Scrumdown
Lions (11) 26 / 23 (10) WP (Final Score)
The MTN Golden Lions and DHL Western Province did battle in the Currie Cup, Premier Division at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
After a ding dong game that swayed back and forth the home team emerged victorious by a slight margin thanks to an Elton Jantjies penalty several minutes after the final hooter.
MAN OF YHR MATCH: Elton Jantjies
*******************
The Golden Lions have announced their team to take on the Blue Bulls in their only Currie Cup warm up game on Friday 3rd august 2012.
Lions (24) 37 / (7) 32 Rebels (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Melbourne Rebels did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Lions started as the stronger team, quickly heaping up 3 tries, but then had to endure a strong Rebels comeback. Eventually the Lions came from behind to win with a bonus point for tries scored.
The Rebels took away 2 bonus points from the game but will feel that they should have won, after leading with only 6 minutes still to play.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Bondisio
*******************
Stormers (13) 27 / (3) 17 Lions (Final Score)
The DHL Stormers and the MTN Lions do battle in Super Rugby at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time.
This is the live match discussion Article
Discuss it at will if you please, we have not got an Author on standby to do live score updates for us at present, I am on route to Loftus.
The match is broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Springboks 36 / 27 England (Final score)
South Africa and England did battle in the Second Test at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
An effervescent Springbok side built up enough of a lead with 3 first half tries to keep the English winless in the series, which SA have now secured.
Man Of The match: JP Pietersen
The English can take heart from a spirited comeback that got them within 4 points of the Boks with less than 10 minutes to play. Their forwards particularly took the game to the Bokke in the second stanza who seemed to be somewhat disrupted by the substitution, both forced and tactical.
*******************
Lions (32) 38 / (11) 28 Sharks (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and The Sharks did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
With 10 Weeks done and dusted in Super Rugby 2012 and having a fair idea of which players are performing and which players are injured, maybe it’s time for the Guru’s of Rugby-Talk to do the Following:
- Name their 15 Springbok starters
- Next to the above names to pen down 2nd choice players in the various positions
- Explain in detail why players are chosen as starters and why 2nd Choice players are chosen
In turn the Guru’s out there in the blogesphere, whether registered as bloggers or not, will have the opportunity to name their own side (with 2nd Choices) and take some swings at the Authors and each other.
Registered Bloggers just Login with their normal particulars, Non-Registered Bloggers will have to supply a Name (nickname is fine) and an E-Mail Address.
The rules are… there are no rules except to leave parents, wives and children out of the picture and to behave within the bounds of decent undecency.
At the same time, as this Article will be seen as fun and good natured banter, nobody is allowed to get angry… and by participating accept that whatever is said, written or inferred, is done so in jest and with the general aims and purpose of Rugby-Talk in mind.
Here we will go head to head, toe to toe… and get our frustrations out into the open.
Are you clear about all of that, muppits, moepels & mopkoppe… and friends?
Cheetahs (23) 26 / Lions (0) 5 (Final Score)
The Toyota Cheetahs and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time.
The home side were too good for the upcountry visitors, and 23 unanswered points in the 2nd quarter of the game, coupled with excellent second half defence was enough to give the home side the 4 log points, taking them up to 3rd in the SA conference, and 8th in the combined log.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Lions (13) 13 / Crusaders (10) 23 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Lions (7) 19 / Stormers (18) 24 (Final Score)
The MTN Lions and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
The DHL Stormers raced to an early lead, and were 15 points up early on, but the MTN Lions never gave up and with over 60% possession were always in the game.
The DHL Stormers managed to endure tremendous pressure to hold on for the win, with the MTN Lions securing a losing bonus point.
Man Of The Match: Siya Kolisi
*******************
Sharks (17) 32 / Lions (6) 20 (Final Score)
The Sharks and MTN Lions did battle in Super Rugby at Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The sharks battled for 80 minutes in an error strewn game to break down a heavily injury depleted Lions side, who never capitulated. The Sharks secured the bonus point try in the dying seconds, and in so doing deprived the Lions of a losing bonus point.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
As previously posted, we have 5 pairs of tickets (10 tickets in total) available, courtesy of the Lions, for every Super Rugby match to be played at Coca Cola Park this season.
Last week we donated the tickets to the SA First Aid League (Noodhulpliga) in recognition of the hard work they do at the Lions club games in the lower leagues.
This week we’re offering them to Rugby-Talk bloggers who would like to go along and see the game.
All you need to do is e-mail the answer to the following question to Rugby-Talk’s Webmaster using the link on the website.
In the final episode covering the Lions Super Rugby contenders, we look at the men tasked with both the last line of defence, as well as what is often the last point of attack, the Back Three.
The Speedsters.
In this the next episode of the Lions Super Rugby Contenders, we will look at the Centres that have been included in the squad.
In the next, and final episode, we’ll cover the back three.
So, in a year where the SA Super Rugby teams have so much to win, and so very much to lose should they have a nightmare season, the two perrenial bottom dwellers of the South African teams square up in the first round of games.
The Lions are riding on the crest of the Currie Cup wave, whilst the Cheetahs will take great heart from some truly stellar performances during the 2011 Super Rugby campaign.
Lets take a look at what we can expect in this the first CAT FIGHT of the season, as well as a look at the player – player match ups.
The Generals, Standoff’s of just plain Flyhalf’s. Irrespective of what you call the man with number 10 on his back, when on song they can single handedly destroy ANY opposition, but when having a miserable day, they can utterly negate the hard work done by their 14 team mates.
Let’s look at the men likely to do duty in the number 10 jersey for the Lions in this season’s Super Rugby campaign.
In the latest edition of the Lions’ contenders we look at the men that dictate the flow of the game once the hard wok has been done by the big men up front – the Scrumhalves.
Scrumhalves are not the biggest players in any squad, by any means, but often the nuggiest and most skillful of the whole bunch.
They often talk too much as well!
The Lions held a media conference to launch their Super Rugby campaign this afternoon, where the team to face the Cheetahs at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday was announced.
Kick Off is at 19h10 local time.
In todays edition of the Lions Super Rugby contenders we look at the Rugby equivalent of the hyena and jackal, the Loose Frowards.
The men who have to get low down and dirty, and win the ball wherever it’s available, but mostly on the ground.
I’ll kick off with the stalwarts of the 2011 season.
In this the 3rd instalment of the Lions contenders, we look at the big men who perform in the engine room of the forward pack, the lock forwards.
Providing the grunt in the heart of the scrum, as well as the means to win ball in the line-outs, this group of BIG men are responsible for ensuring a continuous supply of quality first phase ball for the team.
Let’s open with the players who did the hard yards in last years campaign.
The next instalment will look at the ever improving and exciting loose forwards.
The second Article highlighting the Lions Super Rugby players likely to bear the majority of the playing time in the upcoming Super Rugbycompetition.
Today we look at the men in the middle of the front row, the HOOKERS.
The next Article in the Series will be about the Lions Locks.
This is the 1st Article dealing with the MTN Lions Super Rugby squad contenders for Super Rugby 2012.
With the commencement of the Super Rugby competition less that 2 weeks away, it’s time to take a look at the Lions squad and the players we can expect to see, as well as those that are on the fringes.
Today, the Props.
The Lions have announced their team to face the Southern Kings in a compulsory friendly in Port Elizabeth Tuesday evening at 18h00.
Whilst the backline has a familiar ring to it, there a couple of surprises in the pack and on the bench.
This is the 2nd last warm-up game the Lions will play prior to the start of Super Rugby 2012, the next being a warm-up against the Cheetahs this weekend.
The Golden Lions Rugby Union made their “Major Announcement”, at a Media Briefing at the Auditorium at Coca-Cola Park, this afternoon.
Redefine Properties, the Second largest property company in South Africa, a listed entity on the Johannesburg, is going to be MTN’s co-sponsor for the Golden Lions Rugby Union in a 3-year deal with the Golden Lions Rugby Union!
After much debate and investigation, the Golden Lions and the Lions Super Rugby teams, under the guises of the GLRU and Lions Rugby (PTY) LTD have decided that their futures’ remain at their historical home Coca-Cola (Ellis) Park.
The stadium was rebuilt in the early 1980’s and was given another major facelift for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The full media releases from the various parties reads:
Sharks 53 / Lions 9 (Final score)
The Sharks hosted the MTN Golden Lions at Kings Park, Durban at 19:10 SA Time.
This was the live match discussion Article.
The sharks totally outclassed a lethargic and error ridden Lions side to book a home semi final against the Free state Cheetahs next week, where they will certainly carry all of the momentum.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
*******************
Following a racially charged altercation with a fellow colleague of Jacaranda 94.2, the FM radio station, DJ and sports presenter Darren Scott resigned from the station and was subsequently given an indefinite leave of absence from SuperSport.
The sports broadcaster has today announced that the 2 parties (Scott and SuperSport) parted ways.
At first glance this pool looks to be cut and dried, but when one looks deeper into each squad and the potential clashes, it soon becomes apparent that this group has the potential to throw up some HUGE upsets.
The log leading MTN Golden Lions have made 3 changes from the side that defeated the Leopards last week for the clash against the Vodacom Blue Bulls this weekend.
In a move to replace the soon to be departed Fourie Du Preez, the Bulls have signed the Lions scrumhalf with a contract from the beginning of 2012 until the end of the Currie Cup in 2013.
The MTN Golden Lions have made only one change to the run on team to take on the Leopards at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday from the team that beat Griquas so comprehensively last week.
Captain Doppies la Grange is rested to ensure he recovers fully from his hamstring strain.
He is replaced by Alwyn Hollenbach, with Joshua Strauss taking over the Captains reigns as expected.
Michael Rhodes returns from suspension to start on the reserves bench.
Herewith all of the MTN Golden Lions teams to take on the Leopards:
CJ van der Linde has signed a contract of just over 2 years to join the Lions from 1st August 2011 to 31st October 2013 the Johannesburg based Union announced in a media release this morning.
Herewith the full announcement as received from the Lions.
At a media function in Johannesburg earlier this afternoon, the Golden Lions announced their Currie Cup squad, as well as the team to play the Pumas in the opening fixture of the 2011 competition on Friday night.
The 2011 edition of the Coca-Cola Craven Week for high schools (Under 18) is currently taking place in Kimberley.
Check here daily for all the results.
The GLRU recently held a meeting with their Sponsors MTN and Discovery Health following the demise of their equity partnership deal with Guma TAC.
Despite a distinct lack of communications to the media over the last week from the GLRU regarding the talks with the sponsors, recent communications indicate that MTN are still on board as an investor in the Johannesburg based Rugby Union.