The Cell C Sharks and British & Irish Lions were involved in a high-scoring match where over 100 points were scored, an action-packed game filled with drama at Loftus Versveld on Saturday evening.
After the teams were dead-locked on 26 points each and four tries apiece at half-time, the Lions took advantage of their superior numbers in the second half to secure a 71-31 victory.
While the scoreboard is largely in the Lions’ favour, this young Cell C Sharks side fought fire with fire and never appeared overawed by the ocassion, despite the huge obstacles placed in their path.
Head coach Sean Everitt had called for greater intensity, knowing this was exactly what would define the game, and his young charges responded. They pressured the Lions and earned the rewards, particularly in a first half when the touring side battled and at times wilted under pressure.
It was the tourists who opened up the scoring in the fourth minute with a good break down the centre to get the ball behind the defence before the try was on, having initially been well repelled on defence. It was the start of a game that was played with incredible energy from both sides and never let up until the final whistle. The tempo of the game was something barely believable.
In Wednesday’s match, the Lions capitalised on Cell C Sharks mistakes but things turned around when the ball went loose from the visitors and it was snatched up, quickly recycled and sent wide for Anthony Volmink to race downfield, with Lionel Cronje converting to equalise.
Shortly after the kick-off, great work on the ground to secure the penalty in their own half, the ball was kicked to touch and a high tempo action saw Cronje grubber the ball through the defence for
Thaakir Abrahams to run onto and score in the corner as the Cell C Sharks took the lead after the opening 15 minutes.
As the game hit the end of the first quarter, the Lions earned a scrum penalty, kicked the ball to touch and then mauled it over for their second try. The conversion went wide and the teams were deadlocked at 12 points apiece.
It wasn’t long before the Cell C Sharks struck for the third time, Jaden Hendrikse pouncing on a long Lions pass, making the intercept and racing 70m upfield for the try, converted from in front for a 19-12 lead.
But the Cell C Sharks were caught out on defence moments later, the line was broken for the Lions to score their third try and the scores were once more tied with less than half an hour’s play behind them.
Some stern defence and patience as they wore the Lions down saw Abrahams snatch up a loose ball 5m inside the Lions half and race towards the tryline, before feeding Volmink to run in the fourth try, Cronje converting for a 26-19 lead with less than a handful of minutes left on the clock.
But with half-time beckoning and the back-and-forth nature of the scoring, the Lion hit back to level matters as the intensity continued and eight tries later, the teams headed for the changerooms with the score locked on 26 points apiece in quite the most high-paced game.
Losing Jaden Hendrikse to a red card early in the second half for an elbow to the face put the Cell C Sharks under pressure for the remaining 35 minutes of the game and with territorial advantage gained from the resultant penalty and the greater numbers, the Lions scored first in the half as they took a 31-26 lead.
Two minutes later, the Lions were over for their sixth try, a quick lineout punishing the Cell C Sharks who found themselves under pressure on defence and the touring team were too good not to take advantage.
But the Cell C Sharks struck back directly from the kick-off, the clearing kick was charged down by Reniel Hugo and the ball bounced perfectly for the hard-working Werner Kok who sprinted to the corner for his team’s fifth try.
The high-scoring helter-skelter nature of the game continued as one team would strike bqck almost immediately after the other had scored with the Lions next as their converted try took them into a 45-31 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
The next try took a little longer but it was a patient build-up from the Lions who hammered away until the defensive line broke and they managed to score in the midfield, the conversion pushing them 52-31 ahead with the final quarter left to play.
Having sacrificed a forward for a replacement scrumhalf, the Cell C Sharks scrum was under pressure and the Lions took advantage with a strong attacking scrum close to the tryline and closed out another try to push further ahead.
Try number 10 came as the Lions attacked from inside their 22 before the Cell C Sharks spent an inordinate amount of time camped in the Lions 22 on attack, the tourists giving away penalty after penalty before eventually conceding a yellow card for repeated infringements.
The Lions added a final try in the closing minutes to bring up the century of points in the game.
Despite the results the Cell C Sharks will take many positives from this experience into the Currie Cup and United Rugby Championship, knowing that if they stick to their plans and work hard the results will come.
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Cell C Sharks vs British & Irish Lions Preview Article:
Today’s clash between the Cell C Sharks and British & Irish Lions offers the Durban side the opportunity for redemption when they meet for the second time in just four days.
Although the Cell C Sharks team did go down to the international tourists, the statistics tend to suggest that they did a lot more right than wrong, but it was the small things that proved costly.
This is not a history-making event, Natal did play the Lions twice back in 1910, but it nevertheless does not detract from the importance of the game and what the Cell C Sharks want to achieve.
“The guys are extremely excited, but it’s also an opportunity for us to learn from our mistakes,” admitted Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt.
“When we did the review, we looked at the opportunities we created and the soft moment where we conceded points, we know we can be better than that.”
With 57% possession and 53% possession, the Cell C Sharks were certainly in the game.
“Even when we were under the pump, we only gave away eight penalties so there are positives to take out of Wednesday’s game.
“We’d like to redeem ourselves. There’s massive excitement in the camp.”
Playing the Lions has also been insightful as to what style of play and intensity will be required when the southern and northern hemisphere teams meet later in the year. Playing an international side certainly provides that test.
“You could see the intensity the Lions bring but I thought the team stood up nicely to that intensity, and in the second half we put through some good passages of play too.”
Hearing about the opportunity to play the Lions again in the matter of a few days led to a positive reaction from the Cell C Sharks.
“On match day we heard there were problems with Covid in the Bulls camp and we may play the Lions again. We got official confirmation on Wednesday.
“We see it as a massive privilege and a huge opportunity for our young team to develop and get experience of playing international rugby.”
Does the Cell C Sharks coach believe they have a shot at redemption?
“I think we do. We always have to be positive, I was quite surprised when we analysed the game, there were a lot of positives. We put them under a lot of pressure, speaking to some of their players afterwards, they admitted that their bodies were sore. It’s great to have a second chance, we just need to tidy up because we did put ourselves in good positions, but we need to cut out some of the errors we made, most of them unforced.
“We’re going out there to put on a better display.”
The post Cell C Sharks vs British & Irish Lions Preview Article appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: In June 2007 the KZN parliament passed the Prevention of Slums Bill in the Provincial Parliament. The Bill compels landowners to evict shackdwellers, on the threat of arrest and criminalises resistance to evictions. The provincial Department of Housing, that brought the Bill to the Provincial Parliament, has repeatedly stated that ‘the slums will be cleared by 2010 in KwaZulu-Natal’. The Bill has been heavily criticised by academics, human rights organisations and civil society. The shack dwellers’ movement Abahlali baseMjondolo is planning mass mobilising against the Bill and is also taking the matter to the Constitutional Court with support from a pro bono legal centre.
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