The Lions tore the Springbok laden Sharks team apart last night in the Neo Africa Tri Series.The Lions outscored the Sharks by 6 tries to 2.
The Lions started the new season off on a high scoring an empathic 41-10 victory over the Sharks in a Neo Africa Tri Series match on Tuesday night.
The Johannesburg squad ran in six tries to one, with five of them coming in the second half of the match.
It was slightly ironic that on the same day the Lions announced the signing of Butch James, fellow fly-half Burton Francis was one of the standout performers for the Lions.
The Sharks were first to put points on the board when Patrick Lambie dived over for the first try of the match, but still the quality of rugby played in the early stages of the match did not impress the 3 000 odd spectators.
Lions fly-half Andre Pretorius eventually opened the team’s tally with a penalty and just before the siren flank Derick Mini ensured the Johannesburg side took the lead, shoved over the line by his pack.
Unlike the first 40 minutes, the second half provided great entertainment with the Lions, playing with a real sense of urgency and was rewarded for their efforts when eighth-man Warren Whitely dotted down as a result of impressive handling skills by his team mates.
Burton Francis nailed the conversion to give his side a 17-5 lead from where they could play with more confidence.
That confidence resulted in the Lions’ third try of the evening.
This time fullback Jaco Taute chipped the ball through the Sharks backline and followed up to make it 22-5.
Francis was rock solid with his conversion and it became clear that the match was slipping away from the Currie Cup champions.
Eventually Springbok newcomer Lwazi Mvovo managed to restore some pride for the Sharks with a textbook finish, but the Lions pack needed only crack at the opposition’s line to wipe out the gain that had Mvovo made.
In what would have been a bonus point try in Super Rugby terms for the Lions, skipper Franco van der Merwe emerged with ball-in-hand and his pack duly forced him over the line.
And just to add salt in the Sharks’ wounds replacements Caylib Oosthuizen and Michael Killian added two more tries to the embarrassing score line.
Final score Sharks 10 (5) Lions 41 (10)
Scorers
Sharks
Tries – Patrick Lambie, Lwazi Mvovo.
Lions
Tries Derick Mini, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Taute, Franco van der Merwe, Cylib Oosthuizen, Michael Killian.
Conversions – Burton Francis (4).
Penalty – Andre Pretorius (1)
I kn ow that not much should be read into these games, but this is the Sharks strongest 15 available.
I can’t wait for the S15 game against the Cheetahs.
This result can only put the Lions in a good mental state going forward.
Sure it’s a warm up game that every coach will tell anyone who’ll listen that it doesn’t really count for much, but deep down no coach wants to lose any match, and certainly not by 6 tries to 2.
Well done Lions, now prove to me it’s not a flash in the pan please.
Damn, it looks like the Lions tore the Sharks a new oriface last night!!
6 tries to 2
Interesting times, indeed.
if i’m correct
then
this was the sharks’ first game
and
the second for the lions
..
naaah, wont read too much into it!!
#4
but
on the other hand
their can be a lot read into the loss of the bulls to the kings
..
eg.
😀
the bulls dont have depth
their springboks wont make a difference
they would end up last on the log (where they belong)
etc
etc
etc 😉
#5
ai kyk hoe ve’lang ek dan nou trug na daai goeie ou dae toe die bulls nog gereeld op hulle mo*r gekry het in superrugby!!
…
(sug) ja mense …. daaaaaaai was mooi dae gewees nê? (sug)
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!
môre moffies!!
en
ñ goeiemôre aan alle cheetah, lions, sharks, stormers
en
veral KINGS supporters!!!
yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
@ Ashley:
Morning Ash!
8@ Loosehead:
Have not heard back from Angela in a while, what’s up there?
@ grootblousmile:
Send her a mail.
loosehead @ 8
‘afternoon loskoppie
sorry that i respond only now … been away from the pc for a while!!
irritating!
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