Lions rattle Cheetahs
26 Jan 2013
The Lions beat an inconsistent Cheetahs side 33-17 in a pre-season fixture played at Ellis Park on Saturday.
It was an encouraging first-half display by the Cheetahs, but ultimately they will lament their inability to maintain that form over an 80-minute period.
It’s clear that there’s been a concerted effort to improve their defence in the off-season, as despite missing a host of first-choice players, they were able to produce an aggressive and organised display in the face of a relentless Lions attack.
The Lions dominated territory and possession initially, but were undone by their own handling errors as well as the Cheetahs’ smart work at the breakdown. The visitors were especially effective in this department, slowing the Lions’ ruck recycle and in several instances making a turnover.
As was to be expected in the first game of the season, the Cheetahs were not absolutely accurate. They conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown, and Raymond Rhule was yellow carded in the 20th minute for a dangerous tackle.
The Cheetahs enjoyed more attacking opportunities as the match progressed, with Rhule scoring on his return from the sin bin and Hennie Daniller rounding off a well-worked move. This good work was undone, however, when their defence lapsed and conceded two quick tries in succession.
As the game entered the final quarter, it was the turn of the Lions to showcase some defensive mettle. They withstood a determined Cheetahs barrage from point blank range, and then eventually secured the turnover that would allow them to clear their lines.
A high hanging kick then went unfielded by the Cheetahs, and Lionel Cronje managed to collect the bouncing ball and extend the hosts’ lead. Cronje sparked the decisive try moments later when he intercepted a pass on his own 22m line, and then found Stokkie Hannekom with a clever offload.
66 Comments
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27 Jan 2013, 09:26 am
Would be interested to read Gordon Gecko’s and sidekick Slappes’s opinion on this game.
27 Jan 2013, 11:42 am
Meaningless game, my Cheetahs 2nd team got some match practice against an inferior, amateur team… Superugby is not for sissies / lions. Wonder how many was in attendance at hillbrow park? LoL
27 Jan 2013, 12:54 pm
Not so much a second team, I’m afraid. A few missing, but very much a first team minus half a handful. And up against what pretty much amounted to a Lions second and third team, if you consider who they had last year and who played yesterday. So not very encouraging for the States.
27 Jan 2013, 13:00 pm
@katman-53:
Fair comments.
27 Jan 2013, 13:04 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-54: I always try to be fair in my comments and balanced in my opinion.
27 Jan 2013, 13:12 pm
Naka will be playing this song after yesterday’s game:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAH6Zt30n58
27 Jan 2013, 13:33 pm
@Slappes-52: there are more people in a filled Ellis Park than in the whole of Bloem – who goes to rugby to watch the states anyway – a few fat men on harley’s and their equally as fat women riding at the back of those hogs? Man o man I do feel sorry for those bikes.
27 Jan 2013, 13:41 pm
@RL-57:
True
Attendance in Bloemfontein is unusually poor for most of their matches, and has been for many years.
Will be interesting to see how many in PE attend now that they are back in the big leagues.
I hope they fill the stadium as they have been asking for this for a long time, now it’s time for them to deliver.
27 Jan 2013, 13:55 pm
Oh dear.
Cronje and Coetzee were both excellent.
Cheeters looked lost at times.
This lions team right now would embraboer the kings horribly.
27 Jan 2013, 15:25 pm
i think they did a little more than ‘rattle’ the cheetahs.
27 Jan 2013, 16:17 pm
@hendrikp-43: get your point
27 Jan 2013, 16:20 pm
@brains_trust-48: that guy is a real smug. There’s no regret there, only regret because he has been caught out. His eyes are cold.
28 Jan 2013, 09:10 am
Dit is nou al ‘n paar seisoene wat die Cheetahs so sukkel, maar daar’s geen druk op Naka om te perform nie?????
28 Jan 2013, 09:48 am
@katman-55: Not quite true. Except for Boom Prinsloo 1 to 10 wasn’t the first choice. And Sadie and Willie also didn’t play.
BUT this is quality players, as they all showed during the game, but the unknown combinations really showed in the second half.
Four tries that was given to the Lions in a very strange manner. I’m sorry, but there was definitely some kind of agreement made about this game. The ‘supposed intercepts’ and ‘turn-overs’ just looked unnatural. I really hope I’m wrong, but it was just too fishy. And that just after the two unions supposedly ‘cleared the air’. But… won’t mention it again. Congrats Lions. Have fun.
28 Jan 2013, 12:52 pm
@Bouts-64: Ja, you go with that story if it works for you. The tries were “arranged”…
28 Jan 2013, 13:03 pm
@Bouts-64: Bouts what and idiotic and stupid thing to say are you a nosepicker, the referee might have missed a few thing but to come out and say they cheats shows your ignorance. I have watched the game again and the referee was not bad at all. I suppose you always blame the referee every time your team loses.
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