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
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11 May 2012, 10:25 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-46: it is.
11 May 2012, 10:25 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-47:
yes bring back tribal wars…
11 May 2012, 10:26 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-47:
LOL
11 May 2012, 10:26 am
Blues to have a shocker in the second half. Intercept try coming up.
11 May 2012, 10:26 am
Waratahs wearing commemorative jerseys tonight, to mark 75 years anniversary victory over Springboks.
11 May 2012, 10:27 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-46: And hopefully they don’t play 2nd half on field. Rather watch spectators drink beer.
11 May 2012, 10:29 am
@Staal(Staal)-51: @Rentals(FrenklyMuDeah)-56: LOL
11 May 2012, 10:29 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-44: Thanks
Just got the TV fixed, do I dare?
11 May 2012, 10:29 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-55: Ooooo bad news Bulls. Tahs will be fired up!
11 May 2012, 10:30 am
The Lions still capable of beating the Kings hands down!
Provided they keep Jantjies out of their line up
11 May 2012, 10:32 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-43:
Poppa, this link doesnt work too lekker here in Germany, just shows a white advertising screen, with the commentary in the backround. Also no option to close the advertising…
11 May 2012, 10:34 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-27: A core of Bismarck, Bekker, Burger, F.Steyn, Habana and possibly JDV offers more than enough experience.
The Boks need an urgent injection of youth.
The balance should be about 66% youth 34% experience.
11 May 2012, 10:35 am
Cmon Lions its like a new start!
11 May 2012, 10:36 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-59: More like “Up in Smoke”, Bulls to win by 20. Those commemorative jerseys must be lonesome in old age home. Just an airing, no hope. Bit like taking biltong to your Gran. Remembers the taste but can’t take a bite.
11 May 2012, 10:37 am
No man Lions. This is pathetic. John Mitchell is a bad coach. Grant10 must be tearing his hair out. He is wondering how he could have wanted Mitchell to coach the Boks!
11 May 2012, 10:39 am
@willievz(willievz)-62: True Story.
@Rentals(FrenklyMuDeah)-64: lol
11 May 2012, 10:39 am
Who got a yellow card?
11 May 2012, 10:40 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-67: Deon Van Rensburg. Should have been a red card…. followed by a white card. 2 years minimum imo.
11 May 2012, 10:41 am
@HangkasHarry(HangkasHarry)-61: vipbox how to:
1. click on link – new tab opens
2. immediately go to the window (like a youtube window) and hit the full screen icon immediately.
3. watch the Lions knock on
11 May 2012, 10:42 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-67:
Van Rensburg, for a border line coming from the side
The Blues do it all evening
11 May 2012, 10:42 am
Ross Cronje cant pass for s.hitt. Ive seen 10 year olds with a better pass than him. All his passes are looping and then he is passing at full speed. Cant pass a ball to his right further than 5m.
What is this guy doing here!!!
11 May 2012, 10:44 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-68: Ernstig?
11 May 2012, 10:44 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-68: for what? what did he do?
11 May 2012, 10:46 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-72: & @logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-73: Not bad… repeated infringements but I don’t want to see him in a Lions jersey
11 May 2012, 10:47 am
@willievz(willievz)-62: Think Chillie playing better rugby than Bismark, and Strauss better than both at moment. Lambie needs to be flyhalf, Morne too consistent (bit like watching a custard slice). I think our relative youngsters have enough experience. Would love Boks to use new loose forwards to really get our backline away. Poms have gone for speed. Jean too old (say he’s faster than ever but think that refers to joining Unions). Need young blood, for Boks too
11 May 2012, 10:48 am
You cant blame Mitchel exclusively for the Lions nightmare in SR. They’ve had to deal with issues that rugby teams shouldnt. They started the season well but failure to get over the line has gradually affected their confidence and belief which is a huge thing in rugby.
11 May 2012, 10:48 am
Game over Lions!
11 May 2012, 10:49 am
Damn the Lions are bad. Bring back king Luyt! He’ll sort them out…..again!
11 May 2012, 10:50 am
link works fine for me Harry?
11 May 2012, 10:51 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-74: lol ja me too. Mitchell’s ego is too big! Killian was one of their best players last year but because he doesnt fit in with Mitchell’s vision he gets dropped to the bench.
11 May 2012, 10:53 am
@Rentals(FrenklyMuDeah)-75: The Boks need more speed in the forwards per se, to act as support players at the breakdowns / collisions. We have been outmuscled at these contact points not because of our lack of strength or conditioning, but simply because our legs were older and could not cover as much ground as younger packs could.
Agree on Strauss as the best 2 at the moment, but not sure if I agree on Chilli been a better choice than Bismarck.
I believe in picking players that opposition teams genuinely fear. And they fear Bismarck, Burger, F.Steyn and Habana. With those four it is a case of form is temporary, but class is permanent.
11 May 2012, 10:56 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-80: Killian had an injury and actually played the first few games with this injury. Why Van Rensburg is still in this team is a mystery.
11 May 2012, 10:56 am
**** they lions are playing kak, there is no plan whatsoever! There are no picking and driving, the one they were good at last year
11 May 2012, 10:56 am
@poppa69(poppa69)-79: Lions not bad, must have been difficult for Mitchell to motivate his players knowing they’re going up against bottom of log team.
I mean its obvious that’s Lions objective for this season.
11 May 2012, 10:57 am
Watching the lions play is like torture. I’m actually gritting my teeth here.
11 May 2012, 10:58 am
Ya now its working in full screen, thanks guys. What happend to koztatz??
Re the game – I watched a few min & then thought work is actually more important than this rubbish. In fact, had I not been at work, I might have pulled out some old recorded Egoli videos to watch rather than this ****.
Sad stuff Lions, really. I doubt that it would have made much difference had the investors from last year still been with the Lions. IMO the union needs a clean-up from management right through the structures. Maybe it is not be such a bad idea for them to loose out on the S15 in 2013. At least it will give them time for thought. The question is if SARU is really interested in forcing a clean-up at the Lions or if the Lions are just a sideline thorn, as found in most businesses.
11 May 2012, 10:59 am
this team deserves to get relegated.
11 May 2012, 11:02 am
kostaz went money only for a few weeks. you pay then he gives a password to watch.
f
11 May 2012, 11:02 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-82: oh my bad.
11 May 2012, 11:02 am
12 handling errors by the Lions in this match tells the story.
11 May 2012, 11:05 am
If the Lions do go for next season, I as a blues fan will gladly take a few squad members and put a blue jersey on them. Strauss, Coetzee, Taute, Grobbelaar.
11 May 2012, 11:07 am
@willievz(willievz)-81: Can’t disagree with that. Just don’t think Morne is answer going forward. Burger and Bismark yes (need to deal with penalty count), Habana great but reached best before date. Maybe use them in starting line-up and bring on new boys when we have cushion.
11 May 2012, 11:07 am
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-90: Does Mitchell even coach the team during the week? They are clueless. How can you run from everywhere?
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-91: Good on ya
11 May 2012, 11:10 am
LIONS WILL NOW MOST DEFERENTIALLY BE RELEGATED IF SARU STICKS TO THEIR DECISION BY THE 17TH. SAD….I Think the best solution is, Let the Kings and Lions play a two match promotion/relegations series. The team that wins 2-0 plays in Super rugby 2013. If it ends up 1-1…a 3rd and final match to be played to decide. The Lions are perhaps going to take the wooden spoon, even on the combined log, but there is no doubt in my mind that the Lions will dominate the Kings and deservedly retain their right to play in Super Rugby.
11 May 2012, 11:11 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-93:
You can’t expect a Super Rugby coach to be responsible for teaching players basic skills.
11 May 2012, 11:11 am
Is the Lions making lots of tackles? Is Franco having a good game?
11 May 2012, 11:11 am
When does Blues/Lions match start?
11 May 2012, 11:14 am
hierdie leeus moet fokkof man!…
11 May 2012, 11:14 am
This is really bad
Keo must be loving it
11 May 2012, 11:15 am
Or combine the 2 as Lion Kings. Share venues PE & JHB.
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