On a cool, damp Saturday evening, the Lions hosted the Western Force in what was a “must win” game for both sides.
After what was an error ridden and somewhat depressing game of Super Rugby, the majority of the 13 535 paying spectators must have wished they’d stayed at home and watched in warmth and comfort.
In truth, on an evening where Western Force captain Nathan Sharpe set an all time Super Rugby record of 136 appearances, the Force weren’t good, but the Lions were worse, and the Lions Head Coach John Mitchell must be bitterly disappointed in not having put one over his former team, but in his own words at the after match press conference, the Lions let themselves, their Management and the Johannesburg Rugby community down on the night.
By the time the game kicked off, the rain had slowed to a slight drizzle, but the conditions were wet underfoot, and the ball must have been somewhat slippery. Possibly a mitigating factor for the numerous handling errors that riddled the proceedings, but at the end of the day, these are professional sportsmen who are expected to perform as such in all weather conditions.
After the now almost obligatory deep kick off by the Force’s James O’Connor, the Lions did what they had not done all season, Jantjies cleared to touch to set up a line out just inside the Lions half. After this initial success though, the young Lions prodigy was to endure a dismal evening riddled with personal errors.
As has been the case on several occasions so far this season, the Lions were to concede an early try which would put them under pressure.
In the eighth minute after some enterprising play by the Force, Lions winger Lionel Mapoe found himself with a overlap to defend. A task that was beyond his individual capabilities and the big Force Centre Nick Cummins crossed in the corner to give the Force an early lead.
Some four minutes later O’Connor had another difficult chance at poles when Lawrence adjudged the Lions to have transgressed just inside their own half, and some 6m in from the nearside touch line. A decision roundly booed by the Johannesburg faithful.
This time O’Connor made no mistake, and raised the flags to give the visitors an eight point lead.
Two minutes thereafter Burton Francis, a blood bin replacement for Jantjies had the chance to put the Lions on the board with a penalty from not too far out, but failed in his attempt.
Both teams were quite eager to run the ball, but as is often the case in slightly slippery conditions, the final vital pass was often either not of the required quality, or the receiver failed to make the most of the situation.
As the first quarter of the game drew to a close the Lions were again penalised, this time for not rolling away, and O’Connor had the easiest of kicks to take the Force’ lead out to 11.
Two minutes later the young Lions Flyhalf Elton Jantjies was to endure a minute of play that I’m sure he would like to forget, but that I’m sure he will relive in his nightmares for some time to come.
When attacking, and with a two man overlap, the young pivot gave a perfect pass, straight to a Force player. The Lions scrambled to get back to defend their line, and after some sterling defence the youngster was in his in-goal area ready take to take the pass from Kockott and clear to touch, but as the pass came the youngster took his eyes off the ball and the ball flew straight through his hands and over the dead ball line, giving the Force an attacking 5m scrum.
Although the Force were unable to capitalise, the tone had been set for the poor youngster who was to further endure an amount of abuse from some of the crowd.
The Lions started to pull themselves back into the game, helped somewhat by ill discipline and unforced errors from the Force. Jantjies put the Lions on the board with a penalty in the 25th minute, and quickly followed it up with 2 more.
It seemed as if the Lions forwards were starting to dominate at this juncture, but O’Connor slotted another difficult kick after the halftime hooter had sounded, and the Force were again in control of the scoreboard.
Halftime: Lions 9 – Force 14.
The second half would see the Lions forwards again dominating in the early exchanges, and when O’Connor was yellow carded in the 50th minute for an infringement in the “red zone” after the referee had earlier issued Sharpe with a general warning, Jantjies slotted the resultant penalty.
A short while later, after sustained pressure by the Lions the youngster slotted a drop goal to take the home team into the lead for the first time.
The lead was to be short lived though, as Jantjies went from hero to zero in the 58th minute.
The Force found themselves in open space and Fullback Cameron Shepherd took the ball at speed with the young Lions pivot in front of him. Jantjies tried to make the tackle but his technique was poor, and Shepherd ran straight over him before offloading to Alfie Mafi who cantered over for the Force’ second try.
The Lions tried in vain to get back into the game, but the Force’ defence was exceptional, and ill disciplined transgressions by the Lions gave the Force another 2 penalties to take the winning score to 15 – 27.
This was a game that the Lions, despite having played poorly could well have won.
At 15 – 14, the Lions had an easy penalty in front of the poles that they chose to kick to touch and then failed to capitalise on, as well as several opportunities where scoring chances were squandered by poor decision making in the heat of the moment.
The Lions scrum was at times dominant (despite what Nathan Sharpe thought at the press conference) and the line out was competent, but the backline seemed to lack penetration, and Waylon Murray seemed almost to be out of his depth at Inside Centre.
Mapoe was again somewhat fragile on defence, and the loose forwards seemed to have an indifferent evening in general, despite Strauss showing almost superhuman strength in holding Force players up in the tackle on several occasions.
The young Lions pivot Elton Jantjies had a nightmare evening, riddled with personal errors and another inconsistent night with the boot, which ended by him being booed off by the home supporters.
While his performance was not up to standard, the yobs that booed him off yesterday are probably the same ones that cheered him in the 2010 Currie Cup and called for him to be made a Springbok.
Unfortunately for the youngster his slump in form, coupled with the poor start to the season by the Lions, and the performances of the other members of the Super Rugby Brat Pack, Patrick Lambie, Gary van Aswegan, James O’Connor and Quade Cooper to name just a few, have put him somewhat under the spotlight.
I sincerely hope that the youngster has the constitution to handle the pressure and come back with all guns blazing, not only for his own sake, but for the Lions as well. They have a dire lack of depth at Flyhalf, (at least until Butch James arrives) with Burton Francis seemingly limited at this level, and the other alternative, Andre Pretorious possibly past his sell by date.
Altogether an evening to forget for the Lions. Unfortunately this home loss, the third in a row, will make it very difficult for them to come back in the competition and compete for a playoff.
We all know that this is a very long competition, but on the form shown thus far, the Lions will do well to end mid-table on the combined log, and as is usual will be battling with the Cheetahs to avoid the wooden spoon in the South African conference.
Next up for the Lions is a visit to Loftus for a meeting with a Bulls side that will be smarting after their last 2 results, before entertaining the Reds at Coca-Cola Park on April 2nd.
Poor game of Rugby IMO. Lions looked like the team under Loffie and Dick.
Strange ending to the Press Conference as well.
John Mitchell and a member of Australian press obviously have some history, and JM just summarily ended the presser after being asked about his reasons for leaving the Force.
Strange indeed, but unless one knows all the facts it’s not possible to comment further!
The game plan is destroying EJ. Think back to the 3 young Aussies, James O’Conner , Kurtley Beal and Quade Cooper when they were 17 or 18 they made some bad mistakes but they also showed a lot of brilliance. They also cost their teams matches but they were never asked to play in a team in total disarray. The Lions team is not strong enough now, for this young guy to be the pivot there is much asked.
He is fast going the same route as Earl Rose.
When O’Conner made some dubious choices as a youngster, the Force asked Jusrtin Langer to act as his mentor and life coach. Who are the Lions going to ask?
It’s not a new problem. Youngsters thrown into a life style with different pressures can push them into making some strange decisions, which without a person that they can talk to and ask for advise can lead to a very quick fall from grace.
The Lions know all about these problems, ad have disussed it at length in the past, but to the best of my knowledge have never actually put any programms in place to help these young men.
Jatjies is 20 years old and the spectators are fast losing patience with his lack of consistency.
The yobs that booed him from the field see only a well paid kid that has made “kak droog” in their eyes and is the current primary cause of their team’s poor form. They neither realise nor have sympathy with his possible lack of ability to shake their booes off his back like a duck would with water.
Because Jantjies is the most VISIBLE part of the team’s failings, the yob’s pick on him. Unfortunately the average Lions spectator and all other spectators for that matter) are far too inept technically to spot the majority of their team’s falings, and hence [ick on that which they can see and is obvious to them.
They didn’t boo the rest of the backline who failed to break the Force’ line once.
They didn’t boo Lionel Mapoe who’s defensive line broke again giving the opposition a relatively easy try.
They didn’t boo the tight fowards who’s clearing out at the rucks was both inept and ineffective.
They didn’t boo the loose forwards who were incapable of stopping the Force’ maul.
They didn’t boo the Captain who failed to let Jantjies kick for poles and push the lead out to 4 points.
They didn’t boo the whole team who failed to play to a game plan.
And why didn’t they boo these aspects of the Lions game? Because they couldn’t see or recognise them because they’re technically not trained to and are hence incapable of seeing them.
Little comfort I’m sure to the poor youngster. I just hope that someone that Elton trusts and can speak to (hopefully someone other than his Father) can explain these type of hings to him.
If not, then he is doomed to a carreer that parallel to te likes of Earle Rose and Solly Tsibilika.
Do the right thing Manie and co. Not for the Lions, but for Elton Jantjies.
@ Scrumdown:3 – Scrumdown, Agree not nice for the supporters to boo their own player. Elton is a very talented player, but this will pull his confidence down. I wish Butch could have come sooner. With Butch there he will get plenty support. Watch once Butch comes Elton will start to play better. Butch has plenty experience and will guide Elton.
3@ Scrumdown:
Very good Article and very wise and astute observations about Jantjies in Comment No #3
This coming weekend it’s the Bulls who wait at Loftus and who must be hurting like hell from apoor past 2 weeks as well.
Will the Bulls pull their own heads out of their own arses and correct their dicioplinary issues and tactical naiivity… and maybe even more importantly respect the value of possession rugby and gaining possession form aggressive defence and controlling the breakdowns….. or will the Lions pull their collective heads out of their arses and stop blaming an individual for the failiures of the entire group.
This weekend coming gives us that answer.
About the Bulls… maybe it’s time to start Danie Rossouw at Blindside flank in conjunction to running with Bakkies and Victor at lock and use Deon Stegmann and Dewald Potgieter on Openside flank for 40 min each, with instructions to chase that ground ball even harder and defend more aggresively…. a la Heinrich Brussow (who seems to be back with avengeance for the Cheetahs).
Also time to start with Gary Botha in place of Chiliboy again… and damnit, find place for Hougie, maybe on outside center in place of Jaco Pretorius!
Hougie gives that singular dimention of “All action and creativity combined with dogged defence” unlike Jaco Pretorius who is now barely decidedly pedestrian. Yeah, I know Hougie is not a center but a scrumhalf who has done occasional duty at left wing…. but he is simply too good to leave out of the run-on squad and desperate times call for desperate measures.
This might just spark that Bulls backline, who are just waiting to burst open and run riot with the 2 speedy wings and Zane who seems more attack-minded this year.
But all is not well all over the place in SA Rugby…. the Sharks lost this weekend… the Stormers (although winning this weekend) defends well but seems blunt on attack.
The Cheetahs, who in previous weeks were on the losing side of things and really under the kosh, suddenly shining as a bright light in a dismal weekend for SA Rugby in general… but even they could not manage a bonus point for tries this weekend.
The overriding SA concerns seems to be (1) bad option taking, (2) shocking handling and (3) ill dicipline.
5@ grootblousmile:
GBS
I try to always be objective and to make the criticism constructive wherever possible.
In truth there was little to be positive about on this performance, and it took me a long time to sit and put my thoughts into writing.
As you point out, it was a dismal weekend for SA Rugby, and in a fit of frustration I erased all 3 games from the PVR without watching them. A pity really because I would have liked to see the Cheetahs game. I’m sure DSTV will show a highlights package though.
All in all though, things are not looking great for SA Rugby running into the World Cup.
Scrumdown wrote:
this is the right time to look in shambles, not a month before the WC
6@ Scrumdown:
I still have those games on PVR… maybe you should come and watch with me so that I’m not the only one sobbing….. hehehe
7@ superBul:
In reality though, with our player depth, proven by our S14 dominance of the last 2 seasons, there is no way that the Boks should have been taking stick from either the Wallabies or the All Blacks in the last 18 months.
It’s almost as if the “slapgat houding” that seems to permeate SARU has worn off on some of the countries top players, and it’s now manifesting itself all over the place.
SA need 2-3 strong leaders (players), and currently I can’t think of any that would automatically take a World Cup knock out game by the scruff of the neck and make sure the Bokke pulled through with a win!
Please help me right if I’ve missed something.
@ Scrumdown:
there is a big 2 months coming up now. PdeV WILL be our coach , no change will happen now. If the Sa teams fall to pieces we would rely on PdeV to stitch us up again, not a comforting thought for many. Just hope we can get a game plan going to follow in this S15 comp.
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