Lions shock Sharks

Lions shock Sharks

2 Jun 2012

SIMON BORCHARDT watched the Lions withstand a second-half Sharks fightback to win 38-28 at Ellis Park.

In his pre-match TV interview Sharks coach John Plumtree admitted his team had bad memories of Ellis Park having lost last year’s Currie Cup final. No one, though, expected another Lions win in this Super Rugby match. The Sharks came into it on the back of four successive victories that had propelled them into the top six on the combined log, while the Lions had lost 11 in a row since winning their season opener on 25 February.

Perhaps the Sharks’ Springboks had one eye on next Saturday’s first Test against England or perhaps the whole team simply didn’t rate the Lions. Whatever the case, the visitors were woeful in the first half, while the Lions, in stark contrast to how they have played throughout 2012, were clinical and went through the first 40 minutes without making a single handling error.

Pat Lambie got the Sharks on the board with an early penalty, but the Lions hit back when an excellent chip kick off the inside of Elton Jantjies’ boot sat up for Grant Hattingh, who dived over next to the posts. The Lions struck again soon after when the TMO ruled that Derick Minnie had grounded the ball on the tryline and the hosts led 14-3 after eight minutes.

Jantjies and Lambie then exchanged penalties, before the Sharks’ defence was breached for the third time when Butch James put Lionel Mapoe into space. The outside centre evaded the tackle of Meyer Bosman and cut back inside past the cover defence to score.

Things went from bad to worse for the Sharks when Steven Sykes was yellow carded for dangerous play at the ruck, and Jantjies’ penalty made it 27-7 after half an hour. The Lions were then also reduced to 14 men shortly after when Mapoe was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul in the red zone, and Lwazi Mvovo scored in the left-hand corner for the Sharks.

However, the hosts’ responded with a bonus-point try from Deon van Rensburg to make it 32-11.

Whatever Plumtree said at half-time had the desired effect as the Sharks scored two tries in the first five minutes of the second half, through JP Pietersen and Odwa Ndungane, to slash the deficit to seven.

With five minutes to go, and the Lions leading 38-28, Louis Ludik went over in the right-hand corner. The assistant referee told the referee that he had seen the grounding, so the TMO was asked if there was any reason not to award the try. The TMO, though, went outside protocol by saying that he couldn’t see the grounding, and the result was a five-metre scrum.

The Sharks never got close to the tryline again, and the Lions, finally, had something to celebrate.


285 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 » Show All

  • 1.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm

    no name Joburg Dragons vs test stacked natal backline

    Natal with all test rugby experience backline should take this by 50. But I hope Joburg boys upset and do my side a big favour.

  • 2.ufo: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:33 pm

    ROAR Lions….!!!

  • 3.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:36 pm

    Waylon Murray??

    return of the forgotten talent

  • 4.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:46 pm

    Go Lions!!!

    Go Stormers!!!

    Enjoy the rugby, Ladies & Gents!!!

    Out.

  • 5.simbachips: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:48 pm

    GO SHARKS !!!

  • 6.RWC'11 was fixed: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:49 pm

    @greatest13gerber(greatest13gerber)-3: not that talented I don’t think. Big guy, but no hands and very predictable to defend against. JPP is an example of an unpredictable runner, keeps defenders guessing.

  • 7.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:54 pm

    @RWC’11 was fixed(richardmarais)-6:

    true true.

    come on Joburg – hoping for upset

    and see WP get blue whipped later!!

  • 8.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:55 pm

    Go Sharks Go Sharks spread the ball wide, spread the ball wide this is Sharks high tide…………………

  • 9.Willy: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:56 pm

    Hope the Lions don’t turn out to be the banana skin we slip on. I get worried when everyone is predicting a big win by tbe Sharks.

  • 10.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 16:56 pm

    SHARKssSssssssssssssss

    Stormersboy if you read this , you have my proxy to shout for sharksssssss, am doing what was supposed to happen last night.

  • 11.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:00 pm

    @Willy(willyzn)-9:

    me too. They have nothing to lose.

  • 12.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:01 pm

    @Willy(willyzn)-9: dont even go there :evil:

  • 13.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:02 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-10: M is babysitting lol , he behaving for a change :lol:

    And hiyas boomninny hugsssssssss, you well??

  • 14.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:06 pm

    Bismark you beautyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy

  • 15.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:09 pm

    that was fast!

    point a minute fear

  • 16.JackShanghai: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:10 pm

    bismark – take off and rest

  • 17.JackShanghai: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:11 pm

    i would love to see

    - bismark tried at 6
    - aplon tried at 10

  • 18.greatest13gerber: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:12 pm

    Yes!!

  • 19.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:12 pm

    butch is kak.

  • 20.Polar Lion: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:14 pm

    Link pleae:)

  • 21.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:16 pm

    We are black, we are white, we are being chowed by the Lions tonite.

  • 22.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:16 pm

    the surrender m.onkeys are 2 tries up :-)

  • 23.JackShanghai: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:17 pm

    i am a lion but we obviously need the sharks to win to benefit sa in this tournament

  • 24.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:17 pm

    Nice :)

    14-3 Lions

  • 25.Polar Lion: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:18 pm

    Link anyone?

  • 26.Thucydides: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:21 pm

    @Polar Lion(Polar Lion)-25:

    http://www.vipbox.tv/sports/rugby.html

  • 27.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:21 pm

    this ref’s interpretation of advantage is kak…

  • 28.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:22 pm

    Alberts is the most overrated player in SA- poor man’s version of Wahl bartmann

  • 29.Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:23 pm

    @Polar Lion(Polar Lion)-25:

    try
    http://www.vipbox.tv/watch/54589/1/lions-vs-sharks–live-stream-online.html
    usually good

  • 30.Big Jack: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:23 pm

    And out pops the Lions. Man, this is so funny. I love this but it is messing my already dismal Superbru weekend up further.

  • 31.Winesy83: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:24 pm

    Janties playing well so far

  • 32.Polar Lion: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:26 pm

    @Thucydides(Thucydides)-26:

    Thanks boet!

  • 33.Jinx2: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:26 pm

    @JackShanghai(JackShanghai)-17:

    Very exciting thought.

  • 34.Polar Lion: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:27 pm

    @Porra the Fat and Clever Speedster(Porra)-29:

    Thanks!

  • 35.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:27 pm

    beast is boring in & getting away with it.

  • 36.David: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:27 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-28:
    An impact player and that’s all at the moment.

  • 37.Big Jack: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:32 pm

    The problem with this break in the middle of the competition is that the players gunning for the Bok-jersey are scared to get injured now. This week is a tough one. I was expecting to see a close game purely because of this.
    We might be in for a similar scenario later between Bulls and Stormers.
    Lions players have nothing to lose,

  • 38.bryce_in_oz: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:33 pm

    This is like watching Currie Cup rugby compared to the Chiefs game…

  • 39.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:33 pm

    @David(David)-36:

    I agree.Bad conditioning- too much body fat to last 80 minutes at super rugby pace against decent oposition.

    Stormers must buy Jantjes.

  • 40.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:34 pm

    Looks like a sequel to Bloem whipping of 2009 and Sharks without a bonus point …. for losing within 7. :D

  • 41.chch: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:34 pm

    roar

  • 42.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:35 pm

    mapoe kills ‘lem’ bosman!

  • 43.Pirlet BEL: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:35 pm

    jeez Bosman is just plain kak…how can this guy be playing super rugby. he is the one of the worst this country has ever produced at 12. CANNOT TACKLE.

  • 44.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:36 pm

    24-6. Yeeeeeehaaaaaa. Sharks showing that they can only play at home. C’mon Lions…………rooooooooaaaaaaaaar!!!!!!!

  • 45.David: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:36 pm

    Just hope the Lions don’t do a Stormers and try and sit on a lead. :lol:

  • 46.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:38 pm

    Interesting ….

  • 47.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:38 pm

    Where dem Sharks praise singing bruvvas be now?

  • 48.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:40 pm

    Well well, Lions may get a bonus point and seal the game before half time. Who would have thought.

  • 49.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:40 pm

    Tsjarks !!!

    :D
    :D
    :D

  • 50.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 17:40 pm

    Chch … Gotta be bigger than that!

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