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
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2 Jun 2012, 17:40 pm
As they say “You still have to play the game”
2 Jun 2012, 17:41 pm
Sykes a bit unlucky here to be yellow carted.
Great kick by Elton though.
2 Jun 2012, 17:42 pm
So far so good
i said the Lions by 10-13, we shall see
2 Jun 2012, 17:42 pm
Sharks look scattered Not playing as a team and mistake are flowing
2 Jun 2012, 17:42 pm
Both Ndungane’s showing they’re OTH… Sharks showing last week was an against the grain ‘gees’ win… and both teams showing they’ve a very long way before they’re a long way away from the quality the Kiwi’s are dishing up…
2 Jun 2012, 17:43 pm
Butchie providing some fireworks though…
2 Jun 2012, 17:43 pm
This is not helping either
2 Jun 2012, 17:44 pm
long way to go yet.
2 Jun 2012, 17:44 pm
Things change quickly, game far from over. Go Lions anyway!
2 Jun 2012, 17:45 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-55:
I have to agree I am not sure why they have been mentioned by some as one of the bok wings?
2 Jun 2012, 17:46 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-60:
You’re not sure?????
2 Jun 2012, 17:47 pm
@Nils(Nils)-59:
Yes very true Hard to chase the game when you not playing that well and away , and the Lions are looking good
It makes for a good 2nd half maybe
2 Jun 2012, 17:48 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-61:
Ok i am sure
2 Jun 2012, 17:48 pm
I can see how the lions are going to throw this lead away. The moment will just be too big for them.
2 Jun 2012, 17:49 pm
bonus points lions….
2 Jun 2012, 17:50 pm
As expected, a bonus in the 1st half! And many thankyous incoming from Wellington.
2 Jun 2012, 17:51 pm
The so-called failure lions are pomping tge firm sa side in tge comp – fk we must play the stormers next and drill them stukkend also
2 Jun 2012, 17:51 pm
If the score holds the Sharks will drop to 7th
2 Jun 2012, 17:52 pm
and the Blues to last
2 Jun 2012, 17:53 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-54:
It called ” the Altitude effect in June at Ellis Park”
Difficult to defend with 12 players only, the Sharks have found out time and again
2 Jun 2012, 17:53 pm
Come Lions don’t go dropping it now, STUFF these overrated high flying guppies straight back into their overrated sardine can
more BEAUTIFUL a sight than this I doubt I EVER did see 4 tries to ONE lucky packet rebound
SharkieVarkie getting stuffed into their reality recognizing abject oblivious misery
HM better be watching, Lambie pambie definitely ain’t his answer at FB, no sirree
2 Jun 2012, 17:53 pm
My Boks side for the first test –
1 – Beast
2 – Bismark
3 -Jannie
4 -Etzebeth
5- Kruger
6 -Brussouw
7- Alberts
8 -Spies
9- F Du Preez – c
10 –Steyn
11- Habana
12 – F Steyn
13 – J De Villiers
14 – JP
15 – Lambie
2 Jun 2012, 17:53 pm
There are 2 Lions Stormers need to look at for next year
Coetzee and Hattingh
2 Jun 2012, 17:54 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-62: It reminds me Bloem 2009 when Sharks as in-form red hot favourites and got a mother of whippings (6-31) and wheels came off since then and so in the drain went not just hopes for home semi but even playoff tickets.
2 Jun 2012, 17:54 pm
Where are all the fkd up arrogant Guppie supporters now ??? They beat the Stormers last week and thought they were they best in the west … Bah – what a joke team the guppies are !!! Relegate them !
2 Jun 2012, 17:55 pm
@bryce_in_oz(bryce_in_oz)-55: both Ndungane’s have forged birth I’d documents and were born in 1972 or there about.
Anyway my Leeusers are playing good percentage rugby – keep it up boy. Do not play any rugby in your half. Kick it and contest my boys.
Meyer you are a star – man of the match so far.
Mr Black where are you loser?
2 Jun 2012, 17:56 pm
This is a surprise and Tips so far have been great up until this game.
2 Jun 2012, 17:57 pm
Can’t see the Lions throwing this away, Sharks are not in the game and Lions dominating the collissions. Cannot complain about Sykes yellow, they have to stamp out this grabbing around the neck. Quite clearly Bosman and Ndungane are not at super 15 level tonight, Mcleod questionable as well. Wonder if the Stormers game took too much out of them.
2 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
@Nils(Nils)-74:
Yes you know anyone who has played the game and coached too knows this happens
These Lions still have pride, and some decent players too
Sharks coming of a big high and are flat as a Sole fish
You can say what you like You still have to play the game on the field
2 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
it’s not over yet, easy with the crowing!
2 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
I Think Lambie’s Bok desire as the fullback has just disappeared, Pathetic performance from him his defensive!!…I’m guessing Sharks players are already thinking of that test match
2 Jun 2012, 17:58 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-73:
Add Jantjes to it. We need him to unlock our backline- Grant has been unsuccessful for years now,
btw.. Hatinng was with the Maties this year – our (AC’s) own fault that he is with the Lions at the moment.
2 Jun 2012, 17:59 pm
Come Liewe Leeutjies you pulled this lead out last year to get caught by these overrated guppyuppie sharkshits 2nd half
don’t go dropping the ball again this year
I’m imploring you
2 Jun 2012, 17:59 pm
Where is everyone?
2 Jun 2012, 17:59 pm
Guppies are k@k, what a joke team, can’t even beat the lowly Lions !!!! Makes me sic !
2 Jun 2012, 17:59 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-62: However, even if Sharkies get nothing from today, their chances look better than Canes. Bulls/Cheetahs is way easier than Crusaders/Chiefs ahead.
2 Jun 2012, 18:01 pm
I think Sharks need to come out in 2nd half and try show they have the character to fight back and try to win
If not their season is in doubt now
2 Jun 2012, 18:01 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-79: Exactly. And that’s the beauty of the game, upsets still do sometimes happen.
Like Crusaders banged from start to finish in Melbourne recently.
2 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-78:
The Sharks are going to come back, I have no doubt.
There is no ways the Lions are going to sustain this.
2 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-82:
Yes I know Hattingh is a matie
I really like Coetzee He is another Willie Le roux
2 Jun 2012, 18:02 pm
@Nils(Nils)-86:
Damn that Chiefs vs Crusaders game is going to be good
2 Jun 2012, 18:05 pm
Sharks need t go back to basics when things are not going to plan. They’ve been suckered into a fist fight which is not their style. They to fight their way out of the corner, ok boxing metaphors are all used up, score more tries and tackle like top six spot depends on it.
2 Jun 2012, 18:05 pm
Sh’t here starts the g’dam rot
Lions a 40 minute side, pretty much like Stormers are
2 Jun 2012, 18:05 pm
@chch(chch)-91: It certainly will. No less crucial game will in the previous week Hurricanes/Crusaders.
2 Jun 2012, 18:06 pm
Hey Sharks by the way JP is not a center
2 Jun 2012, 18:07 pm
So easy. I mean its only the Lions.
2 Jun 2012, 18:07 pm
told you it aint over!
2 Jun 2012, 18:08 pm
Phew, whatever Plumtree said during the break, it should be burned in CD and sold worldwide.
Expletives including.
2 Jun 2012, 18:08 pm
Easy 5 poimter for Sharks coming up.
2 Jun 2012, 18:08 pm
BOOM
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