Whiteley: It was epic
LIONS SKIPPER: IT WAS VERY MUCH SORT OF A TEST MATCH GAME
Late Jaco Kriel try the difference as gallant Sharks go down at Ellis Park.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley has compared his team’s thrilling 34-29 Super Rugby win over the Sharks on Saturday to a Test match. After the Lions were put under pressure in the first half at Ellis Park, and were left staggering from the Sharks’ physical onslaught, they bounced back to score the winning try by flank Jaco Kriel three minutes from time to break the 29-29 deadlock.
“It was very much sort of a Test match game,” Whiteley said.
“Tactically, both teams were trying to win that kicking contest to get territory.”
In front of a noisy crowd of 38 716 spectators, the Sharks edged ahead early in the game after prop Coenie Oosthuizen’s great try, and Whiteley said the hosts had to change their mindset.
“We probably played wide a bit too quickly in the beginning and we weren’t as direct as we wanted to be in those first 20 minutes,” he said.
“We got that right once we were securing our ruck ball, but it was still close right to the end.”
Once Robert du Preez’s men lost fiery lock Ettienne Oosthuizen to a yellow card for foul play, the home side hit back with tries either side of half-time by hooker Malcolm Marx and wing Courtnall Skosan, edging 20-16 ahead.
Coach Johan Ackermann, who was set to hold a media conference this morning to announce whether he would be joining English club side Gloucester, said they had initially struggled with referee Jaco van Heerden’s decisions.
“We were probably asleep in that first half, but the biggest adjustment we made was to our discipline. We gave a lot of easy penalties away,” Ackermann said.
“Maybe we didn’t play to the ref, maybe he saw things differently. The picture he saw at the breakdown was completely different.”
With the Sharks hitting back late in the game with their second try by Kobus van Wyk on the wing, Ackermann admitted they were hammered by young flyhalf Curwin Bosch who showed he can kick the ball a mile.
“Bosch … what a talent, he showed he can kick under pressure and play, so he really punished us.”