Saders sink brainless Lions
31 Mar 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on the Crusaders’ 23-13 victory over a tactically naive Lions at Ellis Park.
Yet another loss where the Lions played what they deem beautiful rugby. Their supporters will settle for an ugly, deformed or downright hideous win right now.
The excuse about injuries doesn’t wash. Every team has injuries. Their problems are rooted in coach John Mitchell’s refusal to relinquish a misplaced belief in a fundamentally flawed game plan. The Lions continue to play a brand of rugby too heavily weighted to the expansive. It lacks the balance needed to make them a consistently threatening side.
The Saders were uncharacteristically porous on defence in the first half (missed 10 tackles and lacked the physicality at the gainline that has traditionally been the bedrock of their success). Yet for all their possession and territory the Lions led by just three points (13-10) at the break. They will point to missed opportunities that could have extended their lead, but those sorts of errors have become chronic.
The Saders scored with one of their first opportunities in the half, Dan Carter expertly picking out Zac Guilford’s run on his inside shoulder. It was an ominous warning for the hosts, who despite scoring a converted try just before the break, had exhibited little to inspire.
The Saders started brilliantly after the break, Sean Maitland collecting the most sublime grubber from Israel Dagg to score. Tom Taylor converted and kicked two penalties thereafter to give his side a 10-point lead.
Still the Lions had the ascendancy in the territory and possession stakes and were forcing the visitors into a plethora of tackles. But there was a marked sense of composure on defence from the seven-time champs, who committed few to the breakdown and around the ruck fringe, safe in the knowledge that the Lions would not seek to punch up close through phases.
The Lions became increasingly cavalier as their desperation grew and this suited the Saders, who isolated runners and kept their breakdown turnover count ticking over. The Lions never looked like winning. They simply didn’t have the tactical capacity for it.
Expect Mitchell to point once more to his injury list and speak of this loss as a lesson. Bullshit. He needs to be accountable for what promises to be yet another disastrous Super Rugby campaign under his watch.
369 Comments
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31 Mar 2012, 19:49 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-148:
Fantastic. Double prizes
31 Mar 2012, 19:52 pm
told you Duvenhage and Grant will outplay Hougaard and Steyn, didn’t I?
Also cried out a year ago to play this back row of Vermeulen and Elstadt at 8 and 7
Eventually Stormers selection policy comes right. Now just keep Schalk out the setup and this team goes all the way under JdV. Give captaincy back to Schalk and we undo everything.
31 Mar 2012, 19:53 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-152:
There is still 40 min to go.
31 Mar 2012, 19:54 pm
Duvenhage owning his Craven week understudy
31 Mar 2012, 19:55 pm
Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaassssssssssss
31 Mar 2012, 19:56 pm
The tjop did it?
Woody?
31 Mar 2012, 19:56 pm
Nice ego boost for Tiaan. Watch out ladies. #stilladoos
31 Mar 2012, 19:56 pm
The tjop scores.
31 Mar 2012, 19:56 pm
Air punches all round!
31 Mar 2012, 19:57 pm
yip stormers outbullying the bulls, no shame on the bulls, thats the way it goes.
but stormers cant let up in 2nd half
31 Mar 2012, 19:58 pm
Lolz, c’mon guys. Tiaans committed. He’s not malicious.
31 Mar 2012, 19:58 pm
There’s plenty of air punching, high fiving and a whoopin’ and a hollarin’ at the Stormersboy household right about now. I can tell ya!
31 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm
duvenage certainly not outplaying hougaard – grant is alot better than ppl give him credit for.
greyling a beast, but too many stormers molesting the bulls upfront, kolisi learnt to hold onto the ball into contact, playing well too. elstadt massive.
31 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-144:
ooh its getting hot in here lol.
31 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-161: Jock you get malicious tjops and you get committed tjops. There are many kinds. But a tjop is a tjop and Liebenberg is one. You can just see it written all over his close set eyes.
31 Mar 2012, 20:00 pm
Grant playing the hard edge attack mode pivotal role I always been advocating since 2008
If Boks would have played this style game with hard running fly half instead of the deep pocket kicking game through De Villiers tenure we would have cleaned up all and sundry.
Coetsee must keep this team intact now and leave Elstadt at 7 at least to 60th minute or later, don’t switch Elstadt for Koster at least till Bulls are well and truly beat.
31 Mar 2012, 20:01 pm
I need a drink
31 Mar 2012, 20:01 pm
@JockBok(JockBok)-161:
Tiaan is a good bloke- they just misunderstand his enthusiasm- he is a good cricketer too- top class batsman, his drive of the front foot through covers is reminiscent of Pollock at his best – ask Vernon Philander.
31 Mar 2012, 20:02 pm
I love that pink….!!
31 Mar 2012, 20:02 pm
A big one
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
Evening Boys….
What’s all this about the ref being against the Stormers then!!
Perhaps he heard the gossip!
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-165:
He didn’t become a tjop overnight Spooner. He’s 100% kinda guy and I’ve always loved the way he plays. Of course, maybe I’m biased
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
Fuckadilly.
The misunderstood genius.
A legend in his own packed-lunchtime.
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-170:
I beg your pardon?
A big one?
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
its the wp forward pack again, got little to do with the halfbacks.
must say tho if there is a harder running centre than JDJ i aint seen it in 10 years of bok rugby, he hits the line like a bolt of thunder.
31 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-165:
Lol, thats why is such a good cricketer.
It’s those close set eyes.
Lots of people with great ball sense have or had it.
like Bradman and Borg.
31 Mar 2012, 20:04 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-166:
And I remember you make pitches for Gary Van to start all the time?
Hougaard is finished, you can tell by the amount of his body tattoos which is growing steadily, and as for M Styen, we know all about his strenghts and skills
31 Mar 2012, 20:04 pm
Ag everyone’s a tjop for spooner
31 Mar 2012, 20:05 pm
@carol(carol)-171:
Lol, he is just blinded by the pink
Just watch his comeback in the second half once he is used to it.
31 Mar 2012, 20:05 pm
Sadie se D is maar tos.
31 Mar 2012, 20:06 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-178: Ag Dawn, don’t get so defensive of your weepee boys. Ontspan.
31 Mar 2012, 20:06 pm
Big drink!
31 Mar 2012, 20:06 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-168:
i actually think that little cameo by liebenberg at the beginning was just what was needed.
fourie coming on around 60min could blast the bulls into kingdom come, but elstadt likely to fade fast, not used to match sharpness at this level and he went out the starting blocks like a racehorse.
31 Mar 2012, 20:06 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-178: Oh and btw I have only ever said there are 2. It just so happens they both play for you team
31 Mar 2012, 20:06 pm
Now okes, PLEEEEEEEEEEZE don’t try and defend for 40, or we’ll lose this one. Guaranteed.
Go at them some more.
They are like headless chickens when they are challenged physically.
31 Mar 2012, 20:07 pm
GAAAHHHH!!!
It’s so bloody pink I had to tone down my TV’s contrast
31 Mar 2012, 20:07 pm
I played table tennis with Borg in Antigua.
Took every kroner the little farker had.
Eyes too close together indeed.
31 Mar 2012, 20:08 pm
Duvenhage owning Hougaard in the tactical arena plus in the distribution stakes, I told you long time ago these the 2 best scrummies in the country by country mile, Duvenhage for his tactical acumen and kicking game, Hougaard for his speed and physicality. So far Duvenhage / Grant combo way better than Hougaard / Steyn
Long as Coetsee don’t change anything except for Malherbe on for Harris for next 20 mins should hopefully clinch this out from here.
31 Mar 2012, 20:08 pm
I’m almost glad Deon Stegmann is injured for this game, this is a crime against humanity.
Those poor boys still care about their image, and the thought of losing their first game in pink looks to be adding unnecessary pressure.
31 Mar 2012, 20:08 pm
AC look like he been crying
Am not defensive, am a bull, but everyone still a tjop for you
31 Mar 2012, 20:09 pm
The venue Newlands is fabulous, why do they want to move it to a lesser stadium?
31 Mar 2012, 20:09 pm
kak duvenage kicked some horrendous kicks, hougard ten times more physical and kicking better, stortms pack far superior.
31 Mar 2012, 20:09 pm
And what’s with all the marginal calls going against the Bulls? Shameful man.
31 Mar 2012, 20:09 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-190: Lol you are not a Bull’s arse. You can join the elite club if you want.
31 Mar 2012, 20:11 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-187:
Tucking into a lovely saucisson and roquefort at the moment. Washed down with a cheeky Chateau Fonjouan.
Where’s a McDonalds when you need one hey?
31 Mar 2012, 20:11 pm
Penalty count is biblical.
31 Mar 2012, 20:12 pm
Ai ou Flippie….
Jy werk darem maar hard vir jou geel kaartjie elke naweek.
31 Mar 2012, 20:13 pm
You little piggy Jock.
That must be stretching your per diem.
31 Mar 2012, 20:14 pm
Good try..
31 Mar 2012, 20:15 pm
if the stormers lose from 14 – 0 up then they’re kak….
ludekak is stuck right now on the phone with heineken
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