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, 18:08 pm
A slight digression from rugby – A Jo’burg boy, Brett Savage, 44, this week starts a life sentence in Bali for drug smuggling. There appears strong and convincing evidence that he was entirely set up by his druggie sister – the question is if it is proved beyond all reasonable doubt that the smuggler is absolutely outright set up and entirely naïve with having narcotics in his luggage, should this person deserve a life sentence?
2 Jun 2012, 18:09 pm
Min 44
Lions paid the price for playing that No Name number 11
He was no where on the wing, replay showed him somewhere off centre
2 Jun 2012, 18:10 pm
Ah Fck why didn’t I know this fairy tale was too good to be real Lions already chucked away the advantage within 5 min of restart
Come ON Leeutjies WAKEY WAKEY NOW!!
2 Jun 2012, 18:10 pm
Well maybe they will have that character, Is this the start?
2 Jun 2012, 18:11 pm
35-22
2 Jun 2012, 18:12 pm
14 points in 5 min will do it ?
2 Jun 2012, 18:13 pm
Why did this inept ref call Roodt back? This turnaround started there.
2 Jun 2012, 18:14 pm
Wow, that may be a great try.
2 Jun 2012, 18:15 pm
Hate it when people count chickens before they hatch.
2 Jun 2012, 18:15 pm
Shame, it’s not.
2 Jun 2012, 18:15 pm
Any idea anyone why Spencer and Mitch always wear the same pink collar tops at every single game??
2 Jun 2012, 18:16 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-107:
I dont thinks he was held i agree
2 Jun 2012, 18:16 pm
“Vok” says Keegan.
Potty mouth
2 Jun 2012, 18:18 pm
Debutant Lions 11 – looks ok
2 Jun 2012, 18:18 pm
@JackShanghai(JackShanghai)-111:
Their shirts get washed with the team jerseys
2 Jun 2012, 18:18 pm
this is what mallett was talking about…2 penalties from the dup boys.
2 Jun 2012, 18:19 pm
TMO time
I dont think so?
2 Jun 2012, 18:19 pm
how thick is Bismarck giving that penalty away.
2 Jun 2012, 18:21 pm
Chch
They fashion forward?
2 Jun 2012, 18:22 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-113:
His favourite word again
2 Jun 2012, 18:23 pm
Michalak trying his hand at acting there.
2 Jun 2012, 18:23 pm
michalak pulling a hollywood
2 Jun 2012, 18:23 pm
last 5 min Lions deserve these 3 points
2 Jun 2012, 18:25 pm
That was a penalty actually
2 Jun 2012, 18:25 pm
butch is kak
2 Jun 2012, 18:28 pm
They need to change that rule
Intentional knock on to get the penalty should be a scrum
2 Jun 2012, 18:29 pm
Sharks not protecting ball
Lions dont kick it away keep the ball
Especially a turn over
2 Jun 2012, 18:29 pm
And quick tap should forfeit the 10m rule.
2 Jun 2012, 18:30 pm
sharks scored 2 tries in 4min and plum is going for speed now with kanko & burden.
2 Jun 2012, 18:34 pm
Derick Minnie should be in the Bok setup.. yster!
2 Jun 2012, 18:34 pm
how is cilliers supposed to bind when beast is scrumming skew?
2 Jun 2012, 18:35 pm
C’mon Lions hahahahahahaha
2 Jun 2012, 18:35 pm
Plenty of time for Sharks still
2 Jun 2012, 18:36 pm
NZ ref could still play a big part here
Which AB buddy paid him his pre game dues
Mitch or Plum?
Come on Lions 10 to go one more try will just do the trick
2 Jun 2012, 18:36 pm
@>^..^< katman(katman)-128:
Yes again
2 Jun 2012, 18:37 pm
This is exactly why I want the Kings in Super Rugby. The Lions have been bad much of the season but wait until a local derby to put a dent into the Sharks’ playoff hopes.
Having said that, this sort of result will take some pressure off us.
2 Jun 2012, 18:39 pm
Should have taken the 3 still plenty of time
2 Jun 2012, 18:39 pm
Why is chch ignoring me.
2 Jun 2012, 18:41 pm
And where is doppies
2 Jun 2012, 18:42 pm
Now is the time for the Lion to be very disciplined
2 Jun 2012, 18:43 pm
Ai this black on black violence
2 Jun 2012, 18:43 pm
Pop pop pop!
2 Jun 2012, 18:43 pm
JP has been outplayed by Lionel the whole day now he wants to moer him.. twice
2 Jun 2012, 18:43 pm
Black & White f**king dynamited themselves
2 Jun 2012, 18:44 pm
No grounding of ball there – touch judge is delusional
2 Jun 2012, 18:44 pm
Should have taken the 3 again ?
2 Jun 2012, 18:45 pm
Do today the bubble has popped.
2 Jun 2012, 18:45 pm
Would have been 4 points shy
Just one try at the end for the win ?
2 Jun 2012, 18:45 pm
4 easy penalties not kicked by Sharks……silly silly
2 Jun 2012, 18:45 pm
Try saving tackle by Elton!
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