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
2 Jun 2012, 19:03 pm
@FckU2(FckU2)-187: Classic!
2 Jun 2012, 19:05 pm
Well played Lions !
2 Jun 2012, 19:05 pm
Ag all just ignore Hondo
He’s just weird
2 Jun 2012, 19:05 pm
Sharks diabolical
Why they did not play tight like last week, I will never know. Arrogance perhaps.
Anyway, take a bow Lions! Well played, why have you not played like that all season?
2 Jun 2012, 19:06 pm
Late callup for Franco vdMerwe to replace the injured Bekker maybe? He had a huge game.
2 Jun 2012, 19:06 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-198:
Coach,
There was no defence structure for the Lions, it’s an indication by itself!
2 Jun 2012, 19:08 pm
Bullet 204 – these things take time to achieve – Ive felt the Lions have been on track for some time, but just had rotten bad luck – a good example was Taute’s injury last weekend – robbed their backline of momentum at a critical point. But its all academic now isnt it? The Kings are the political flavour of the new century it seems.
2 Jun 2012, 19:08 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-205:
He has played well but HM will pick Plip on the bench maybe?
2 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm
@greybeard(greybeard)-186: @CoachPete(CoachPete)-193:
unfortunately 1 win, even though it was a brilliant display from the them tonight, will not change the fact that the Lions have been dismal for most of the season, let alone the past few years…
2 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm
I can’t believe skinstadt criticized franco vd merwe for stealing the lineout ball from the sharks 5 metros out in the 74 minute…??
revealing his true colours…
2 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm
well done Lions a deserved victory, Sharks were pathetic and took this match as an easy victory, they do not on that performance deserve to be in the play off later on in the year,
2 Jun 2012, 19:09 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-206:
Yes at time I agree It was a well taken try for Sharks
Did you look at the score again ?
2 Jun 2012, 19:13 pm
This win against the Sharks was sweet! And I said this week the Lions are due!
2 Jun 2012, 19:18 pm
Very well played Lions.Absolutely puts political decision into perspective.
My team(Sharks)prospects of play off now stuffed.
Good for SA rugby.Lots of reputations shattered.Strauss of Cheetahs
for Bok no 2.
The amphibian(Louis something) will probably show onanistic glee.
As always he misses the point,which is Bok rugby.
Got to feel for the frayed curtains/sheets/towels.
Once again,and with good grace,;:Well played Lions”
2 Jun 2012, 19:19 pm
Anyone still here punting JP for centre needs to be slapped….. HARD.
Mapoe made him ***** and then old windgat wanted to fight. Pffft..
CJ, Callie and Pat made that Bok front row look average.
Well done Lions.
2 Jun 2012, 19:21 pm
Ehe aha – say what whillis?
2 Jun 2012, 19:23 pm
JP good – lions got their players back from injury – cj and cilliers both better props than jan dup – cilliers totally underrated cos of his size but he damn good modern prop.
2 Jun 2012, 19:41 pm
lambie is an average player not the best at anything he does..Thought id
get that out there before i hear anymore more messiah comparisons
2 Jun 2012, 19:55 pm
Time for Van Zyl & Plumtree to move on
2 Jun 2012, 20:08 pm
At least the Sharks wont have to worry about the Lions next year.
A bit of a bogey side at the moment.
2 Jun 2012, 20:08 pm
good on you sharkslover and rye…
genuine gentlemen…!
sincere commiserations… the feeling is still fresh in my mind…
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Agh man. Why is Ndungane complainin. It is fake hair ffs, not real.
2 Jun 2012, 20:59 pm
Eish sharks nooot good!! Not even a losing bonus point
2 Jun 2012, 21:00 pm
Well played Lions. Good win. Deserved it totally.
Why Sharks played a expansive game against the Lions is just crazy. A Lions team against the wall and nothing to lose were ALWAYS going to run everyting against us. Sharks why the heck not play a similar game plan like last week? Jeepers if only I knew, really why run it from everywhere against the Lions? They were surely going to be up for it. Good on Mitchell, he worked us out.
Lions I feel for you and your supporters, no way ever should your team be relegated ever. Hope it is sorted out. Was really good to see many supporters at Ellis Park even if it was mostly Sharks supporters. What a pity if Ellis Park can’t hold anymore SuperRugby next year. They should still be in the mix. Lions have had so many injuries this year and it is a shame that they are dealt this blow. So WELL DONE LIONS. YOU beat my Sharks well and true tonight. All the best for next year, really hope your team is still in SuperRugby. They should be. If only not for the injuries they would have been far better this SuperRugby.
After Sharks loss tonight, they don’t deserve to be in the play offs. WE should have played it tight, tight in a derby game. Go for the win instead of being arrogant going for the 5 points. Eish! my Sharks that was disrespectful and we paid the price.
Now may the best team win against Bulls and Stormers. Which ever team wins hope truely we can put those kiwis away. One of those teams will have to travel, that alone puts us on the backfoot. Just hope we can. From here on we all support you. Just want a saffa team to win this.
Go Stormers and Bulls. Fly the saffa flag high boys. We all supporting you now our teams are out.
Go get em for all of us!
2 Jun 2012, 23:45 pm
Well done Lions. Good to see a result go your way. Congratulations for sticking to your guns. I hope this propels you to new heights.
3 Jun 2012, 00:33 am
@Puma(Puma)-224:
“Why Sharks played a expansive game against the Lions is just crazy.”
All they needed to do was turn up, play an expensive game, score four tries and collect 5 points…remember!!!
Well, that was HG’s take on the game.
Really came back and bite TRUE Shark supporters in the arse.
Commiserations Puma.
At least we kept the door open for your boys by beating the Pink Moegoes.
SSTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
3 Jun 2012, 00:47 am
These Lionscunts must now fuckoff straight out of Super Rugby… Kings are forgiven…
3 Jun 2012, 00:54 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-227:
Well this time last week you had posted about 100 posts bagging everyone, saying this is the time…Sharks time and after a loss, nothing but one post, and its a sore losing one at that.
Lions played well, you honestly have to congratulate the Lions teams and there supporters.
Sharks team has shown the inconsistency that plagues the Boks.
Losing to teams they shouldnt time and time again.
Anyway glad the Lions pulled this one out the bag.
Good for my Hurricanes team
3 Jun 2012, 00:55 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-227: Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bass.
Name of the band is The Human Race.
HG tell me have you heard? POP! goes your world…
3 Jun 2012, 00:57 am
@Puma(Puma)-224:
Good post Puma.
But the last bit, all teams travelling puts them on the backfoot. Hope you just dont mean South African teams.
3 Jun 2012, 00:59 am
It isnt over for the Sharks…
The Lionscunts deserved the win but fuckme they are a cowardly bunch ofpricks if ever I saw go over to australasia and get shagged silly before coming back to SA…
Wonder how much they going to sell themselves to the Stormers… Pick a score hey?
Fuckingcowardlycunts…
But they “deserved” their win tonight…
Farken infuriating fuckwits
3 Jun 2012, 01:00 am
@nama1(nama1)-226:
There are true Sharks supporters and then there are the true arrogant Sharks supporters.
All teams have those supporters.
They are easy to spot. Puma is a true Shark Supporter and then there is the other one….. HG
3 Jun 2012, 01:01 am
Sharks have now relinquished to spot… and we know the Lionscunts will take a big fat Cape Town bribe to roll over for the Mountain Goat Gaylords…
Fark I am so pissedoff with these Rooibont farken cowardlyfcks…
3 Jun 2012, 01:01 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-231:
Well HG, correct. First line is the truth.
It is not over yet for the Sharks.
But are you mad?
3 Jun 2012, 01:01 am
Jenny played keyboard, Johnny played drums,
Called Little Baby and a big Bonhomme.
Everybody tell me have you heard? Pop Goes HGs World…
3 Jun 2012, 01:02 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-233:
Well HG, settle down, it aint over.
Hurricanes well help you guys by taking out Saders and Chiefs
Thank me after that.
3 Jun 2012, 01:03 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-232: Fuckoff Hurricunt… What thefck do you know about “support” anyway… This was a game between 2 Saffa sides… That means this thread doesnt include you…
Fcken illiterate whale hugging twat…
3 Jun 2012, 01:04 am
Fucken hate Kiwis… Serious…
I farkthemup them for fun… Especially farken BP afflicted fat cannibal ones.
3 Jun 2012, 01:05 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-237:
hahaha
And yet i see you putting your 2 cent worth in against 2 Kiwi sides.
Anyway all good HG, normally you dont post after a loss.
Good to see you on mate.
3 Jun 2012, 01:05 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-236: A cold day in maori hell before that happens… Fckwit
3 Jun 2012, 01:06 am
No wonder Msimi (whatever) hate Lions… they always make him look like a tool with his bs comments.
I see even old Dusky congratulated the Lions. I was expecting another bomber of an excuse.
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-227: Lions sure put a halt to that Sharks hype train. Too be honest I think those games against the Stormers and Cheetahs was tough and it started to show. Still Lions was good that first 40.
3 Jun 2012, 01:06 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-236: A cold day in maori hell before that happens… Fckwit
3 Jun 2012, 01:10 am
I’m keeping an eye out for this Anthonie Volminck kid.
3 Jun 2012, 01:11 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-242:
It is cold here as well.
About 14 degrees.
Heat pumps on full blast.
3 Jun 2012, 01:11 am
It goes something like this: P P P P P P POP!
3 Jun 2012, 01:11 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-239: When… Tell me when I comment between 2 Kiwi sides… Cant be bothered actually… Bores the shitout of me…
Since you fcking Aussie kissing cousins fckedup the season nicely and hence fcked up our Currie Cup six love this has to take its place in time… Dont give a flyingshyte about Kiwi/Aussie teams unless they face my team or a Saffa team in the knockouts…
3 Jun 2012, 01:12 am
Johnny and Jenny had a crazy dream,
See their pictures in a magazine.
Every little boy needs a girl.
Pop Goes HGs World.
3 Jun 2012, 01:13 am
@virvarksteaks(virvarksteaks)-245: Whats your story lobotomy… Huh?
What you, a supporter as cowardly and brain dead as your Lions team, or a farken gerbil infested Breezer having a cheap thrill after a freaky win…
3 Jun 2012, 01:14 am
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-246:
OK. Take it you wont be posting in this years Super 15 final…… two kiwi teams
3 Jun 2012, 01:14 am
@virvarksteaks(virvarksteaks)-247: Chrissakes… you probably sokkie to that liedjie too, eh?
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.