Highlanders (22) 39 / Lions (17) 29 (final score)

The Highlanders hosted the Lions at the House of Pain, Dunedin at 08:35 on Friday morning. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA. The Highlanders won 39 / 29 with both sides earning a bonus point for tries scored.

Scores:

Highlanders: 6 Penalties  3 Conversions Israel Dagg, 1 Try Hayden Triggs, 1 Try Kenny Lynn, 1 Penalty Try

Lions: 1 Conversion Carlos Spencer, 1 Try Michael Killian, 1 Try Cobus Grobbelaar, 2 Tries Wigan Pekeur, 1 Try JP Joubert, 1 Conversion Earl Rose

 

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 James Paterson, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Hayden Triggs, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.

Replacements: 16. Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Joe Tuineau, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Jason Shoemark, 22 Fetu’u Vainikolo.

 

Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Charles Emslie, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose.

 

Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

249 Responses to Highlanders vs Lions – Game Thread

  • 241

    OK, over to the Brumbies Thread.

  • 242

    235 – Saint, They at the Lions must get the right people in to help. Defence coach, for a start that would help. Do they have a forward coach, a scrum coach? Just asking as I have no idea. If not then they need to get the best money can buy.

    Remember that huge, huge hiding Reds got from Bulls in 2007? Well they never lay down and came back the next year to beat the Bulls. We need the Lions to get up from where they are and to that. They have some exciting players but need some more coaching not just from Muir, he wont turn it around on his own.

    Look at Reds now just 3 years ago we all laughed at them getting the biggest hiding in Super Rugby. They could land up in a semi this year. They have a superb coach this year too.

  • 243

    #242

    That is so true Puma, start of the year, the Reds and the Lions were in the same boat, new coaches, unknown players etcetera. But the Reds have proven what can be achieved through intelligent coaching.

    Yes the players also play a part, but the Reds field the same team, week in and week out, they back their youngsters, and have belief in their structures, the Lions on the other hand doesn’t even have any structures at the moment.

    Oh, yes the Lions have a forward coach, Johan Ackerman, but I seriously doubt his credentials. He was a so-so player to start with. Buys, Janse van rensburgm Van der Merwe are brilliant props, and he can’t even get them right. As I said before, get rid of the dead wood, and import people who add value.

  • 244

    guys the problem here is not the coaching but the players

    look at rose how poor?

    look at that wing miss the ball to dot down and stop a try , freaking useless , you can have the best coaches in the world , but put so so players in a team and you will nev er get desired results

  • 245

    243 – Saint, Agree there they really have to get rid of who not is really working well for them there. There really is no stars in their side and to score 5 tries against a kiwi side (even if is is the bottom of the kiwi teams) is something really. Not many can do just that unless they have some big names in their side. Now if they got the right defence, forward, scrum coach they could work on that for next year. I hope to see them turn it around. I remember with L. Mains he got them right up there. Would like to see the Lions back up, really would.

  • 246

    244 – Sharky, Yes but they don’t really have the best. Where is their defence coach? They don’t have one. Those mistakes cost I know. Basics really. They have to work on them. No big names in that side. Sharks took 3 of their top players and their best went to WP. For now they playing with no big names and still scored 5 tries against the Landers. If they had the discipline they would have won. Even with their poor defence and handling errors.
    Discipline is what cost them today. They need to work on that.

    I really feel for this team. The bashing they getting from everywhere really can not be good for the players.

    Anyhow proud to see them get 5 tries but sad really they lost, getting 5 tries should have won it for them. Discipline and more discipline is needed and of course defence. Let us see how they go in the CC. They need to work on it there.

    Watching Reunion last night and listening to the kiwi commentators saying the ref for the Sharks/Canes game tomorrow, they have huge doubts about him. They just never seemed to trust him as a ref. Well that is how it seemed to me. Also heard Mexted say something similar while the Lions game was going on. So who is the ref for our game tomorrow? Just hope we don’t have another ref that costs us. Going to be tough as it is to play the Canes.

  • 247

    Hmmm, Lions still winless.

    Could be an interesting meeting in Doornfontein on Monday evening.

  • 248

    exactly what i said puma , they dont have stars , they dont have the right players,
    players like rose will not change , he has always been a bad defender

    its seriously not so much about the coaching,
    its about having mostly 2nde teer players that are no better then vodacom cup quality

    and i am not saying all the players but most, if they want to become a force they need to have more stars

    the Sharks are slightly in a simular boat with their backline, not many stars thus the problems we have had

  • 249

    248 – Sharky, Lions need to scout then to buy some good players. Sharks too. Then look we played our youngster Lambie and he was superb last week. Who else do we have fromt he youngsters coming through? I think that is where we need to be looking.

    Also Mvovo has never ever been given a chance. Before we know it he wont have had enough rugby to be good enough. He is already 24. Need to start playing the youngsters now. Just looking at the Brumbies they had two younsters come in and played superb. They our future.

    Heard Naas last night on Boots saying that watch out for Lambie for WC!!! He was serious. (hope the selectors take note thought) I tell you that youngster is the real deal. Hope he has another cracker tomorrow.

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