Blues win basement battle

Blues win basement battle

11 May 2012

JON CARDINELLI reports on a scrappy 25-3 victory for the Blues, a result that could eventually see the Lions finishing the season with the wooden spoon.

It wasn’t pretty or polished by any stretch of the imagination, but the Blues did enough to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Conversely, the rudderless Lions sunk to new lows in this battle between the two worst-placed teams in the competition.

John Mitchell’s side has now lost nine games on the trot, and the poor quality of their recent performances suggests they could struggle to reverse what is a horrendous albeit familiar trend.

Both teams were under intense pressure coming into this clash, and the desperation was patent from the outset. The first quarter was truly painful to watch, as neither team managed to control the ball, and the Lions were particularly guilty of losing too much ball in contact.

The Blues seized the initiative as the game moved into the second quarter, a patient build-up eventually forcing a defensive error from a determined yet inferior Lions outfit. Michael Hobbs flew through for the try, and Gareth Anscombe added two points to his personal tally after nailing an earlier penalty.

The seven-point lead was significant, and the Blues began to take control in other areas of the game.

Their scrum mauled that of the Lions, the late inclusion of Tony Woodcock clearly having an impact. While the hosts’ lineout wobbled, their work at the collisions and breakdowns forced many a turnover. They conceded numerous penalties in this area, but they still managed to prevent the Lions from getting any sort of continuity.

The hosts also played a territorial game, and the Lions did well to finish the half without conceding further points. They were helped by the Blues’ lack of synergy on attack, as well as the fact that Anscombe missed a penalty attempt, and two more after the break.

But Anscombe eventually earned the Blues some reward for their dominance in the 46th minute, and from that point the Lions’ discipline went south. Their repeated infringements at the breakdown led to the sin-binning of Deon van Rensburg, and as the winger departed so too did the visitors’ chances of a fightback.

Reserve scrumhalf Alby Mathewson scored a try against the run of play to take the score to 18-3, and it proved to be the knock-out blow. Another five-pointer was added on the hooter, but this only served to further inflate the scoreline. The Lions were a beaten side long before this point.

The result sees the Lions dropping to the foot of the Super Rugby table. Considering their injury situation, they would do well to win a game on tour, and in the greater scheme of things they would do very well to avoid the overall wooden spoon.

There are six games remaining in their campaign and while they are within striking distance of the Blues and Force, there’s been nothing in their recent performances to suggest they can win the next two games in Australia, or indeed the majority of the games when they return to South Africa.

The fact that they weren’t able to register one try against this Blues side said it all. They’re struggling to score, their set-piece is a mess and their defence is woefully inconsistent. It’s hard to say exactly where their next win is going to come from.


133 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

  • 1.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:25 am

    Go Lion Dragons! Show them you deserve a spot in Superugby!

  • 2.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:30 am

    Generally I would support the Lions here but with relegation confirmed I don’t really want them to get 4 or 5 points closer to us.

    Oh what the hell. Lions for the win. We will cancel out your 4 points of today vs Stormers 2mo. lol

  • 3.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:31 am

    Let’s go Blues… Please…

  • 4.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:40 am

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-2: lol you wish buddy! I would of entertained that thought if Goosen was playing but without Goosen Cheetahs are 40% worse off.

  • 5.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:41 am

    Damn cronje. Why is he starting?

  • 6.scrumfan: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:43 am

    Go Blues! (purely for Superbru reasons)

  • 7.willievz: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:44 am

    Joshua Strauss, Andries Coetzee and Jaco Taute are 3 players I would like to see in a Springbok squad sometime in 2012.

    Could Andries be the big surprise at 15 for the Boks?

    I’d pick him.

  • 8.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:45 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-4: lol. I aggree. If Goosen played we would have a much better chance but I still think we being written off to early.

    Can always look at it like this… with Goosen we have 90% chance now without him we take 40% away and it’s a 50-50. lol. Sias to have an absolute stormer (excuse the pun) of a game.

  • 9.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:45 am

    @willievz(willievz)-7: What about Elton? Franco?

  • 10.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:46 am

    Lions will probably play out of their skins after those Saru imbeciles delivered a punch in the guts to Lions supporters. But sick of the hallowed grass of Eden Park being shat on by woeful home team performances…..at the end of the day let the best team win……hopefully the Blues

  • 11.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:47 am

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-8: Lol maybe. Yes I hope its a good game. Sias still has some demons floating about in that head of him after that miss.

  • 12.Cheetahs27: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:52 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-11: Well he better get rid of those demons before 19:00 2mo. Sure he will be fine. He will have to be at his best.

  • 13.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:52 am

    Mapoe doing Habanas.

  • 14.PIX: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:53 am

    K Keo still stuvk on 11mins, whats happening? :(

  • 15.willievz: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:54 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-9: Good players those, I am a big fan of both.

    Franco could be a Danie Rossouw type player. I’d strongly consider him.

    Elton is class too but I doubt he will be in the picture this year.

  • 16.PIX: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:54 am

    stuck…. sowee

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:54 am

    @Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-12: True he is the key for the Cheetahs to beat the Stormers. The Forwards will do their job but for the Cheetahs to unlock the Stormers solid defence Sias needs to be the go to guy.

  • 18.viewer: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:55 am

    “Keo.co.za brings you live score updates from the bottom of the log scrap in Auckland”

    These teams can play beautifully on their day, I believe

  • 19.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:56 am

    Truck & trailer?

  • 20.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 09:57 am

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-13: Knock on?

    @willievz(willievz)-15: Yes it will be between Franco and Elstadt for the Lock/Flank position.

    Perhaps. It will also be good for him to get constant game time.

  • 21.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:00 am

    fck me the blues are woeful. how can they still be throwing forward passes to each other 2 metres out from the oppositions goal line in round 12?

    season can’t end quick enough

  • 22.willievz: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:00 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-20:

    Franco is 29, Elstadt is 22.

    The numbers might be against the Lion here.

  • 23.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:00 am

    @viewer(viewer)-18:
    depends what you consider beautiful…..the eye of the beholder and all that….. Blues can be budiful but a little smelly

  • 24.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:02 am

    No man Lions. Come on.

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-13: I get it now.

  • 25.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:03 am

    Jantjes had a terrible game last weekend, he’s lacking form imo. He’s not exactly controlling the game. If the Lions are going to win it Jantjies needs to step up… No pressure on the Blues whatsoever

  • 26.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:04 am

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-20: Going for the intercept instead of staying in the defensive line.

  • 27.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:04 am

    @willievz(willievz)-22: Experience?

  • 28.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:05 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-10: “hallowed grass”? @ Eden Phaaaak :lol:

    GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 29.thesaint: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:08 am

    Well done Lions, let Rory Kockott go, and utilize Bondesio and Cronje, possibly the two worst no. 9′s in professional rugby.

  • 30.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:08 am

    @HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-26: Thanks I got it after i read on supersport what he did.

  • 31.HangkasHarry: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:09 am

    Kostatz seems to be down, anyone know of an alternative online stream?

  • 32.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:10 am

    Lions getting a lucky escape there, as the commentators are saying that ball was fair game. Ref got it wrong.

  • 33.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:10 am

    Cmon Lions get your head into the game!

  • 34.WP Till I Die: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:11 am

    What happened to the live score updates?

    Its actually Blues 10 Lions 3 (34 mins).

  • 35.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:11 am

    Did they advertise a concert at Eden Park for tonight?
    Why did these people pitch for the game?

  • 36.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:13 am

    What’s the score?

  • 37.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:13 am

    @thesaint(thesaint)-29:
    Cronje takes 500 steps before he passes the ball and what a weak pass too!

  • 38.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:14 am

    Blues got away with that one, penalty should have been the other way.

  • 39.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:14 am

    man, glad so many of these “professionals” wont be with the blues next year…

  • 40.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:14 am

    Live updates my foot

  • 41.Jeez: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:16 am

    Wow Jantjies shouldnt be allowed near a bok jersey. Why is he playing so kkak? This game is torture to watch!

  • 42.Atlas: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:16 am

    3 – 0 ?

  • 43.poppa69: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:16 am

    http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/51367/1/blues-vs-lions-live-stream-online.html

    fof those brave enough to watch

  • 44.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:17 am

    @Atlas(Atlas)-42: Blues 10 – Lions 3

  • 45.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:17 am

    @Dawn(Dawn)-40: @Dawn(Dawn)-36: @WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-34: JC is sleeping on the job.

  • 46.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:21 am

    Hopefully this is a game of two halves.

  • 47.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:21 am

    Worst game of rugby I’ve seen since 1823

  • 48.HHS: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:22 am

    Brutal on the eyes… I’m actually doing some work.

  • 49.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:23 am

    @Transformation(Transformation)-28:
    hehe Lions desecrating said hallowed grass.

  • 50.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    11 May 2012, 10:25 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-47: Worse than the Sharks 6-5 loss to the Reds?

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.