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

  • 31

    Pen Lions. Centre Field. 30 Out.

    Jantjies makes it.

    Lions on the board in the 28th minute.

  • 32

    Kick Off Touch in Goal.

    Scrum on centre spot to Lions.

  • 33

    hoekom lyk dit vir my asof die leeue nie die selle intensietyd as laas week het nie?

  • 34

    Force look dangerous with ball in hand and appear to be targetting Mapoes side of the field.

  • 35

    48 Chris Paterson can’t add the extras, but at 11-8 the home team has the lead again.

    47 TRY – Nick De Luca gets the first try at Murrayfield since November 2009 – yes folks it has been 18 months since Scotland scored a try on their home ground. It was a well-worked move of a scrum, through the phases to the left.

  • 36

    @ smallies72:
    smallies jou span het daardie intensiteit gesteel en vandag gebruik

  • 37

    Penalty Lions. Centre field.

    Jantjies slots it.

    Lions 6 – Force 11. 6 minutes remain in 1st half.

  • 38

    skielik dink ek ons het goed gedoen om hom te laat gaan

  • 39

    Penalty Lions. Centre Field. 5 Inside the Force Half.

    Jantjies for poles again.

    Misses. Still 6 – 11.

  • 40

    Another long penalty Lions.

    OVER. 9 – 11.

    Last minute of 1st half.

  • 41

    Penalty Force after the hooter.

    Murray not rolling away.

    O’Conner for poles. 15 in Near side. Over.

    Half time. Lions 9 – Force 14.

  • 42

    Goeie wen gewees vanoggend Smallies, Man, dit voel goed waneer jou span jou vertroue in hulle regverdig!!! Was awesome performance, en ek is net jammer ons het nou weer vir Strauss verloor, maar Sias het goed gelyk….

    Die Cheetah span gaan nog beter speel!!!

    Gaan Leeeusss!! En gaan Bulle!!! Moet ongellukig kant kies, en ek is al lank deur die Storpies se snedige aanmerkings en groot pratery getreiter.

    Tyd dat hulle bietjie aarde toe kom!!!

  • 43

    60 Scotland pushing hard, but the Italian defence holds firm … for now.

    59 Another sloppy Italian line-out – this is costly to the visitors.

    58 Italy win a penalty at the tackle and their enthusiasm says they still believe they can win.

    56 Chris Paterson adds the conversion and it is a 10-point game – 18-8

    55 TRY – Nikki Walker splits the Italian defence wide open and strolls over for a nother try. It took them 18 months, but now it is raining Scottish tries.

  • 44

    64 The Italian runners still making good ground, but again a knock-on ends a promising move inside the Scottish 22.

    62 Brilliant turnover won by Robert Barbieri, just metres from his line, stopping a very threatening Scottish raid.

  • 45

    Good afternoon all, just in and seems like have missed loads of rugby today, heard the half time score so its great to see Scotland in the lead 🙂

  • 46

    67 Now Italy concede a penalty near their ownb 22 and this could be the game here!

    66 More of the same – the Azzurri go through the pahses and then turn the ball over inside the Scottish half.

  • 47

    And as I posted previous one Paterson kicks the penalty over Scotland 21 – 8!

  • 48

    68 Chris Paterson lands the penalty and with 12 minutes to go a 13-point lead (21-8) seems just too much for the Azzurri.

  • 49

    Penalty Lions. 32 Out, 13 in from near side.

    Jantjies kicks. Misses again.

  • 50

    If the Lions somehow lose this game you will hear them calling for Jantjes’s head

  • 51

    77 Luke McLean breaks clean through and 5m from the line loses the ball – the story of the day for the Italians.

  • 52

    Lions pressing.

  • 53

    vd Merwe knocks. 5m Scrum Force.

    Missed chance for the Lions.

  • 54

    O’Conner yellow. Infringement in the Red Zone.

    Penalty Lions. Jantjies for poles in front.

    OVER.

    12 – 14.

  • 55

    80 But it was not to be – the Italian dream has been shattered and Scotland ended their drought with two tries and a first win for the season. That’s full-time.

  • 57

    Lions squander 3 points.
    Force scrum. Own 22. 5 m in on the near side.
    Clearance misses touch. Gary Owen.
    Lions recover the ball and run it,

  • 58

    Great to win today, means we don’t have the wooden spoon but at the start of the 6 nations I had higher hopes but hey at least we end with a win. Congratulations to the Cheetahs fans looks like you had a big win against the Waratahs. Now come on Lions!

  • 59

    Drop Jantjies after sustained pressure.

    Lions lead 15 – 14.

  • 60

    Hero to zero!

    Jantjies gets run over in the tackle, and the Lions concede the try.

    The conversion is good and the Force lead again.

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