Chiefs cane lame Lions
5 May 2012
RYAN VREDE watched another ordinary performance from the Lions in their 34-21 defeat to the Chiefs.
It would be remiss not to note an increased intensity from the Lions. Indeed the plethora of fundamental errors that have marked their performances to date were reduced. But those plus points should hardly be comforting if you are a Lions supporter. They are comfortably outweighed by flaws – tactical and technical – that continue to undermine their progress.
Again, much of their play happened well behind the advantage line and when they did attack the gainline they were too easily repelled. Their trademark lateral attacks followed, with flyhalf Elton Jantjies looking every bit as toothless as his mentor Carlos Spencer did when he was playing behind a losing pack. It’s pertinent to remember that this was a largely second-choice Chiefs pack at that.
The hosts’ changes meant they lost some synergy and lacked the fluidity they have exhibited to date. Their attacks were largely disjointed and they profited from their opponents’ defensive and tactical ineptitude.
Defensively they were off-point as well and often looked vulnerable when the Lions earned the right to play expansively through purposeful phase play. Thankfully, from the Chiefs’ perspective, that was an all too rare tactic from the Johannesburg franchise. And herein lies the frustration with these Lions. They look a competent outfit when they play the percentages, indeed appearing to be one capable of seriously testing superior teams. Instead they remain adamant in the belief that they can run teams ragged.
Two of the Chiefs’ four tries came from broken field situations after one of the many rudderless attacks from the Lions resulted in their runners being isolated and turning over possession. The Chiefs had jumped to a 20-0 lead within 25 minutes and then led 34-14 with the final quarter to come, having by that time secured their four-try bonus point.
The Lions bagged their third try (each well constructed) through a powerful rolling maul with just over ten minutes to play to reduce deficit, but they never at any stage looked like they had the capacity to mount a comeback of the magnitude they needed.
And so the Lions’ mediocrity continues and the arguments from those who advocate for their retention in Super Rugby grows weaker by the week.
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359 Comments
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5 May 2012, 11:52 am
@Great White Shark(Predawn)-139: Agreed, but you only need to see what Jake has managed to do at the Brumbies by applying some basics. It’s no coincidence that all the teams in the top half of the Super Rugby table play very little rugby in their half and have a decent kicking game. If Mitchell and his team of coaches can’t see that, particularly given how much the Lions stand to lose at the end of this season, maybe he shouldn’t be there. Mitchell always talks about filling the stands at Ellis Park, but what he doesn’t seem to realize is that the fans won’t turn up if you keep losing, even if you lose “pretty”.
5 May 2012, 11:55 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-143: is that tge same way jonker “looks after his own” when reffing bulls games?
FACT: the bulls have NEVER lost a super rugby game handled by marius jonker since marius started his super rugby career in 2007
5 May 2012, 11:55 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-143: is that the same way jonker “looks after his own” when reffing bulls games?
FACT: the bulls have NEVER lost a super rugby game handled by marius jonker since marius started his super rugby career in 2007
5 May 2012, 11:57 am
@Tuna(Tuna)-149: WHAT ? You are asking me to use my brain….have you been looking at the Sharks team sheet game in/game out chop ?
Look – I don’t give a damn about the Lions injuries. Every team has injuries – that doesn’t mean they play consistently kak in Super rugby year in – year out.
And listen – I don’t support the Lions exclusion from Super rugby. Not sure if you think that, but if you do – you couldn’t be further from the truth.
5 May 2012, 11:59 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-153: That’s funny…..so he is just biased toward them in Super rugby ? I seem to remember the Sharks winning a very close Currie Cup semi-final against the Bulls (the famous bee infestation game)…where if I remember correctly Jonker was the ref.
5 May 2012, 12:01 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-144:
Who says they have to train in PE. The Stormers, for example, don’t train at Newlands. The Kings Franchise includes Border, EP and SWD.
5 May 2012, 12:05 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-153: Prolly
5 May 2012, 12:07 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-155: the point is they have not lost with him blowing the whistle, make of it whatever u like. sharks_lover was talking about kiwi refs “looking after their own” in SUPER RUGBY not in the ITM Cup domkop
keep up.
5 May 2012, 12:20 pm
The only lions fan @ 122.
Good point.Main thrust of my comment was supposed
to indicate that the forwards gave enough possession]
to backs.
5 May 2012, 12:20 pm
“And so the Lions’ mediocrity continues and the arguments from those who advocate for their retention in Super Rugby grows weaker by the week.”
I guess, in your warped mind, Ryan, the Kings 30-19 loss to the Pumas in the lowly Vodacom Cup pushes the EP circus to the front of the promotional queue???
You really have no skaam.
5 May 2012, 12:21 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-158: I know that. I am just interested that you think Jonker is only biased toward the Bulls in Super rugby ? So – he supports someone else in the Currie Cup then ? He is from Richards Bay – so, perhaps he supports the Sharks in Currie Cup and Bulls in Super rugby. Not a bad combo – increases your chances of success quite nicely.
5 May 2012, 12:25 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-114: you are a typical D@@S most likely from Cape town, the Chiefs scored 2 tries off forward passes and one from a blatant knock on, not to mention their disruptive play at the rucks. You still tell us the ref protected the Lions.
Its a pity EC has to wait till the CC to start to watch their queens get hammered again, I see they lost to the Pumas again.
This afternoon we will see the Lions U/20 team win the WP vodacom side.
5 May 2012, 12:34 pm
@Wanderer(Wanderer)-162: There was more than one occasion when the referee blatantly overlooked penalizing the Lions. One led to a Lions try. Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Unfortunately, the Lions (not sure why you call them U20 – as though they are any younger than the WP side) – can whip WP by 100 points in the Vodacom Cup. Still wont save them from relegation from Super rugby. Totsiens Lions….Unfortunately, I cant even say ‘Nicely tried….’
5 May 2012, 12:46 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-163: Totally lame, they are playing u/20 players and varsity cup players in the vodacom side due to 13 of the S15 players being out injured.
I guess you only read and see what you want.
5 May 2012, 12:50 pm
and the whinging Yappies want yet another team of even more lobotomized losers, right ?
Let me get this right
The whinging Yappies want an extra, 6th, team.
But they also want to revert to a ‘real’ Super tournament where quality is paramount.
And they, in particular, wish to retain the right to whinge about both without the obligation to acknowledge the incompatabilty of one with the other.
5 May 2012, 12:52 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-163: Well they can still say atleast they played in the semis and have the CC to show with a potencial of winning the VC.
Still much more than the Stromers and the Sharks have achieved in the past years.
If they drop the Lions from the S15 life will go on and I am sure we will survive. I am not so sure that rugby will ever be the same in SA as we will have a watered down S15.
5 May 2012, 12:54 pm
Those Kings marmite monsters mothers c***s they won’t replace the lions get it in ur head!
5 May 2012, 12:54 pm
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-165: you wasting time and you are going to be late for the NZ national past time ( get drunk and bliksem the wife) get lost you KIWI schmuck.
5 May 2012, 12:55 pm
I often wonder if Ryan is paid by to promote a political agenda, by trying to facilitate the Southern Kings introduction into Super Rugby. Last time the latter played the Lions,the team he so desperately wants to get rid off, caned the the Kings 88-0.
That the Lions are struggling to regain some of the form that made them
Currie Cup champions is clear for all to see.The loss of some experienced
players undoubtedly played a major role.Should the political bosses have
their way it could spell the decline of rugby not only for the Lions but
also their feeder Provinces .
5 May 2012, 13:02 pm
@ryecatcher(ryecatcher)-159: Fair enough, but what they do with it is the problem!
5 May 2012, 13:03 pm
@Brentie1(Brentie1)-169: ja you have to take it all with a large ton of salt.
Keo is pro Kings and pro the Watsons.
The Kings couldn’t even beat the Pumas in the Vodacom Cup yet Keo and his minions are trying to tell us they “deserve” to play against the likes of the Crusaders, Brumbies and Chiefs? Puhleeeaaase.
5 May 2012, 13:04 pm
@Wanderer(Wanderer)-168: actually, SA lead the way in domestic violence throughout the world, so your comment is rather misguided..
gees, when will dumb Saffas such as yourself stick to rugby rather than try and be funny with incorrect “facts”…
5 May 2012, 13:07 pm
Whoooooooa man. Just had a little sleep man,after the lions and chiefs game. Man that was some amazing sh*t.i loved that game man,when’s the next game on dudes. Man I’m hungry ,got the munchies bad,gonna have some mm’s. Oh man the brumbies are playing the warratahs……sweetttttt I love this **** man. What the freak is a brumbie,must be some kind of Aussie horse or something man. Whooooa what the freak is a warratah too man. Man this rugby sh*t is crazy man,all these freaked out names and stuff. Imagine if aliens landed on earth man,they would think we were crazy mo fo’s. I wish they would visit us one day.
5 May 2012, 13:08 pm
Well lookie, lookie, another week and Poopy is still banging on about the same topic. Keo’s most small minded blogger… seems he only knows one way to “return serve”… How infantile from our security guard in Sydney.
5 May 2012, 13:10 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-174: actually wooden dckhead, my comment is in direct correlation to that of Wanderers, glad you called him up on thjat though aye??
your just another dutch.man who thinks its alright for his countrymen to spout absolute pish and expect us to sit back and laugh…
rather ironic coming from the country that leads the way in domestic violence though huh? why didnt you call him up on his comment? oh thats right, its because i happen to present the facts that you cant handle it..
now run along boy..
5 May 2012, 13:24 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-175: lol Poopy you say nothing new in this post.Just another example of your small mindedness. I shake my head in pity at your clear issues with life.
ps I aint no Dutchie so that attempt at an insult just didn’t fly. Haha. Try again.
5 May 2012, 13:25 pm
Poor old Poopy, one-track “returning serve” on Keo for life. Yawn and shame at the same time.
5 May 2012, 13:30 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-176:
C’mon poppa, admit getting mindlessly drunk and causing shite is fairly common practice in NZ on a Friday and Saturday night. And I don’t mean tipsy drunk, rather the shite-faced variety.
That is a fact, I’ve seen it with my own eyes, have not seen alcohol abuse among the young adult population that comes close to matching the Kiwi benchmark, anywhere in the world.
You’d do well to at least accept that it is a blot, a scar on NZ society. If you’re into facts, as you say you are.
5 May 2012, 13:30 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-175:
Poppa
wouldnt worry about some of these guys.
Wanderer is still living at his parents while mummy folds his PJs and spoon feeds him mashed up peaches, getting him ready for bed.
And wooden may have mistakenly missed the post from Wanderer as i am sure he wouldnt believe what some of his country folks think about NZ.
5 May 2012, 13:34 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-179: evenin’ Hurri. How’s things your side of the Indian Ocean?
Indeed I have not read all the posts above and neither do I intend to do so. I can pretty much say with certainty it’s all the same old, same old on Keo.
So Hurri, crunch time today for the Sharks… win and overtake the Hurricanes, or lose to the Scots and fire their coach
5 May 2012, 13:35 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-178:
Joe, you are really cluching at straws.
I mean we all know NZ has a party problem amongst the young teenagers.
No one is doubting that at all, but what we find funny is a South African bringing this sort of thing up, and on a Rugby forum.
And dont ask for stats please. Poppa has them all and no matter what way you look at it, its not pretty for South Africa.
Anyway lets talk rugby.
I was impressed by the lions in this game.
They really had opportunities to have a crack at winning this game but it seemed the Chiefs still had another gear if needed. Lions just kept losing the ball at crucial times.
5 May 2012, 13:38 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-180:
Yep, big game Wooden.
I think the Sharks will come through. Highlanders somehow have been doing well but this is where i think the wheels may start to fall off.
Sharks by 12
5 May 2012, 13:40 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-180:
lol Indian Ocean?
5 May 2012, 13:43 pm
joe. I’d never doubt that NZ does indeed have a problem in this regard. I’ve seen it with my own eyes too. but when a saffa tries to use it as some sort of moral high ground, while completely oblivious to SA s same or worse problems in this regard, I will highlight it for him
stick to rugby and crack wise about it all might long, no problem, but when a saffa feels it necessary to mention stats about NZs societal problems, I won’t sit back and remain silent.
5 May 2012, 13:50 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-183: close enough, just the Tasman Sea away.
Well one thing I am looking forward to is seeing how the kid Jordaan goes. There’s been a lot of talk about him, he has his chance today.
5 May 2012, 13:51 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-181:
No one’s – definitely not me – defending the violence in SA but hey, Hurricane,poppa needs to be a little less sensitive and a little more honest. He’s a perennial disher of shite SA’s way, on an SA website, so clearly he is only here to scpre cheap points, to be an irritant.
I welcome all on this blog, just can’t handle holier-than-thou types who continually trash my country, often with zero perspective other than that gained from the media (and that’s always dangerous) and a few stats books.
On rugby matters, I believe in Mitchell, I credit him for at least making the Lions competitive, in a year when we’ve been ravaged by injury. Sure, we’re the weakest of the SA franchises, but we don’t deserve relegation and replacement by a bunch of pretenders that can’t even compete in the top local competition, can’t even compete in the cellar-dweller Vodacom Cup.
Again, don’t expect to find objective reporting on the Lions on this site as keo and his clowns are the PR agents for the Watsons and Kings, have an agenda but never declare their alliance as they prefer to hoodwink the public that they’re an independent and objective blog.
I reckon there are only three sides that can win this year – Chiefs, Crusaders and Stormers.
Not a fan of this conference rubbish either, dilutes what used to be an engrossing tournament. Time for a rethink, with Argentina, Japan and the South Sea Islanders getting a look in, perhaps just three franchise per SA, NZ and Aus.
5 May 2012, 13:53 pm
@Wanderer(Wanderer)-168:
I live in Australia and Im not a Kiwi.
5 May 2012, 13:54 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-184:
In fairness, poppa, you seem to be here with a singleminded objective – to get up South Africans’ noses, however you can.
That’s your right, but don’t expect to endear yourself to me and my fellow countrymen, almost none of whom play the same game on NZ blogs.
A little more generosity from you would be great.
5 May 2012, 13:55 pm
@PrickBoks going South(PrickBoks going South)-187:
You’re certainly a p.r.i.c.k, though.
An infantile p.r.i.c.k
5 May 2012, 13:55 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-186: the conference system is *****, aye.
I would like to see strength vs strength promotion/relegation leagues.
That way you can add on the Kings or any number of Japanese and Argentinian teams to a 3rd league but we won’t see whitewashes.
5 May 2012, 13:57 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-184: Poppa I was taking a dip at your good mate Prick.
@Hurricane actualy mate your insults wont faze me I am a retired Policeman and recently worked with a load of Kiwis and Ausies in Afghanistan, so yes I really know somethings about your culture.
It might seem a strange concept for you, but for most of my friends that I left there I have the utmost respect, what I do not Like is the insulting manner of Prick in most of his comments.
I have been on record as saying the Kiwi commentators are really the best, they will never critisise any player or team no matter how bad they are playing.
5 May 2012, 13:58 pm
It amuses me no end when Poopy screams anti-SA drivel but then seems to be truly offended when he gets it back. You make your own bed.
Funny how he genuinely seems to see himself being the victim when it’s very clear his anti Saffa trolling is the root cause of all that goes his way.
Poor tormented soul.
5 May 2012, 14:08 pm
@Joe Maher(Joe Maher)-186:
Joe,
Popps trashes SA for one reason and one reason only.
People here (on Keo) trash NZ, every chance they get.
Popps was not always like this:
It is Your People who turned him from the reasonable Poster he once was………………………………………………………..and still is, if spoken to with respect and curtesy.
Your lot ride him every chance they get.
The Mongrel bites back.
And good for him.
5 May 2012, 14:08 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-192: and it amuses me that you think it fine for SA’s to run NZ down, yet get upset when I return the same insults..
should I have just said instead that as thats NZs pastime, why isnt he out with his mates looking for his next vioctim to jackroll?
would that be deemed offensive? so why is it that you guys can run NZ down at every opportunity, btu we have to bend over and remain silent? fck that..
respect is a two way street, and Im not looking for it here, but dont expect all kiwis to be convivial when you guys slag off our country and the majority remain silent… it seems you guys dont like the reverse, so why should we?
5 May 2012, 14:14 pm
So lets see now, NZ has a problem with Youth binge drinking.
I’d rather that than this:
Crime Statistics > Murders with firearms (most recent) by country
Showing latest available data. Rank Countries Amount
# 1 South Africa: 31,918
Crime in South Africa
# 2 Colombia: 21,898
Crime in Colombia
# 3 Thailand: 20,032
Crime in Thailand
# 4 United States: 9,369
Crime in United States
# 5 Philippines: 7,708
Crime in Philippines
# 6 Mexico: 2,606
Crime in Mexico
# 7 Slovakia: 2,356
Crime in Slovakia
# 8 El Salvador: 1,441
Crime in El Salvador
.
.
..
# 42 New Zealand: 10
Ten……………………………………………whow.
5 May 2012, 14:23 pm
Lol. The vast majority have nothing bad to say about NZ and I’m sure those that do are driven to do so by Poopy’s and to a lesser extent Cane’s (what happened to this once reasonable and amiable poster) perpetual denigration of their own country. Black Panty was once a member of the bitterkiwi club too.
So it becomes a big and never ending my coc.ks bigger than your coc.k fest.
How infantile.
Time to give it up boys and move on. I mean, c’mon, do you REALLY get “offended” by anything said about your country on an anonymous rugby blog which is known to get heated at the best of times.
Nah, see it for what it is. YOU like to come here and dish it out. Or else you would have hightailed it years ago. You get kicks out of it. Admit it.
So spare us the victim mentality.
5 May 2012, 14:23 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-190:
Good idea, wooden spoon.
Introduce sixth franchises from SA and NZ, Aus, two Argentinian, two Japanese, two South Sea Islander sides to create a Division II of 12 teams, reduce ‘Premier League’ to 12 sides.
Premier Division, based on current performances/rankings, could comprise Stormers, Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs from SA; Crusaders, Chiefs, Highlanders and Hurricanes from NZ; Brumbies, Reds, Waratahs and Force from Aus.
Then Div II would have Lions and Kings from SA; Blues and AN Other from NZ; Rebels and AN Other from Aus; Argentina 1, Argentina 2, Japan 2, South Sea Islander 1, South Sea Islander 2.
Home and away fixtures for each division, two bottom placed Premier League sides relegated (no play-offs), two top placed Div II sides promoted, and so it continues.
5 May 2012, 14:24 pm
@Wanderer(Wanderer)-191:
so you think that when youre online at the same time, as an anonymous blogger, that entities can become “good friends” ?
is this how “good friends” are made in the Land of the Whinging Yappie ?
Perhaps this is the natural reaction to staying locked up inside your rat labs on the pretext that its too dangerous to go outside and become a Murder with Firearms victim.
oh yay, today I made a Good Friend in cyberspace with ‘Wanderer’. I dont know what he looks like, age, education, family background, vocation. But I do know he’s my Good Friend. We blogged together. It was Real.
5 May 2012, 14:25 pm
And Cane don’t try and warp the truth… Poopy may have had a nice conversation with Puma every now and again but he comes here to stir. He is no saint, as much as you try to paint him as the victim, it is not true.
Time to grow up boys. Either that or lose the right to cry when it comes back your way.
5 May 2012, 14:27 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-196:
Youre not offended tho, right ?
Youre cool with school tho, right ?
YOU dont dish it out tho, right ?
YOU are better than them, right ?
Right.
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