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
Go Lions. Hope Lions beat the Force.
Weather don’t look good up there.
dankie dankie dankie ek het nooit getwyfel nie……
Scotland plays Italy, who will bet against the Italians now?
2 Scotland make all the early running and Sean Lamont carves the Italian defence up. Scotland are just metres from the line, bashing away throiugh their forwards.
4 Chris Paterson lines up at posts from 25m out and he slots the penalty for a 3-0 lead.
Rain now almost stopped at the ground with 25mins until kock off, but the field is very wet.
14 The Italian line-out is a mess, they have lost their first four throws now. But the Scottish defence is letting them down as they concede another penalty.
12 Mirco Bergamasco hits the upright and Italy lead 5-3
11 TRY – Andrea Masi busts the Scxottish defence wide open, swatting Max Evans away like a fly.
I’d bet money that Mitchell would give anything to win this game, but the weather could make a lottery of the proceedings.
Let’s hope the storm moves North to Loftus. Hehehehe.
Crowd slowly staring to fill up, but honestly don’t expect too many people here tonight.
Crowd now being entertained by Mendoza.
And the sound is frankly k@k!
Last time out PJ Powers butchered “World in Union” over the Coca-Cola Park PA system, this time Mendoza is butchering his own song!
This PA system is really not designed for live music!
This is really not the type of entertainment that will bring families flocking to downtown Doornfontein IMHO, but hey WTF do I know?
Hmm, recent form between thje 2 sides with the Aussies.
Not really surprising given the Lions form of the last 3-4 years.
Hopefully Mitchell has their number.
VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!
23 Another Italian raid ends in heartache, as Mirco Bergamasco fails to secure possession and hands the ball back to Scotland.
22 Italy take it through a few phases, before the Scots win a crucial turnover.
20 From the restart the Italians start to run at the Scots and then the inevitable penalty comes, near halfway in the middle of the field.
18 Chris Paterson regains the lead for Scotland, 6-5 as he slots the penalty
17 Scotland pund away at the Italian line and eventually win a penalty, but the try still eludes them.
17 Scotland pound away at the Italian line and eventually win a penalty, but the try still eludes them.
-10 The Gautengers are in their traditional Red kit a white and yellow trim while the Force are wearing their light blue kit for this match.
-6 In the past hour we have had thunder and lightning and rain though out the day, but that should not put a damper on todays game.
Looks like the Lions “rent a soccer crowd” are here again in their predominantly Chiefs shirts.
Wonder what the Lions pay them?
31 Mirco Bergamasco slots the penalty as Italy takes the lead again – 8-6
30 Simon Danielli penalised for not rolling away in the tackle.
29 Scotland penalised for collapsing the maul.
28 Now Scotland are penalised at the scrum.
26 The Italiansare penalised at the breakdown again, but then the Scots are pinged for a forward pass. The game has gone a bit scrappy.
Force kick off. Deep.
game on.
Game started
33 The referee is caught in the middle of the Italian backline and brings a promising move to and end, as he touches the ball.
35 The scrum is reset several times and takes over two minutes to complete. It ends with a penalty to Scotland.
38 Now Martin Castrogiovanni is penalised for not releasing the ball in the tackle.
36 All the good work is undone as Sean Lamont is pinged for obstruction.
Mapoe left with an overlap to defend and his defence is caught lacking.
Nick Cummins try in the corner.
O’Conner misses the conversion.
40 Scotland win a penalty as Carlo Del Fava holds onto the ball in the tackle. Chris Paterson lines up from just over 40m out, on the angle, and hooks it badly as the hooter for half-time goes. See you in 10 minutes.
Pakistan 120/4 (27.0 ov)
Pakistan require another 57 runs with 6 wickets and 23.0 overs remaining
O’Conner slots a Pen for the force. 8 points up after 13.ints
komaan leeue!!!!!
The second half is underway! between Scotland and Italy
Another O’Conner Penalty takes the Force to an 11 point lead
Lions haveing a shocker.
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