Lions compound Sunwolves’ woe with win in Singapore

The Lions heaped more misery on the Sunwolves with a comfortable 37-24 victory at Singapore’s National Stadium on Saturday, a day after it was announced the Japanese side would be cut from Super Rugby after the 2020 season.

Hooker Malcolm Marx scored a first-half brace as the Lions led 12-7 at the break, while Nic Groom, Elton Jantjies, Lionel Mapoe and Hacjivah Dayimani all crossed in the second half for the Johannesburg-based side.

Rahboni Warren Vosayaco managed to muster two second-half scores for the Sunwolves to add to an early penalty try, but the performance brought little optimism for rugby in Japan as the nation prepares to showcase its development in the sport as hosts of the World Cup.

Sunwolves were first off the mark, awarded a penalty try in the sixth minute after Lions’ winger Sylvian Mahuza slapped down a floated pass bound for a free man on the outside.

Their lead was short-lived, however. Less than 10 minutes later Lions’ hooker Marx crashed over from close range and his Springbok team mate Jantjies added the extras to level the scores at 7-7.

It was Marx again that put the Lions in front on 35 minutes, flopping over from the back of a driving lineout maul but this time Jantjies could not convert from out wide. Lions centre Mapoe got on the end of some slick handling after a clean line-break in the middle of the park for his side’s fifth try as the game entered the final quarter.