.
The only guys who will be smiling after this result, are WP.
But well done Lions. You are still unlikely to make the semis, but you’re going to come damn close.
25 Sep 2010, 19:20 pm
I’m looking for all of the apologies to JC but can’t seem to find them. Anyone know which thread they are on
25 Sep 2010, 19:20 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-11: idiot
25 Sep 2010, 19:21 pm
@thefeather(thefeather)-20: aaaaaw what a sweet post
25 Sep 2010, 19:21 pm
@coherence(coherence)-10: they are well coached……the problem in SA is that the quality of a coach is not recognised….Mitchell is showing what a great coach can do with untapped talent. Imagine if all SA Currie Cup and S14 teams had the best coaches how strong our teams would be. Get another top coach for the Cheetahs and see more talent get polished.
25 Sep 2010, 19:22 pm
congrats Lions…
I guess this result means Heavens Game wont be around for a week or two
what a shame..
25 Sep 2010, 19:22 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell(fantasticbarnsmell)-23:
Meouw!
25 Sep 2010, 19:23 pm
@OCO(OCO)-17: suck it up arsewipe
25 Sep 2010, 19:23 pm
@Doomsayer(www.pollwar.co.za)-18: Why they didn’t go for poles in the 1st half no one will know. They played off their game plan and it bit them hard. ONE panalty at goal instead of lineout and game over.
Both tries were dodgy and I have to ask who keeps picking poor refs for Sharks games? They are top if the log and have had to deal with jafta this week and last week a guy who blew the Sharks out of a S14 game and then got dropped for NOT BEIG GOOD ENOUGH.
Is SARU trying to detroy rugby from any angle including officials? Now I don’t want the job but pick the experienced guys for the big games.
Heck at least when Steve Walsh drank the Sharks to losing the Super 14 final in 2007 he was pi$$sed LOL.
25 Sep 2010, 19:25 pm
Well done Lions, great game, high intensity, plenty of errors but the passion was unbelievable.
This win will shut the big mouths like HG,Ranger, and SL up for a while…………nah ….. probably not !!!!!!! they will find plenty of reasons as to how they were “robbed”!!!
25 Sep 2010, 19:25 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-11:
Ag shame, Irish refs quota’s too????
25 Sep 2010, 19:26 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-26:
He’ll be halfway to Dover already. France is his preferred destination at times like this iirc
25 Sep 2010, 19:27 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-29: Steve “yesh occifer” Walsh?
hehehe so SARU have taken a leaf out of Paddys books and dropped a SA ref/linesman?
25 Sep 2010, 19:27 pm
I like Tank’s tweet…
Lions one bad refereeing call from being knocked out the tournament, yet success starved Vaalies want to give team and coach freedom of jhb!
25 Sep 2010, 19:28 pm
There must be a class somewhere for referees from disadvantaged backgrounds. Someone clearly stole the answers to the questions for the last exam…
25 Sep 2010, 19:28 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-32: I pity the poor bloke next to him on the channel crossing
25 Sep 2010, 19:30 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-29: Goody I have to disagree vehemently with you.
The ref was actually very good across the 88 minutes. His linesmen made the right calls.
The 2 tries were 1. Not a try. 2. Inconclusive.
But this happens in rugby, since I ahve been watching it.
He may look like the ballboy, but he was clear, consistent, coherent and from what I could tell respected by the players.
25 Sep 2010, 19:30 pm
@gretep(gretep)-31:
According to the English…
25 Sep 2010, 19:30 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-35:
your team lost, take it like a man not a whiny girls blouse…..
25 Sep 2010, 19:31 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-33: SARU have no clue. Jafta struggles to keep up and Pro Legoete is ranked 5th on SA refs list! And Jafta is 7th!!! And he gets to ref this game?
25 Sep 2010, 19:31 pm
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-35: yo Sharkie did Mitch and King Carlos spoil your weekend? or was it Jantjies who tired his best to keep your team in the match that did it?
25 Sep 2010, 19:33 pm
@SodaJoe(SodaJoe)-37: Dis agree all you want. Both were not tries, that was evident.
I saw many many missed decisions and the fact that he is 7th ranked then begs the question WHY this game?
Rubbish.
25 Sep 2010, 19:34 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-40:
Read quote 23.. Stop blaming the ref.
The Sharks should have put the Lions away in the first half with all the possession they had. They failed to and lost because of it,,
But hey let’s blame the ref.
25 Sep 2010, 19:34 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-40:
As a neutral observer, and from previous games where I’ve seen Jafta in action, I have to say I think he is a pretty good ref.
Still developing, obviously, but by far the best of the previously disadvantaged group, and I enjoy his demeanour on the field a lot more than the likes of some other refs.
Of course, just wait for him to ref a game where the Bulls lose, and I’ll rip him a new one on the blog.
Hehehe.
25 Sep 2010, 19:34 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-40: Boet. Losing sucks. But this was a great game of rugby between 2 evenly matched teams of men.
The ref did a great job of letting it flow, communicating with the players and made good calls consistently the same for both teams.
I think he is going to be excellent, and will ref international Test matches in the future.
I have seen Northern Hemisphere refs that make him look like the Michael Phelps of reffing.
25 Sep 2010, 19:34 pm
Fark. I’ve got 6 months in a country with no supersport and the internet is slower than Wylie Human. I can’t believe I’m missing the run in to the most exciting CC in years (as a WP fan anyway)
25 Sep 2010, 19:35 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-44: Bud. I love it when you are neutral. Your sense of humour comes through.
But I completely agree with you on the ref.
25 Sep 2010, 19:36 pm
@Tacitus(Tacitus)-44:
25 Sep 2010, 19:36 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-42: Why not? And again – he did a good job. Result pretty much deserved.
25 Sep 2010, 19:37 pm
Lions should have taken this game by 15. Sharks were lucky to come this close.
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