Slick Lions maul Province
22 Oct 2011
SIMON BORCHARDT watched the Golden Lions beat Western Province 29-20 at Ellis Park to secure a home final against the Sharks next Saturday.
WP came into this game as favourites. They had five World Cup Springboks in their starting XV compared to the Lions’ one. This was their third consecutive appearance in the Currie Cup play-offs, while the Lions had not reached this stage since 2008.
Yet it was the young Lions side that played like experienced veterans, scoring two unanswered tries to reach their first final since 2007. WP looked disinterested for the first hour and by the time they woke up, the game was long gone.
Elton Jantjies was successful with all seven of his kicks at goal, which forced Province to play catch-up throughout. The Lions were the more threatening side on attack and were solid on defence, especially in the second half when they had just 40% of the ball (compared to 60% in the first half). Derick Minnie produced a big performance at the breakdown, while Franco van der Merwe impressed with ball in hand.
The Lions deservedly led 19-12 at the break, after Jantjies and Demetri Catrakilis each kicked four penalties, and Jaco Taute scored a try on the 35-minute mark after an inside pass from Deon van Rensburg.
WP weren’t helped by injuries to Siya Kolisi, whose head collided with Jantjies’ elbow during an attempted tackle, and Bryan Habana, who was replaced on the half-hour mark by Juan de Jongh (he went to centre with Jean de Villiers moving to the wing). However, the Province scrum did improve when Frans Malherbe came on at tighthead prop with Brok Harris moving to loosehead.
The Lions extended their lead to 14 early in the second half when a poor pass from Nicholas Groom was intercepted by Michael Killian, and the left wing went over in the corner. That prompted the surprise return of Habana, who until then had been sitting on the bench as if his match was over.
Catrakilis and Jantjies exchanged penalties to make it 29-15 going into the final quarter, as WP began to dominate possession and territory. They came close to scoring when Schalk Burger offloaded in the tackle to Harris, who was stopped inches short of the tryline. The Lions tackled courageously during this period but a double-skip pass from Burger eventually put De Jongh over with 10 minutes remaining.
Catrakilis, though, missed the crucial conversion that would have brought his side back to within striking range, and the Lions finished the match inside the WP half.
507 Comments
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23 Oct 2011, 18:48 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-440: If I could I’d certainly fire the bunch boet. No excuses for having so many bites at the cherry over the past years and not winning any important tropies.
Not acceptable at all.
Still love my team, but things need to change, or things will just stay the same.
23 Oct 2011, 19:03 pm
To all the WP supporters who were not arrogant before the game and actually talked rugby…hard luck guys. We know all about it and know about losing…To the grootbek, arrogant loud mouthed supporters of WP…I feel nothing regarding your hammering at the hands of the Vodacom Cup Lions! Eat your humble pie and enjoy the final next weekend. Regards from the Vodacom Cup Lions!
23 Oct 2011, 19:09 pm
@Loyal Lion(Loyal Lion)-452: Lions deserved the win.
i commented before the game that if the trend of the past years is to continue, a team that has played together well for the season will beat the team that is suddenly bolstered by the return of springboks.
Turns out to be correct. And probably correctly so.
Annoyed as a supporter but oddly happy for the Lions. You guys had a great CC tournament. Hope you go on to win it!
24 Oct 2011, 05:27 am
Mitchell !!!
Mitchell!!
Mitchell!!
Are you listening Hoskins??
Are you listening SARU????
1 CHANCE…..
24 Oct 2011, 05:32 am
@grant10(grant10)-454:
Mitchell, the one and only, the original, the first, “Judge me at the World Cup’ Mitchell? No thanks.
24 Oct 2011, 05:55 am
@RL(RL)-446:
Aw doodums should we leave Terblanche out of the team to make it a fair match this time? After all, to beat you table topping Lazy Lions by a cricket score is hardly fair….is it?
24 Oct 2011, 07:20 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-455: you go throw your 2 cents in afor the aussies Uitlander….
24 Oct 2011, 07:23 am
Mitchell……for me the possible saviour!
All the rest pretenders….
Please not AC or Rassie….asseblief.tog!
24 Oct 2011, 07:24 am
@grant10(grant10)-457:
Lame comeback grantie, very lame…
24 Oct 2011, 07:34 am
Congratulations to the Lions for reaching the CC Final. Really well deserved and well played!
To Katman, HHS, RL and all the other Lion supporters… Enjoy… and good luck for the final!!!
24 Oct 2011, 07:36 am
I hope Lions do the business in the final….create a Tsunami of support for Mitchell…
Only the best for the Boks….and AC and Rassie dont cut it!
24 Oct 2011, 07:52 am
@ufo(ufo)-460: Thank you, appreciate it.
Do me a favor, please phone AC and tell him to chase that Fondse chap away.
24 Oct 2011, 08:08 am
HHS… you’re welcome… Lions have set the pace all season and it would’ve been a travesty if they hadn’t made the final.
Yeah… Not just him… Unlike most on keo… I think we’re missing Bekker n Elstadt big time and our weakness at lock is what needs sorting out… Hopefully Andries and Rynhardt will ne back for the Super 15. But we do need a couple of good young props too…
24 Oct 2011, 08:33 am
@grant10(grant10)-461: Hi Grant, hope you are well
Can you give me a reason why Mitchell?
As far as i can tell, and I know a bit about the guy, but he’s left nothing but mediocrity in his wake.
All Blacks in the 2003 WC
Waikato big failures in his time there
Western Force failing to live up to expectations despite big money being thrown at it, marquee players and all
Lions finishing (again) as massive embarrassments in the Super 15
The only glimmer of success is the potential CC title, which is not surprising since it’s basically the Super 15 team against very watered down provincial teams without their springboks. If he doesn’t beat the Sharks on Saturday then it will be another in a string of failures for him.
Is there something I don’t see? I mean he talks a good talk and he seems like the sort of guy i’d enjoy having a good rugby chat with, but i don’t see the “we must have Mitchell” factor.
Not trying to be argumentative, just wondering what the fuss is?
24 Oct 2011, 08:47 am
Anybody know how much the tickets are on Sat ??? Are any available
24 Oct 2011, 08:48 am
Can someone teach Burger how to pass the ball, and so much of the Bok backline ??????
24 Oct 2011, 08:50 am
@capebull(capebull)-466: He did pass in the WC , so now we know he can – lol
24 Oct 2011, 09:18 am
Seems like Christo Buchner – the Sharks correspondent for News24 and their various affiliated newspapers like Beeld etc., used my comment no.440 on this thread as the basis for his latest article.
The parralels are just too striking.
Makes one wonder how much of the cr*p we post on here makes it into other forms of media, or even to the players and coaches themselves.
Kind of makes me cringe, thinking that certain contributors on here potentially have a wider audience than just the local crazies on this site.
24 Oct 2011, 09:23 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-468:
Hehehe Tac, very interesting that.
Some of the “crazies” on here know their sh*t…which is more than I can say for some “journalists” out there
24 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-464:
EXACTLY
Plus the guy is a FCKIN nutcase(Mitchell). You thought Div was a PR disaster? Ask NZ about Mitchell…Ask the Force about “Draconian” Mitch.
And no he wont win the CC on the weekend. Sharks will belt his tight-five upfront and its “All over ROVER”…Period.
24 Oct 2011, 09:47 am
2 kuk wings for Province for the next two years. Habana and Shadow.
24 Oct 2011, 09:51 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-470: Nutcase? Where did you get from?
24 Oct 2011, 09:54 am
Schalk is playing a lot in the backline these days. Not sure if he has ever mastered the technical aspects of playing blindside flank (i.e. Juan Smith). If he was playing openside for WP on Saturday then no wonder they lost.
24 Oct 2011, 09:58 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-470:
If the Lions are fortunate enough The Sharks might not go for a cricket score again…just to be nice.
24 Oct 2011, 10:00 am
This could be the biggest ever score in a Currie Cup final … most one sided ever? Something like 47 – 3 to the Sharks!
24 Oct 2011, 10:00 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-472:
Mitchell is known not to be the stablest of people/coaches.
His tenure at AB’s as well as Force is filled with perculiar behaviour. Its what led the AB’s to fire him with even a 80% win ratio,led the Force player revolt against him etc. He leads with a “Draconian-type” style & spews the worst type of language even around rugby circles…
Some say its “intensity”..yeah right,thats just spin-doctoring…CRAZY. The romantic period never lasts lost with that bloke,shall descend to nonsense like previous coaching tenures…May he continue to coach the “spaza-shop” run Lions who chased away a investor who required excellence not mediocrity. Good luck to de Klerk & co. with Mitchell at Lions.
But not fark should he be Springbok national coach. Thats all.
24 Oct 2011, 10:01 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-464: lets agree to disagree…
24 Oct 2011, 10:01 am
…..after all Mitchell is apparently a good coach.
24 Oct 2011, 10:02 am
@grant10_is_a_maaifoedie(suffer_guy)-475: How’s that Province team of yours? Vodcom Cup huh…? Loser.
24 Oct 2011, 10:04 am
lions will be a tough nut to crack at Ellis Park…
24 Oct 2011, 10:06 am
@grant10_is_a_maaifoedie(suffer_guy)-475: Don’t be so sure, I bet lions could go all the way, good for them.
WP / Strompies just bought Shaddow to replace JJ
24 Oct 2011, 10:08 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-476: Look no doubt that he is a difficult person to work with. If we dig deeper into the AB story you will see that cetrain players did not like the he goes on about things. Fine… Regarding the Force? Well… we all know those Ozzie boys don’t like a hard *** that’s why the Brumbies fall apart and the players fired the coach. Surely you cannot judge a guy of things that happend years ago? Maybe he was wrong maybe he was not… we will never know but maybe he learned a few things along the road. Calling him a nutcase… damn boet that is some big stones. Anyway… at the Lions we like him and new investor already on board.
24 Oct 2011, 10:09 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-476: peculiar behaviour?
Well yes….winning would be ‘ peculiar ‘ to PDV and Jake with there 60 % ratios…..vs Mitchells 80 %
I wouldnt call it peculiar….but all to our own…
24 Oct 2011, 10:12 am
@grant10(grant10)-477: Sure, as we do sometimes, I was just wondering why you feel he is the best guy for the job. As i say i have a certain perspective, but I’m open to the possibility that I’m missing something.
24 Oct 2011, 10:14 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-482: my man…..Mitchell is head and shoulders above any saffa….
Us saffas are happy to settle for mediocrity….that is the bottom line….we are farken middle of the road mediocre thinkers ….we dont innovate….we just moan and b itch and complain and live on sentimental candy floss and then cryy when we get a stomach ache….
We need Mitchell so farken bad he should / could name a price and get a blank cheque.
But we will rather settle for a back slapping member of the fat boys club who can talk up a storm ut delicer f all…..
Anywy….lets wait and see….I hope AC buried his chances with his kak selections and non exietent game plan this weekend.
Schalk as opensider? I knew Minnie and Co wojuld have a free lunch at the breakdown….we just dont learn!!
24 Oct 2011, 10:17 am
@Lions_Soutie(Lions_Soutie)-473: Bugger does not have the skill , he destroys , except on Saturday he got destroyed.
24 Oct 2011, 10:23 am
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-484: lions are playing awesome, innovative and total rugby….with a dearth of so called superstars….
They are committed at the breakdowns and young players have, in the space of 2 seasons……been developed to stand on the brink of bok colours…..
the passion and commitment and intelligent mannet they play is as a result of Mitchell…..
He is a hard man….he takes no prisioners and will not tolerate prima donnas….he will do the selections and game planning…..not the fat boys….
Compare that to AC and PDV…who have all the superstars but no idea or c lue….constant failure ….constant non delivery,,,,constant excuses….constant losses of young players with potential,,, now bloody VD Heever in our team? Insane….we had JJ and Sadue FFS!
Look at Mitchells % wins…..look at how he builds…..W Force were always a decent outfit under Mitchell…..never a gimmee game…All Blacks were virtually unbeatable under him…
He has also matured as a human being and a coach….
You ask why Mitchell?
I as why the fark not?
Who else is there?
AC?
rASSIE?
h mEYER? [ I WOULD BE HAPPY WITH HIM BUT mATFIELD SAYS ITS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN?
b venter would be a good choice….at least he has balls….
Mallet would be great but the sharks boys would wet there broekies….
Must be Mitchell imo…..but it wont be…we will make up reasons for Mitchell to not be the man!
Just as we made up reasons for plod and Spies to start in WC
24 Oct 2011, 10:30 am
@grant10(grant10)-485: Here is the problem, we have sofie Hoskins there at the top. A softie and friends will not appoint a hard a$$. They want a puppet and I think that’s why JM, HM and Mallet already said no. Rassie is a journey man…. chasing the $$
24 Oct 2011, 10:36 am
I love it when some supporters don’t give us a chance come this weekend. It will be very tough, the Sharks is a well balanced side, but the Lions are so hungry for success that imo, Lions by 9. CC champs 2011 and will end 6th in next year’s S15..
24 Oct 2011, 10:38 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-488: sadly my man…..you are right….on all counts
24 Oct 2011, 10:38 am
@grant10(grant10)-487: OK, fair comments. I’m not an AC fan, wasn’t a PDV fan, and yes, not sure what the alternatives realistically are.
We all know AC is the most obvious guy for the job, even though I dissagree with the appointment.
24 Oct 2011, 10:39 am
@grant10(grant10)-483:
Hahaha yeah right nice try diverting away from all his sh*t. With that generation of players in 02/03 for NZ and seeing how poor Aus/SA were,he would have had to be Carel du Plessis to not get at LEAST a 70% win ratio. But anyway he failed when it counted most….. Draconian Mitch…Each to our OWN indeed…
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-482:
Well good for your Lions, good for your “new investor”…
The Lions also got to a CC Final in 2006 or 2007 if Im mistaken….So havent turned the corner just yet….That generation was also being hailed as “new dawn” under Loffie…
See any paralells: 2007/2011
Mujati-Cilliers
Wepener-Maku
Heinke-CJ
Ludik-Taute
Cronje-Strauss
Pretorius-Jantjes
Doppies-Doppies
etc
You might have had even more quality back then…..Jaque Fourie,Alberts,Deysel etc
Good luck.Hope the largely unchanged administration/presidents council,de Klerk etc man up this time…For your sake
24 Oct 2011, 10:39 am
@Loyal Lion(Loyal Lion)-489: you guys stand up in tight 5 it is a lions win
and i will be as thrilled as you will be !
24 Oct 2011, 10:40 am
@Loyal Lion(Loyal Lion)-489:
You were in the SAME position in 2007 remember??? Still lost to FS
Careful, careful
24 Oct 2011, 10:43 am
mitchell has had to endure tumultuous times already at the lions with investors, etc…..mugging as well….through it all he has stood tall and delivered where it counts….on the field.
It is insular laager type mentality that will preclude us from doing what is right….
AC / Rassie will be a disaster…t.hey will say all the right things….do great tv….and wont deliver…
watch
24 Oct 2011, 10:45 am
Mitchell has more skill in his left nut than these rasssie /ac wallys have in there entire beings!
24 Oct 2011, 10:45 am
In 57 games at the helm of the Force, Mitchell has guided the Perth-based franchise to 20 wins, four draws and 33 losses
I wonder what his win-loss ratio is at the Lions?
Better after this year’s CC I imagine….
If I were given the option of picking a foreign based coach, and I know that won’t happen, i wonder if I’d pick Mitchell?
If we go for a foreign coach then we could stretch ourselves outside of SA surely?
Any ideas/suggestions?
24 Oct 2011, 10:47 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-494: In 2007 we did not play a full strength WP side in a semi. This time we did and won comfortably. It is only my opinion and obviously like backing my side. I know though that The Sharks is very impressive and will take a total effort to lift the Cup. The Sharks were idling on Saturday against the Cheetahs…it is going to be brutal!
24 Oct 2011, 10:50 am
While Province and Bulls are out swoppin’ and buyin’
Our boys are still playin’ – not sittin’ and cryin’
We cruised past the semis without even tryin’
It’s still not too late to become a proud Lion
24 Oct 2011, 10:52 am
Mitchell is a nutter who is big on discipline.
But maybe that’s what we need.
As saffers we seem to respond to the strict approach.
Where’s my cane?
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