Pumas push lethargic Lions close

Pumas push lethargic Lions close

15 Jul 2011

RYAN VREDE reports on a 31-27 victory for the Lions over the Pumas, despite an uninspiring performance.

The Lions will offer the excuse that they are still shaking the rust off after a period of inactivity. Rubbish. There were 12 players in their run-on side with Super Rugby experience facing a team comprised largely of semi-professionals. Yet the Johannesburg union were second best for large periods of the match – questionable decision-making, ill-discipline and poor defence undermining their cause.

Credit to the Pumas, who stuck resolutely to their plan of stretching the Lions. It was an approach that’s success depended largely on how they fared in the physical stakes, and they never disappointed in this regard.

The visitors lead 17-16 at the break and 24-16 three minutes after the restart, having enjoyed more possession and for a time they looked like taking the points back to Witbank.

The Lions were guilty of tactical naivety, preferring to attack the wide channels without having established the platform to do so effectively. Why they didn’t seek to wear the Pumas down through phases more often, they alone will know. Their misplaced ambition was met with determined, if not always accurate, defence, and they consequently rarely built any telling pressure on the Pumas.

When they did it was no surprise that it stemmed from patient build-up play, treasuring possession and profiting as a result. Their opening try was fashioned in this manner, Jacobie Adriaanse rounding off a purposeful move.

However, the Pumas struck back with two converted tries, and flyhalf Ricardo Croy added his third kick of the match shortly thereafter in response to Burton Francis’ four successful effort at goal.

The Pumas’ third try was fit for a schoolboy game, lock Marius Coetzer easily dispossessing a Lions carrier in contact in the host’s 22m and cruising home for a simple try. Croy converted and the Pumas enjoyed a period of dominance thereafter, bossing the collisions on attack and defence, the latter allowing them to stifle the Lions at the breakdown.

However, a try from an intercepted pass got the Lions back into the contest. Francis added the extras and regained the lead five minutes later with another accurate kick. But Croy was his equal, and he kept hope of an upset victory alive with 20 minutes to play.

With the match nearing its conclusion, the Lions finally replicated the tactical intelligence they had exhibited in crafting their first try, Alwyn Hollenbach finishing a move that had depleted the Pumas’ defensive line. It proved to be the decisive score of the match, but the Lions should not be pleased with this ordinary effort.


42 Comments

  • 1.grant10: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:03 pm

    go lins!

  • 2.carol: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:14 pm

    Lins !! :lol:

  • 3.carol: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:15 pm

    Grant having a Puma typo moment……

  • 4.HHS: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:20 pm

    Bogey team for my Lions.

  • 5.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:28 pm

    Yeah lins! Go Lins! They haven’t been the same since they sold that Brian ‘ou” ;)

  • 6.The Shark Supporter: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:35 pm

    Lets see what the Lions can conjure up.

  • 7.BlueBlood: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 18:41 pm

    spot the spectator my sons

  • 8.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:07 pm

    Lins! Lins!

  • 9.Chris4Lions: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:07 pm

    Go Lions!! Lions to win by 20 points.

  • 10.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:09 pm

    Must say I like the look of the Lins

  • 11.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:13 pm

    Magtag bladen is boring

  • 12.BlueBlood: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:16 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-11: yep. but I think he’s trying to make the most out of this game.

  • 13.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:31 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-11: I always said that I will return to SA the day that Bladen retires … I just could not wait any longer!

  • 14.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:35 pm

    @scar(scar)-13:

    He will never retire!

    AaaAaarrrgh!

  • 15.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:36 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-14: …just soaked…

  • 16.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:41 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-14:

    Bladen is to rugby commentating what Riaan Cruywagen is to SABC news- reading.

  • 17.Gunther is looking to the future with hope in his heart.: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 19:53 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-16:

    A legend?

  • 18.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:02 pm

    Lawd am glad this week is done

  • 19.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:11 pm

    My Lins by 33 pick is starting to look unlikely…

  • 20.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:14 pm

    Watsup with these Lins?

  • 21.scar: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:18 pm

    Something missing in the Lins, but what?

  • 22.HHS: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:18 pm

    Lins het k@k in hulle hande. Pateties.

  • 23.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:27 pm

    I also had the lins to win.

    Not looking great!

  • 24.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:34 pm

    The lins throw it away at the line out.

    Not a great way to retain posession.

    I think Bladen just passed out into his gin glass…..

  • 25.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:44 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-24:

    :lol:

    Am so bored and no trolls to keep me entertained, just hugh and the Lins!

  • 26.RugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:46 pm

    Can you guys believe this lions team play in super rugby! What do they do in training? Why are they walking around the field? John mitchell gets paid close to 2 million per year, does he deserve it? I had lions by 20 points on super bru, if they win its not deserving at all! I’m so disappointment

  • 27.RugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:47 pm

    The spell checker is not working for me 2day! Hehe

  • 28.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:50 pm

    Postman pat on sideline praating engels and pumas sukkeling in englikaans

  • 29.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:52 pm

    @RugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-26:

    Please don’t skel so loud we are tired

  • 30.HHS: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:52 pm

    Circus Lins…
    Bad luck Pumas.

  • 31.RugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:53 pm

    The lions won, expect armageddon 2moro! I reckon the griquas and Wp game will be very close, I rate that is the upset of the weekend

  • 32.RugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:56 pm

    @ Dawn, I get upset. I’m glad I’m not a lions supporter, I beg of saru to bring the kings. Pls bring the kings, pretty please with cream and cherry ontop

  • 33.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 20:58 pm

    @Dawn(Dawn)-25: ja babes. I’ve been watching the golf. I mean, how bad is it that I skip the Rugger and watch the golf?

    I’ll tell you how bad.

    Prettyfuckingbad.

  • 34.RugbyGuru_0_: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 21:05 pm

    What a sh*t night of rugga! The best for me:
    Andy ask doppies: “tough game 2nite?”
    Doppies responds: “always against the pumas”
    Haha that is so funny, what’s happening with the lions?
    What made this even more sh*t is that hugh bladen was commentator and andy capastanio gave his donkey rent a quote thoughts. Aaah don’t forget about owen and “it all starts upfront”

  • 35.carol: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 21:30 pm

    Look at that result…The Lins need to catch a wake up!!

  • 36.Great White Shark: Reply to this comment
    15 Jul 2011, 22:33 pm

    Another game of true kaak South African rugby. Pass down the line until the oke at the end has to try and keep the ball alive while 15 players tackle him…like it was not a telegraphed move as per the last 100 seasons previously.

  • 37.TheAgent: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 00:04 am

    @Chris4Lions(Chris4Lions)-9: En nou voel jy soos ‘n Skaap?

  • 38.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 08:43 am

    Just watched the Kings’ replay, and they want to be Super Rugby material. WTF

  • 39.Cheetah 4 Eva: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 10:40 am

    @RugbyGuru_0_(RugbyGuru_0_)-32: Kings? hardly going to add value. They were dismal in a friendly against, what amounted to an u21 Cheetahs team, and made heavy weather in beating the SWD Eagles in a dour display!! Kings are really just a figment of some over amourous polticians. The apparent “pool of black talent”will surface in the other unions anyway!

  • 40.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 10:46 am

    @Cheetah 4 Eva(Cheetah 4 Eva)-39: Dude the politicians will make it happen, they will get a beating and Puke will be Bok Captain. #markmywords

  • 41.goyougoodthing2: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 10:50 am

    Wellington playing Taranaki on SSHD2. Poor rugby

  • 42.he's not the messiah. he's a very naughty boy!: Reply to this comment
    16 Jul 2011, 14:59 pm

    well, this is the kinda sshitt you can do to lethargic lions:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCE8X50W19c&feature=related

    and get away with it.

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.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.