Lions end on high but miss playoff places

The Lions found themselves in “what if” territory on the United Rugby Championship points table after they completed their league commitments with a 50-35 victory over Zebre at Loftus Versfeld.

Having won half of their 18 league matches, the Lions secured ninth place on the points table, tantalisingly just one place below the playoff spot.

When they review their campaign, their fault lines won’t be hard to find.

Their defence left a lot to be desired and, disconcertingly, only Zebre conceded more tries in the competition.

As expected though, on attack they were a force in this clash.

Scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba masterfully pulled the strings, No 8 Francke Horn typically punched holes, while flank Jaco Kriel trawled the tramlines to telling effect in his last professional rugby match.

The Lions and Zebre traded more blows than highly strung lightweights, especially in the opening half, and poor defence left them stunned from the outset.

Zebre broke the defensive line and hit left with ease, allowing left-wing Simone Gesi to dot down from their first attack.

Nohamba ’ s first try came on the back of superb scrum, while his fellow backs created a much needed diversion.

Later in the half, his skip pass beyond two teammates created space that left a huge gap for right-wing Rabz Maxwane down the left flank.

By the time he was confronted, he chose to go left to his wing partner, Edwill van der Merwe, who rounded off a superb upfield sweep.

The visitors found some momentum and, after good build-up work , Gesi was the beneficiary as he scored his second and third try.

It meant Zebre held a three-point lead with halftime looming, but the Lions rectified that when an unedifying cross-kick from Louw somehow rolled through the legs of Zebre right-wing Kobus van Wyk, allowing Van der Merwe to score.

Quan Horn handed the Lions an even bigger cushion after the siren. Referee Ben Whitehouse spotted a no-arms tackle in the build-up to that try, resulting in a yellow card for flanker Guido Volpe.

The second half followed more or less a similar pattern. —