Lions (9) 15 /  Western Force (14) 27 (Final Score)

Scorers:

Lions : 4 Penalties & 1 Drop Goal Elton Jantjes

Western Force : 5 Penalties James O’Connor, 1 Conversion Cameron Shepherd, 1 Try Nick Cummins,  1 Try Alfie Mafi

Teams:

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael  Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Rory  Kockott, 8 Warren Whitely, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6  Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4  Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2  Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Kevin  Buys, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Deon van Rensburg.

Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Alfie Mafi, 13 Nick Cummins, 12 Gene Fairbanks, 11 David Smith, 10 James O’Connor, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Richard Brown, 5 Nathan Sharpe (captain), 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Ben Whittaker, 1 Pek Cowan.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Charles, 17 Kieran Longbottom, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Tevita Metuisela, 20 James Stannard, 21 Matt Brandon, 22 Pat Dellit.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

The flicker of hope that has been burning in Johannesburg has sprung into a raging fire.

John Mitchell’s pride have converted their early season promise to tangible reward with their first win in Super Rugby since May 2009 – ending a 17-match losing streak.

The Western Force, without star performer David Pocock, will have to overcome the emotional scars of having let victory slip away for the second time in three matches – again leading going into the final 10 minutes before the Blues snatched the draw with the final kick of the game.

Nathan Sharpe will have the tough task of lifting a team that at times seems to have an over-reliance on the vast array of skills from their star back, James O’Connor.

Western Force coach Richard Graham, who was an assistant to Lions coach John Mitchell before the latter moved to Johannesburg last year, has no illusions about the enormity of the task awaiting the tourists.

“They support the ball well, and for us, we need to be very disciplined if we are to beat them at the weekend,” Graham told rugby365.com.

He made it clear the “discipline” he refers yo go well beyond just conceding penalties.

“It is being disciplined about our attacking structure, making our tackles, and getting back in line.

“They hold the ball for long periods of time and we are going to have to work for everything we get.”

Recent results:
2010: Force won 33-12, Johannesburg
2009: Force won 55-14, Perth
2008: Force won 18-16, Johannesburg
2007: Lions won 25-24, Perth
2006: Lions and Force drew 34-34, Johannesburg

78 Responses to Super Rugby: Lions vs Western Force – Game Thread

  • 61

    Pakistan won by 4 wickets against Australia (with 54 balls remaining)

  • 62

    Liopns seem vunerable to the counter and don’t seem to be able to tackle the ball carrier coming at speed.

    Penalty Force, centre field. 30 out.

    Over. Lions 15 – Force 24.

  • 63

    Jantjies is treated the same way Rose was treated, really sad to hear the boooes sad indeed. Send him to the Bulls we wil make him a man, can not believe the Supporters are so impatient.

  • 64

    Penalty Force. Over.

    Force lead by 12 with 10 to play.

  • 65

    @ smallies, I don’t know the extent of Strauss’s injury, looked like a shoulder, I hope not!! He has been immense, and according to the Aussie commentators he was the top man in the tackle stats thusfar!!

    Go Cheetahs!!

  • 66

    @ superBul:
    Agree SB, but he has had a bit of a shocker.

  • 67

    Lions don’t look like they’ll get anything out of this game!

  • 68

    Worse game by the Lions thus far this season.

    Juvenile mistakes everywhere.

  • 69

    How the hell did the Cheetahs

  • 70

    How the hell did the Cheetahs lose to this rubbish?

  • 71

    Helloooooooo

    Arghhhh Lions losing again!

    Went to the Top Gear Road Show at Kyalami…. not even halfway into the show the rain came down in a torrential downpour, show got suspended and eventually cancelled.

    Drenched to the bone, we headed back via the Park and Ride facilities to the vehicles… luckily I had dry clothes in the car, including my beloved Bulls shirt.

    What a massive cock-up…. would have been an awesome show.

    Goooooo Bulls!

  • 72

    Force were poor. Lions were miserable.

    Poor handling from both sides, but the Lions backline seemed to have no penetration whatsoever.

    Disappointing to say the least.

  • 73

    @ grootblousmile:
    Nou beter ek saam die familie gaan kuier of ek is dood, hier is n huis vol mense en ek chat dat die biesies bewe. Ek sal die Bulle game so met een oog bekyk

  • 74

    James O’Conner MOTM.

  • 75

    @ grootblousmile:
    Are you at Loftus?

  • 76

    73@ superBul:
    Nou maar gaan kuier, dankie dat jy kaptein was vir die laaste 2 games.

    Goooooooo Bulls!

  • 77

    Vark, thisd is going to be a k@k match report to write.

    Very few highlights.

  • 78

    75@ Loosehead:
    Yebo, yes!

    Just going to get some of the buffet, be back now

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