Lions roar to glory
29 Oct 2011
GARETH DUNCAN, reporting from Ellis Park, watched the Lions break their 12-year Currie Cup title drought with a 42-16 hammering of the Sharks.
After 12 years of silverware starvation, the Lions have finally fed.
The 26-point victory completed a dream campaign – which included a table-topping run throughout the league phase and an impressive 29-20 semi-final win over a WP side that had six World Cup Springboks in their match day squad. This result was also the Lions’ first Currie Cup final triumph at Ellis Park in 61 years.
The Lions wanted it more than their opposition. The Sharks, who struggled for momentum and lacked a clinical edge, looked second best for most parts of the match. The hosts ran faster, tackled harder and toiled tirelessly around the park. That determination – no – that hunger for victory influenced John Mitchell’s ‘no-name brands’ to thump a strong, Springbok-laden Sharks side.
Those who backed a win for the visitors pointed to the quality of their squad, which included seven World Cup Boks. But this match proved to be one game too much for the likes of Bismarck du Plessis and Beast Mtawarira, who struggled to make any trademark impact after long and tiring year. There was also a lack of cohesion, despite this group spending the past three weeks together.
The Lions, who’ve played generally the same side since day one of Super Rugby in February, worked like a well-oiled machine. But during this impressive team performance, the player who made the ultimate difference was flyhalf Elton Jantjies. The youngster showed Mitchell was correct in selecting him ahead of veteran Butch James during the play-off stages. After starring in the Lions’ semi-final win last Saturday, the 20-year-old displayed a Man of the Match performance as he kicked 24 points without missing one attempt.
The platform was set with a good showing in the first half. The Lions mixed moments of impressive attacking play with a resilient defence to hold a 19-6 half-time lead.
Jantjies and fullback Jaco Taute, who nailed a 57m penalty, traded penalties with flyhalf Frederic Michalak early on before wing Michael Killian scored the first try of the match. From a scrum in centre field, centre Doppies la Grange broke the Sharks defence through a set-piece move. His offload put Killian clear.
But it looked like the half would end badly for the Lions. Prop CJ van der Linde had a moment of madness in the 32-minute when he threw Sharks skipper Keegan Daniel over his shoulder whilst clearing a ruck. It earned him a yellow card. The Sharks built momentum with their one-player advantage and paid four visits to the Lions’ red zone. However, they couldn’t find a much-needed finish and the Lions escaped without conceding any points.
Then there was a controversial moment early in the second half when Willem Alberts scored a try that should not have been allowed. The Sharks flanker broke the Lions’ defensive line, but lost the ball forward in the process. However, the knock-on wasn’t sighted by the officials and referee Mark Lawrence, who seeked advice from his assistant, awarded the try. The Sharks were back in it as Michalak’s conversion made it 22-16. Game on.
The Lions, however, had other plans as that was the Sharks’ last score of the match. The following 31 minutes was arguably the best passage of play the Lions have showcased this year.
It was a strong performance that secured 20 points to seal the famous win. First, Pat Cilliers powered over from close range after the Lions attacked from deep. Jantjies added two penalties before Taute had the pace to finish another attacking move in the corner. The following conversion was the final nail in the Sharks’ coffin.
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827 Comments
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30 Oct 2011, 12:38 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-545: Apparently our U21 number 12 is the answer, after yesterday I doubt it. He left a gap wider wide thing in the U21 game.
We in trouble big time
30 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
Boks game plan does not suit Elton, Elton is accustomed to running attacking play with the lions, the boks rely on no.9 being the chief attack decision maker. The boks play as we all know a narrow game, 10 is only allowed to utilize a small amount of his arsenal. If AC becomes coach jantjies cannot be picked at 10, AC will kill his attacking prowess.
30 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-546: Not at all mate….no prejudice from me at all…i rate lambie highly…..but Elton has stolen a march on him……and it is difficult to compare because sharks rather play froggie at 10…..
so Elton it is for me….I told Puma way back that this would happen to Lambie….you dont have to be a jet scientist
30 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@grant10(grant10)-547: with Elton at 10 and JdJ at 13, Hougaard can be accommodated at 11.
Good backline.
I just want to see JdJ pass more. He always crashes and goes to ground with the ball FFS.
30 Oct 2011, 12:39 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-549: Think so unless he produces some magic there next year. Just too many great fhs coming through. Elton, Goosen and Lambie are right now way better than Morne.
30 Oct 2011, 12:40 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-551: so when are the Sharks planning to blood this youngster? In the S15 next year?
30 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-554: Where does Sadie play? Thought he played 13. If so I would play Sadie at 13 with Frans Steyn at inside centre. JdJ is a good player but think Sadie is better.
Sharks should have woken up and bought him before the Bulls did. WE need centres.
30 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-552: listen mate, the Boks down own the copyright to their own “gameplan”. It is the coach’s gameplan.
The Boks can play any gameplan the coach instructs them to play.
30 Oct 2011, 12:41 pm
@grant10(grant10)-547: Replace JPP with Mvovo
30 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
@Puma(Puma)-540: agree Puma…
But Lambie needs to play at 10….imo…Taute a far better attacking weapon at 15…best I have seen in a long time.
if Lambie to be bok 10…he must play there
send him to wp….we will play him there!@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-549: amen woody….amen!
30 Oct 2011, 12:43 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-552: agree
that is why i am praying no AC!!!!
30 Oct 2011, 12:44 pm
Odwa is tired now.
That switch pass from Michalak… you wouold expect every wing at this level to have caught that…
Odwa’s hands do at times let him down.
And yesterday, he couldn’t beat a prop on the outside!
30 Oct 2011, 12:44 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-554: mitchell will taeach him!
30 Oct 2011, 12:44 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-556: one of these: Centres: Heimar Williams, Dwayne Jenner, Piet Lindeque, Kayde Fisher, Jared Meyer think it’s Heimar…? Might be wrong
30 Oct 2011, 12:45 pm
Grant10: I’d leave jpp out, move taute to 14, Lambie at 15, maybe hougaard at 11, Elton at 10, 12. Francois Steyn and jdj at 13. Mapoe, and killian as back cover. Goosen as 10 cover, doppies la grange as 12/13 cover.
30 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@grant10(grant10)-553: Yes for now in the CC Jantjies is better than Lambie. BUT in SuperRugby it was Lambie that was the better fh cause Jantjies was not great there this year.
Then off went Lambie with the Boks and they played him at fb instead of fh. Still think it was foolish we should have had Lambie playing 10. Anyhow while he was on Bok Duty Jantjies was playing the whole time at fh while Lambie was at fb for the Boks. So for now we can’t judge who has gained what until we see a whole SuperRugby next year from both of them. That is if Plum plays Lambie at fh. I sure hope he does.
Look again and judge all the youngsters coming through after SuperRugby. We will have a far, far better level to judge them from there.
30 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-564: so why did we not see any of these players in the CC?
Do we expect them to hit the ground running in the S15?
Has Terblanche retired yet?
30 Oct 2011, 12:46 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-562: Sharks need to sweep clean again, the knives are being sharpened, watch out.
30 Oct 2011, 12:47 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-568: I agree with that.
Let the knives come out.
Plumtree has been there 4 years already and it looks as though he has reached his peak limit.
30 Oct 2011, 12:48 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-567: Terblanche played his last game for the Sharks yesterday, there is a benefit dinner on Monday night for him. Then he’s off to Ulster for 3 months to cash in. Wife staying at home so it’s a quick bank account adjustment.
Why haven’t we seen them? Who knows mate.
30 Oct 2011, 12:49 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-569: I think you misunderstand, the knives will be coming out for more than the coach this time, going to be interesting.
The net result could be a very very bad one for rugby.
30 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
Woody: I agree I think the boks can play any game plan, it’s critical they have a coach who focuses on skills development, space awareness, conditioning, and continuous ball in hand play. This is what Mitchell and Wayne smith would bring. Mallet, Rassie, and AC won’t.
30 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
@grant10(grant10)-560: Yes agree. Remember how good he was there for last years CC? Lambie got all of Sharks points. Also got a super try by handing of Burger.
Pity the Boks never played him there. Though they play a different game plan there.
Just hope Sharks do play him at fh next year and play Freddie at sh. Otherwise seriously I would rather Lambie played for Stormers. He would start everytime at fh for sure.
Would hate really hate to lose our super youngster, just don’t like seeing him messed about in favour of a overseas player.
30 Oct 2011, 12:51 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-571: care to clarify? Players, admin?
They do need a clean sweep. Too many players there who have shown they are not capable of winning the Super rugby trophy.
30 Oct 2011, 12:54 pm
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-572: Mallet can, he has done it before. We wiped the floor with France in Paris with that approach. But I think we need someone fresh this time.
AC and Rassie, no.
I’m all for a foreign appointment.
SARU may be too narrow minded.
And of course there are those rumours that Meyer is the man…
30 Oct 2011, 12:57 pm
@grant10(grant10)-553: I wouldn’t agree that Elton has stolen a march on Pat. Pat was excellent at the World Cup. He was technically very strong and mentally flawless. Elton has heaps of talent and is kicking brilliantly, but he still needs to be tested at the top level, in terms of defence and handling of pressure.
30 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@goyougoodthing2(goyougoodthing2)-533:
I thought the Movie Village was left intact.
But you right $65 is a very steep.
I take it you were here for The Cup.
I hope you enjoyed it Goodie.
30 Oct 2011, 12:58 pm
@grant10(grant10)-544: Lambie never missed any of his kicks for the CC final last year either Grant and he also scored a try.
He has played fh for weeks as he has been with the Boks playing fb. So really we can’t judge the two against each other just yet. Wait until after SuperRugby. That is if Lambie starts at 10 for Sharks. Like I mentioned in one of my posts above.
Be fair both Jantjies and Lambie are super talents. Only difference for now is Lambie has bmt in the bigger tournements. Jantjies was not great in this years SuperRugby. Think though after this CC his confidence will grow.
30 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@Puma(Puma)-557: honestly now, what do you base that assertion on? sadie better than jdj – rassie & co seem to disagree with you.
30 Oct 2011, 12:59 pm
@Puma(Puma)-578: Meant = He has not played fh for many weeks.
30 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-579: JdJ needs to learn how to pass but some will argue if he hasn’t already he never will!
30 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-579: I bet the Bulls disagree with you.
Sadie was outstanding this year. Don’t get me wrong I rate JdJ but Sadie is better. Watch him next year at the Bulls. Sharks should have woken up and bought him.
30 Oct 2011, 13:01 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-581: The Stormers scored more tries last year with JdJ at 12 than with JdV this year.
30 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
Personally, I’d like Jantjies at flyhalf and Lambie at fullback. Lambie can interchange when required, like Andre Joubert used to do.
30 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
One thing though, Jantjes, Lambie, Hougaard, JdJ, Taute in a backline will = a very small backline.
Seeing the Sharks play the Crusaders this year I was stunned how much bigger the Crusaders backline was compared with the Sharks when they would line up against each other. You just don’t see that on tv.
30 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-575: Mitchell is the man, but don’t want the Job. Heard Meyer don’t want it either. NONE of the top coaches want the Bok Job. Don’t think any want to work with saru.
30 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
Taute
JPP
Fourie
JdJ
Aplon
Jantjies
Hougaard
Strauss
Alberts
Minnie
Bekker
Vd Merwe
Oosthuizen
Bismark
Steenkamp
Beast, Cilliers, Maku, Elstadt-Whitely-Rhodes, Duvenhage, Lambie, Mvovo
30 Oct 2011, 13:02 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-583: I doubt it came down to a single player.
30 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-587: No Brussouw ?
30 Oct 2011, 13:03 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-588: Backs cannot score tries if it doesn’t get past 12
30 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
Wooden spoon 575: mallet is a great coach, brilliant forwards mentor, we’ve seen what he’s done with Italy, however, he’d need a strong attack coach. Meyer has stated that he’ll be coaching an expansive game with the bulls next hence he hired pine Pienaar, however, expansive play is not meyer’s forte, there’s need to be someone there who’s rugby voice is attacking rugby.
30 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-584: There could be a place for both the youngsters in the Bok team.
For the Sharks I would like Lambie to play only at fh. He is our best and should be selected all of the time ahead of Freddie.
30 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
Taute is a far better attack FB than Lambie, and Jantjies or Goosen a far better attack FH.. which leaves Lambie on the bench as the insurance option Mr. Versatility.. too bad
30 Oct 2011, 13:04 pm
@Puma(Puma)-586: As far as I know, Meyer has never personally said he doesn’t want the job. Matfield was doing the talking for Meyer.
30 Oct 2011, 13:07 pm
Wooden spoon: Meyer has signed with the bulls and he’ll want to implement his new game plan personally.
30 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
Lambie should be the next Bok 10. He has the most important qualities. The right temperament. sound technical skills and good vision.
30 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-594: Think Meyer is very involved with the Bulls right now.
Just have to wait and see. Whoever it is just hope we select right and also select the best backline and forward coach.
I would not even hesitate. Would select Mitchell. He said he does not want the job though. But he would be my first choice.
30 Oct 2011, 13:10 pm
Ashampoopaloo 593: taute is a good fb, I think Lambie better under the high ball, would be far more attacking in a backline that exuded that, yesterday he tried and sparked a few things but his team mates weren’t up to speed. Having a back three of taute, Lambie, and hougaard the boks will have counter attacking ability.
30 Oct 2011, 13:11 pm
@Michael(mikeybrass)-589: Brussow must prove himself all over again.. since his injury he had one good game in the S15 against Waratahs or Blues but hasn’t been the same player since… also the new laws favor different sets of skills to those when he took the game by the neck in 2009… Game has moved on and Brussow hasn’t …. see what he produces in S15 first.. Minnie was far better than Daniel yesterday also
30 Oct 2011, 13:12 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-596: You forgot one thing there. Has leadership qualities too.
Cool as they come. Probably has the best bmt I have ever seen in a youngster.
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