Lions Come Out on Top – Featured Durban Blog

The Cell C Sharks returned to Vodacom Super Rugby action after the June break on a disappointing note when they went down 37-10 to the Lions at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday evening.

As a rugby spectacle, this provided all the thrills, but as far as results go, this was a disappointing match for the Cell C Sharks who gave it their all, but were up against a side in great form.

The home team took great confidence into this game, not only from the successes they have enjoyed this season – indeed the momentum gained in recent seasons – but also in the Springbok call-ups as reward for their performances, and this showed in the game.

The opening five minutes was all Cell C Sharks as the Lions barely had a sniff of possession, the visitors indicating their willingness to play attacking rugby. But it was around that time that they suffered a massive blow.

Andre Esterhuizen had been a late withdrawal from the starting line-up, forcing a rejig of the backline, JP Pietersen shifting to the centre and S’bura Sithole taking his place on the wing. But then Paul Jordaan limped off at the five minute mark, the established midfield partnership completely removed and a break in continuity.

The first points went the way of the Lions, Jantjies striking a penalty within the opening 10 minutes, and their tales up, they attacked relentlessly, before Ruan Combrinck had an easy canter in for the opening try to set up an eight-nil lead.

Their confidence was high and they were building pressure on the Cell C Sharks who found themselves a second try down when big centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg swivelled over the tryline after the forwards had done some good work to set up the scoring opportunity.

It was clear that all the momentum was with the home side and so too Lady Luck as a chip ahead eluded the last line of defence and like the first try, an easy run in for hooker Malcolm Marx. Jantjies had missed two earlier, easier conversions, but not this one from the touchline as he stretched the lead to 20 unanswered points.

There was a great opportunity for the Cell C Sharks when Lwazi Mvovo showed real gas to launch an exciting attack down the touchline and elude the defence, but his final try-making pass wasn’t successful.

With time in the first half almost up, the Lions launched one final effort and attacking with determination, it was Ruan Ackermann who finished off under the posts and Jantjies added the two for a 27-nil half-time lead.

There was no letting up from the home side who quickly got the scoreboard ticking over in the second half with a Jantjies penalty to stretch the margin to an unhealthy 30 points.

From a spectator’s point of view, the next quarter of an hour produced some exciting rugby without any points as both sides put together some good passages of play before the Lions were back on the scoreboard, captain Jaco Kriel powering over for the fifth try.

At 37-0, there was no coming back for the Cell C Sharks, but to their credit, they didn’t give up. Their never-say-die attitude was demonstrated as the game went into the final quarter as S’bura Sithole took the perfect pass and broke through the defence to set up what would eventually culminate in a try for Lwazi Mvovo.

Their spirits lifted, they continued to attack, earned a penalty that was sent to the touchline and from the ensuing lineout, Chiliboy Ralepelle carried the ball over the tryline at the back of a driving maul.

There was still time for a last effort that would remove the bonus point, but the Lions were able to hold on to their three try lead and take full log points from the clash.

The Cell C Sharks are back home at Growthpoint KINGS PARK for the final two weeks of the pool stages of the competition, hosting the Cheetahs next weekend  and then Sunwolves.

With three rounds of Vodacom Super Rugby action before the play-offs, and the fight that exists to make it into the knockout round, there are plenty of permutations for many of the teams hoping to continue their participation beyond the next fortnight.

For the Cell C Sharks, that starts with the Lions up in Joburg on Saturday afternoon, and continues with the Cheetahs before ending against the Sunwolves in two weeks’ time.

Director of Rugby Gary Gold is at pains to point out, however, that they’re not looking much further than this weekend, nor at what’s happening with the other teams. That they have a task to complete. A very difficualt one at that.

“This is just a game that we have to win, it’s as simple as that,” he explains. “The other permutations are completely out of our control. For us, what’s important after the break, is that we’re back to our best and understanding how massive the challenge is going to be.”

In-form Lions players were rewarded with Test call-ups for the series against the Springboks and Gold agrees that this will be a factor as far as the Lions’ confidence goes.

“For sure, added to the way they played in their last match against the Bulls and then more thn 50% being rewarded with Springbok caps. They will also take confidence from helping the Boks beat the Irish too, and rightly so.

“They’re a lethal team, these guys are definitely the biggest threat and include the five New Zealand teams in that. They’ve made Emirates Airlines Park a fortress and it’s a very difficult place to play.”

Gold admits that the Cell C Sharks have a huge amount of respect for the Lions and the way they play. “We’ve always said the New Zealand teams set the benchmark; it’s now nice to have a South African team setting the benchmark.”

He adds that looking back on the first round clash with the Lions, there were lessons learned and some good and bad to take out of their own performance. “Our preparation has been done and now we have to go out and execute against a team that play at a huge pace and force you into making errors.

“It’s a fun challenge, but we’re excited; we’re up for it.”

Scrumhalf Michael Claassens explains that what is key to success this weekend is to build on what they have done right and fix the errors from that earlier match against the Lions.

“We’ve looked at the video and there are a lot of things we can take out of that first round game, things we’ve worked on,” he explains.

Defence was one area, but it has been good and he admits that they take confidence out of this.

“We know we have to be better this time. Against a team like the Lions, your defence has to be on point because they’re such a good attacking side and they throw the ball around, having a go from everywhere.”

The Cell C Sharks know that this could be a season-defining match.