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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29 Oct 2011, 21:43 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-299: hehe well said. He is like yin yang too me. He does alot of great work but undoes it by a plethora of stupid and lame stuff too. I´m on the fence regarding Schalk.
29 Oct 2011, 21:44 pm
Is there any rugby nation that over-hypes a small rugby positivity as much as you lot who now crow and crow in the absence of a real measure.
What better measure has there been in the last 24 months outside of S.Hemisphere rugby and its recent RWC?
S.A. rugby is WEAK and when has a quarter-final exit been an acceptable yardstick of assessment?
The Lions beating 2 ‘Bok-laden teams in the last 2 weeks says absolutely very little. These self-same decrepit ‘Boks of 2011 RWC fame have mentally been out of rugby since their q-f loss which was two weeks before the WC Final And todays final is some time after that.
S.A. rugby is the weakest in the S.H. and also weaker than France of the RWC final and even Wales.
Which leaves what other tier one nations other than England, Ireland and Scotland.
Wisdom says wait for the S15 of 2012 for any decent measure before you crow as much as you all now do.
All that today’s final emphatically stated was that there is no replacement for passion, motivation, the subsequent commitment and will to win and the confidence which goes with the collective of the above mixture.
29 Oct 2011, 21:44 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-294: sad isn’t it. I bracket Alastair with Jake, whom I don’t rate. At all. He might have won the WC but I’m sorry, I don’t rate him. Had he been around in 2011 as Bok coach I suspect we’d have seen exactly the same result as PdV delivered. They are both stubborn, egotistical people and I think the teams would have been very similar for both coaches. In sharp contrast, John Mitchell is a seriously good coach, as is Robbie Deans, Warren Gatland and Graham Henry. All Kiwis is entirely coincidental to the argument. But, regardless of their nationality, they are simply great coaches. Period.
29 Oct 2011, 21:46 pm
@ET.(ET.)-302:
“SA rugby weak”
Disagree big time mate
Weak because we selected the wrong players “has beens”
The amount of fantastic talent out there tell s SA will be back if they hire a good coach and select the best team
29 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
Elton is the form 10 in SA. Finish & Klaar..
Taute is the form 15 in SA. Finish & Klaar…
29 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
@ET.(ET.)-302: Compared to your miserable existence, we have plenty to crow about. We have a great finale to a great Currie Cup.
You have a slight improvement in your athlete’s foot condition and the anticipation of tomorrow’s crossword puzzle.
So fck off and let the cool kids do their thing.
29 Oct 2011, 21:47 pm
@ET.(ET.)-302: your logic is not even worth discussing. You are just a miserable attention-seeking piece of work, whom no-one takes seriously.
29 Oct 2011, 21:48 pm
Coetsee – Burger combination is a train smash unfolding… No direction is gonna come from that nonentity of a leadership equation… as has been proved for almost 3 years running now where every time Stormers / WP have flattered to deceive under this nonentity of a lost leader disposition..
The comparison in coaching ethic and determination plus a complete cohesive game pattern and coordination from ALL 22 contributors between Mitchel and almost every other coach in the country is like chalk and cheese.. Coetsee got schooled by Mitchel last weekend and Plumtree took a similar hiding today… Meyer / Ludike haven’t fared much better and only Naka Drotske can boast some kind of reasonable game style in contention amongst the top candidates.. except Cheetahs got too thinly veiled depth to call on and their backs lack physicality compared to the Lions combinations.
29 Oct 2011, 21:48 pm
Lions
Lions
Lions
Mitchell
Mitchell
mitchell
are you taking note Hoskins?
29 Oct 2011, 21:53 pm
SA rugby is in a good space based on the amount of young talent available. Which could be made better by the choice of a quality coaching and management staff. If they choose badly based on criteria other than purely rugby reasons, then I’m afraid we are to expect more of the same. The coach should be selected on merit, regardless of race, ***, age, nationality, sexual preference or any other reason other than rugby nous.
29 Oct 2011, 21:53 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-308: Naka in my opinion is one of the better Sa coaches at the moment. Cheetahs are playing some scintillating rugby.
With regards to Coetzee and Burger I think youre also omitting De Villiers, Habana from the equation. the fact Coetzee just signed another 3 year deal with Habs whilst letting JJ and Sadie go says it all. Cue Rassie saying they are not in the market for any forwards and that pretty much tells you everything you need to know about the Stormers current state of affairs
29 Oct 2011, 21:55 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-303: I agree fully best coaches in the world are the Kiwis. I think SA has by far the largest talent pool – teaming the 2 up would be devastating for World Rugby. As usual we are the only ones holding ourselves back.
29 Oct 2011, 21:55 pm
Todays win by the Lions tells us a few things
1. A shift of power
2. The team had a decent coach
3. Lions did not have the disruption of bok players in and out during the season
4. Some great new talent stepping up and playing well
29 Oct 2011, 21:58 pm
@ET.(ET.)-302: what this nincompoop fckarse understands about rugby is downright dangerous.. he’s a f’ng skittle sticks arsecreep boffin alongside his other fantasy infatuation with pommie arse poefball or sacos kleptomania kaapse klopse skop en skandale … rugby is simply way out of his orbit.. he should fck off to where they discuss kaapse klopse sacos skopenskandale or else that other pom pom pastime called all-fall-down poefball … over here he’s just an irritating nonentity gnat that buzzes around the place pretending he knows wtf is actually cutting in a sport he got fckall clue about whatsof’ngever…
29 Oct 2011, 22:00 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-304: Hi Pete. Hows Frisco? Agree. Plenty of talent. Just need to harness it properly. Mitchell showed how. Elton Jantjies is a perfect example. They have done an extraordinary job on this young raw talent. He could so easily have been ruined by a lesser coach. Fortunately he bumped into Mitchell and will probably never look back. Ditto some of the other players. Here I’m thinking Cilliers, Rhodes, Struass and a multitude of other no-names in the Lions team, who were taken out of obscurity and turned into gems. How good is that?
29 Oct 2011, 22:04 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-304:
One item of evidence is the q-f exit in the recent RWC and another the exit in the S15; a real measuring tool wrt other rugby-playing nations.
@>^..^< katman(katman)-306: @TASSIES(TASSIES)-307:
If you do not knock the facts then all you offer is wasteful emotional garbage which I will not waste my time addressing.
The analytical approach is couched in the scientific method and in science emotionalism is an absolute weakness which takes you away from the real situation and not toward it.
29 Oct 2011, 22:05 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-313: points 1 to 4 spot on. There is a serious problem at coaching level in this country. At schoolboy level the system has proved to be fine but further up the ladder, South Africa has been found wanting. At has been this way for a very long time with few exceptions over the years.
29 Oct 2011, 22:07 pm
@ET.(ET.)-316: wadda wadda wadda. ET your credibility sucks. You might be a scientist in your interpretation of the word but really, get a life.
29 Oct 2011, 22:08 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-311: Jean de Villiers should have been Stormers / WP captain the past two years and this dumbfck infatuation with Burger should have been canned a long time ago and WP-Stormers would have returned some silver ware, I have very little doubt about this.. JDV is 100 times the leader / captain / coordinating reasonable force of cerebral equanimity in the Stormers – WP setup that Burger could ever possible hope to be… yet they do well under JdV when Burger is absent only to chuck him aside and revert to the dumbfck delusional idiocy when Burger returns.. to LOSE every single time under that moronic misplaced idiotic mayhem madness…
It is simply a leadership and a game style mismanagement situation by both Rassie and Coetsee.. Burger should NEVER be captain and he should NEVER be the go to mid field ball carry operative in the backline .. and Stormers / WP would have undoubtedly returned some success.. with JdV as captain and Habana in the side…
People are duped by some insane hero worshiping ignorance.. same as they did with Smit / FdP and similarly Burger.. these are the weakest links in the Boks and WP and Sharks setups.. in spite of what people cannot seem to get their heads around the fact that they are NOT the outright go to men they thought they are / were..
29 Oct 2011, 22:12 pm
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-167: Ek wonder waar is daai Great White palooka en ou Dusky vanaand? Daai was nou goeie rugby…. nogal met 14 man en ‘n gift try vir die guppies. Op die Leeus, laat hy val net waar hy wil.
29 Oct 2011, 22:13 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-305: hear hear..
Though gonna be a mighty big call selecting the next fly half between Elton Jantjies and Johan Goosen when they are both on song
Dunno where the gonna slot in Lambie because Taute and even Viljoen offer much more from 15 and Jantjies / Goosen offer much more from 10
29 Oct 2011, 22:15 pm
what I find most interesting is the intense analysis of a player on this blog, which to me, sometimes borders on the idiotic. A player is analysed for his particular skill, work-rate, defense, whatever and when I study a replay, I can see little obvious evidence of the interpretation. Another blogger will espouse exactly the opposite, together with the necessary conviction. I’m often baffled. To my mind, rugby has always been a team sport. Great performances are most often based on team effort/combinations(centre parings for eg) and a 15 man collective. Much like we saw today. It was hard to pick a MOM, there were so many contenders. When this is the case, it usually means a great team delivered. Not an individual. A player can provide a great pass. But another player has to catch and use it.
29 Oct 2011, 22:15 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-317: I read an interview on cricinfo with Fanie de Villiers the other day. One of the points he made was that he was all for transformation when it comes to players, but not so for coaches. His reasoning was that a coach is just too important and the best man must always get the job, also that way more “transformation” players will make the step up, as they are being coached by the best.
Transformation aside i thought he made a very good point about the importance of coaches.
29 Oct 2011, 22:16 pm
wow what a game by the Lions, yes my team played Krap… but Lions were the hungrier so Kudo’s to them
Congrats to all lions supporters and their team ,
29 Oct 2011, 22:16 pm
You certainly reflect the mentality of kids and hence there is NO counter argument that you can present.
When the truth cannot be countered, even wrt to a game like rugby, then all else is worthless.
Anecdotes and emotions are just that and no more. They advance nothing worthy.
29 Oct 2011, 22:18 pm
Good move Jano Vermaak
29 Oct 2011, 22:19 pm
@President_of_the_Sharks_rugby_experts(sharks_lover)-324:
What would a best 15 from those two teams do against Australia, France, New Zealand or Wales?
29 Oct 2011, 22:20 pm
@ET.(ET.)-316: The only conclusive scientific fact exposed here on this forum is that you are a miserable kont and a sad little man. The evidence is there for all to see. Ask a hundred people here and you’ll get a hundred affirmatives. A scientific mind like yours should like that certainty, hey.
29 Oct 2011, 22:22 pm
@Knersboy(Knersboy)-323: its the same in business. A coach/leader can make all the difference. A coach is a visionary. Unlike ET here, who’s only view is his twat from the inside.
29 Oct 2011, 22:23 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-321:
“Dunno where the gonna slot in Lambie because Taute and even Viljoen offer much more from 15 and Jantjies / Goosen offer much more from 10″
I agree 100% with that statement. Lambie’s role as someone said earlier might be more as a utility back… covering 10,12,15. Lets face it, he has better BMT than Ruan..
29 Oct 2011, 22:25 pm
hey ET, catch a wake up knobhead, science got nothing to do with rugby, and as for unemotional, dont make me laugh, its completely the opposite, and i fact your view towards the Springboks is completely influenced and prejdiced by that of payback and resentment.
you an idiot, the boks got far more talent than oz, if theyd picked the right players, the Boks wouldve dropkicked them reg deur die pale.
29 Oct 2011, 22:27 pm
Imagine a world with no emotion
Extraball’s uutopia
Lions would’ve just walked off field like robots
Crowds would sit there in stony silence
29 Oct 2011, 22:27 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-328: have you dried your eyes yet Mr Cat? You must have wept copious joyous tears between 7 and now. Tear-ducts need a top-up? Georgie used to say “four more years”. Yours was like “25 years” no? No more years.
29 Oct 2011, 22:28 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-328:
Without the presentation of relevant facts to substantiate your claim it all amounts to living in a world of sublime FANTASY.
One hundred out of one hundred on an emotion-loaded question is still merely emotional garbage. It is not grounded in FACT.
What would be your Null hypothesis?
29 Oct 2011, 22:30 pm
@cab(cab)-331: ag he’s a complete undiluted little plonker with a giant redwood in full growth on both shoulders. Miserable idiot.
29 Oct 2011, 22:31 pm
yeah thank Fck Jano Vermaak fckd off across the Jukskei he is absolutely NOT missed one little teeny weeny itsy bitsy bit .. soon as Mitchell heard he signing for Bulls he was OUT on his f’ng ear.. and that exactly how its supposed to be.. I never really rated Vermaak that much in recent years anyway.. better scrummies around..
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-322: Burger like Smit like FdP when he is below par in his head or his psyche are LIABILITIES to a team context.. no matter how much so called aura or hero status they supposed to imbibe.. they are more of a liability to the overall cohesive team ethic than they are to the whole.. because their inclusion disrupts the team dynamic more than it enhances it.. very simple deduction to make.. as SOON as someone is placed at a position greater than a simple cog in a teamwork wheel they are NO more a cohesive functioning contributor and the psychological disruption in the overall dynamic negates their so called superior ability or attribute which in most cases is even a misnomer and a figment of illusion.. because all of Smit, Burger and FdP have been less than their legacy and reputation aspire too in recent times..
Burger may still give 110% commitment and effort in every case but the quality of his contribution is not at the same level of composed input as one who has less demand made of his hero status stature and who functions within the cohesive uncompensated collective for example Minnie or Strauss or Rhodes or Whitely tonight..
29 Oct 2011, 22:31 pm
Utopia. Before spelling nazi gets me.
29 Oct 2011, 22:32 pm
@ET.(ET.)-316:
The exit out of the WC qf was as a result of poor coaching and selecting players who were over the hill
Incorrect promises were made to some players by the coach
As we found out these senior player pretty much ran the show
I would not connect the showing of the boks as negative reflection of SA rugby and the great talent we have here
29 Oct 2011, 22:32 pm
@Ajay(Ajay)-269:
howzit going? yeah pretty damn good result today, lions looking good.
its actually quite amazing, there was an article about the sharks have 7 springboks, but they got alot more then that, most of their team are international or former – there is no way this Lions team should get a top 6 finish in the S15 on paper, but they are playing like men possessed so who knowns. I dont think ther is a fitter more committed team in world rugby at the moment. Cilliers moves more like a centre than a prop. Van heerden was a past flanker and the loose trio just go all day, the centres are looking, hollenbach and doppies not too shabby at all. Jantjies has benefitted hugely from carlos. taute looking good.
29 Oct 2011, 22:34 pm
@TASSIES(TASSIES)-335:
he’s a complete twat.
how was the kiwi adventure? u have a few tassies, can u get any in NZ or u take in the luggage?
29 Oct 2011, 22:34 pm
Latest trend includes emo in science fyi
29 Oct 2011, 22:36 pm
its quite simple…..imagine how good the Boks would be if a coach like Mitchell was in charge. Dont dismiss Burger, du Plessis etc…they were merely badly coached. You need a good coach to polish the talent we have in SA. And for those guys backing Goosen at flyhalf…..he needs more time. A talent for sure but one great game does not make a Bok. he should be nurtured like Mitchell has done with Jantjies.
29 Oct 2011, 22:36 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-332:
Whiskeys getting to you? @<a href="#comment-
29 Oct 2011, 22:38 pm
@cab(cab)-331:
Again playing the stupid?
Is there absolutely no physics when a kick at goal is attempted?
Does the falling quuarter-back not have to readjust from what he would do if he was standing steady on his two feet before he launches his throw to a receiver?
Why are measuring devices now used more and more in sport such as cricket and others?
Is the measurement of time in any sport not a measurement of a parameter of physics?
Is what happens in the mind of a sportsman on the field of play not scientifically grounded?
Ever heard of the mental attitude or approach?
Are you just talking K A K again?
29 Oct 2011, 22:39 pm
@theOracle(theOracle)-330:
Nice problem to have lambie , Elton , and Goosen
I have always agreed Skoppie about Jdv been wp or stormers captain
Skalk is Not a captain and by not been captain he can concentrate on his game
29 Oct 2011, 22:39 pm
No cab extraball is ET
Extra testicle
29 Oct 2011, 22:40 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-345:
Sorry that was responding to Skoppie
29 Oct 2011, 22:41 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-338:
Is your ” coaching and selecting ” not part and parcel of a nation’s rugby?
Do some national teams not do it better than others and thus get to finals even if they play mind(mental) games with the opposition the way France did?
29 Oct 2011, 22:43 pm
Well done to the Lions. I incorrectyly predicted a Sharks victory and instead the deservided Lions victors kicked ‘guppies’ arse….but well done from a champion Currie Cup side.
The Sharks lost and it was to the best side.
29 Oct 2011, 22:44 pm
@ET.(ET.)-348:
We did no select the coach or the players
its pretty much obvious what is talked about here what was wrong with the bok situation
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