Rampant Lions win one-sided catfight
THIS year’s Super Rugby season will go down as the Lions’ best so far. Last night, a calm and brave Lions pride mauled the Cheetahs in the battle of the big cats at Ellis Park.
The win took the Lions to seven wins — their best win record in a season in the competition. However, for the Cheetahs, their defeat was like adding salt to a wound in a season of misfortunes when it comes to results.
Naka Drotske’s side ended without a victory away from home, having secured only four wins at home and finishing just short of claiming the wooden spoon, which goes to the last-placed Rebels.
This Cheetahs performance signified their entire season— they had moments of brilliance, but often lost concentration and allowed their opponents to take control.
Discipline was again their downfall. The side received three yellow cards in the match, two of which ran concurrently, as the Cheetahs at one stage played with 13 men.
Whenever opportunity presented itself, the Lions took it.
Lionel Mapoe and Elton Jantjies were both playing their 50th Super Rugby games, and they capped the occasion with outstanding performances.
Mapoe, playing on the wing, scored a try hat-trick to give the Lions a tighter grip on the victory. Jantjies, who got a rare start after playing most of the season from the bench, was almost flawless with the boot. Out of 10 kicks at goal he slotted all but one (seven conversions and two penalties).
In the end, the Lions proved to be ruthless, scoring eight tries to the Cheetahs’ three.
The Cheetahs looked to have a bigger hunger for the first bite at points on the board. New Springbok Cornal Hendricks led the visitors’ first charge at the tryline in the opening minute. The bulky winger showed his strength, pace and skill when he made a 40m dash for the tryline, out-
In the end, the Lions proved to be the most ruthless, scoring eight tries to the Cheetahs’ three
running and overpowering the opposition defence, until it took three defenders to pin him down 5m short of the line.
The Cheetahs did get the first points through flyhalf Johan Goosen after six minutes, but it didn’t take long for No 10 Jantjies to level the scores.
The Cheetahs arguably have the best back three, in wings Hendricks, Raymond Rhule and fullback Willie le Roux.
Le Roux scored the first try. Hendricks added two, while Goosen’s 10 points with the boot were the only points the Cheetahs put on the board.
For the Lions, scrumhalf Ross Cronje, Robbie Coetzee, Warren Whiteley, Andries Coetzee, Corne Fourie and Mapoe (three) were involved in the try-scoring frenzy.