The Lions used their set piece and maul to devastating effect in their 49-35 bonus-point win over the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. JON CARDINELLI reports.
Put this victory down to the Lions’ forwards. The visitors dominated at the lineouts and utilised their rolling maul to brutal effect. As many as five of the Lions’ seven tries were scored from this platform.
The Bulls competed fiercely at the breakdowns, and troubled the Lions defence in the wider channels. Handré Pollard started the game at No 12 after skipper Burger Odendaal withdrew with an injury, and managed to create one try and score another. Marnitz Boshoff levelled the scores when he converted Pollard’s try shortly after half-time.
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The hosts simply had no answer to the Lions’ maul, though. The visitors backed themselves at the lineout at an early stage. Captain Warren Whiteley turned down several kickable penalties in favour of an attacking lineout deep in Bulls territory. The Lions did well to win the ensuing set piece, set the maul, and then march over the tryline.
Elton Jantjies produced a great kicking display in the first half. The Lions flyhalf identified the space behind the Bulls’ defence, and kicked for his teammates to add to his chase. In the end, it was second-rower Marvin Orie who beat the cover defence to the rolling ball.
The Bulls fought hard to stay in the game. The complexion of the contest changed, however, after reserve prop Conrad van Vuuren was sent to the sin bin in the 52nd minute.
The Lions looked to capitalise on their numerical advantage immediately, and were rewarded for their superior set-piece efforts with a penalty try. Referee Jaco Peyper also decided to yellow card Nic de Jager for a cynical infringement in the red zone.
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Sylvian Mahuza stepped past Warrick Gelant thereafter to rack up the Lions’ fifth try. That score took the Lions into bonus-point territory.
Ross Cronjé secured the win and the bonus point when he scored off the back of yet another well-worked lineout. Whiteley was the man who collected the feed, and then passed to the Lions scrumhalf, who had run a great line.
The Bulls ensured that they finished the game with some form of reward, though. Lizo Gqoboka and Travis Ismaiel, who showed remarkable pace to beat the defence, scored late in the piece to earn the hosts a bonus point for finishing within seven of the victors.
The result sees the Lions claiming their third successive victory, and finishing round three at the top of the overall standings.
Bulls – Tries: Johnny Kotze, Handré Pollard, Lizo Gqoboka, Travis Ismaiel. Conversion: Marnitz Boshoff, Francois Brummer (2). Penalties: Boshoff (3).
Lions – Tries: Ruan Dreyer, Jacques van Rooyen, Marvin Orie, Malcolm Marx, penalty try, Sylvian Mahuza, Ross Cronjé. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (6).
Bulls – 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Handré Pollard (c), 11 Johnny Kotze, 10 Marnitz Boshoff , 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Frans van Wyk, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Adriaan Strauss, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Nic de Jager, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Francois Brummer, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Marco Janse van Vuuren, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Madosh Tambwe.
Photo: Gordon Arons/Gallo Images
