The Crusaders overturned a five-point half-time deficit to claim a 14-8 win over the Lions at Ellis Park on Sunday afternoon. CRAIG LEWIS reports.
In what was a replay of last year’s Super Rugby final, this encounter never had the same sort of drama or intensity, but the end result was the same.
Again, the Lions came out on the losing end, and they have now managed just a solitary victory from their last four games, as their 2018 season continues to unravel.
In many respects, this was a vastly improved all-round performance from the Lions, but it was the Crusaders who displayed their championship credentials by playing in the right areas of the field and closing out the win in the second half.
With this being a contest between two ambitious teams on a beautiful afternoon in Johannesburg, there would have been an understandable expectation for it to be a high-scoring affair, but the first half proved to be a completely different prospect.
The only points, in fact, came from a well-finished five-pointer by Madosh Tambwe in the 14th minute while Crusaders winger George Bridge twice looked in line to score. Bridge was ultimately called back on each occasion due to a forward pass in the lead-up.
Considering that the Saders had enjoyed as much as 63 percent of possession in the opening stanza — while making 63 carries to 32 and beating 14 defenders to nine — they would have been quite gobsmacked to go scoreless over the first 40 minutes.
Yet, a lot of credit has to go to the Lions’ much-improved defence (particularly bearing in mind they had to make 68 tackles to 25), while Malcolm Marx was typically effective at the breakdown as he won two key turnovers.
It eventually took some patient build-up over 15 phases of play for the Crusaders to finally open their account in the 50th minute with influential lock Sam Whitelock barged over in the corner.
Just moments later, Crusaders centre Jack Goodhue helped doubled his side’s advantage when he also showed good strength to score, and suddenly the visitors had some breathing room at 14-5 up.
A big moment in the second half also saw the Crusaders win a scrum penalty against the feed, and right in front of their posts after the Lions had opted to turn down a kick at goal.
They didn’t make the same mistake again when Jantjies knocked over a simple penalty in the 77th minute to cut the deficit to six points, but by then it was too little, too late.
Lions – Try: Madosh Tambwe. Penalty: Elton Jantjies.
Crusaders – Tries: Sam Whitelock, Jack Goodhue. Conversions: Mitchell Hunt (2).
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert (c), 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marvin Orie, 21 Marnus Schoeman, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Shaun Reynolds.
Crusaders – 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Jordan Taufua, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Michael Alaalatoa, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Tim Perry.
Subs: 16 Ben Funnell, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Chris King, 19 Quinten Strange, 20 Tom Sanders, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
