Lions dominate Chiefs
May 10 2008
The Lions combined set piece domination with some ferocious defensive tackling and clinical finishing to upset the Chiefs 33-27 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Add to that a lucky bounce or two and a 100 per cent kicking display from Earl Rose and you've got the recipe for the Lions' first win in many, many moons. Speaking of moons, there must have been a bad one rising on the Chiefs for whom very little went right.
It was a team effort in every sense as the home side turned out a fifteen-man performance. Two converted tries in the last two minutes for the Chiefs left them with a flattering scoreline after having been dominated for most of the match
The vital ingredient in the winning recipe was the finishing. On countless occasions this season the Lions have set up opportunities only to fluff them at the last moment.
It must have been the familiar Highveld air that saw the Lions team play with the composure they've lacked all season as they produced their best performance of the year.
Rose got the ball rolling with a penalty after six minutes which was followed by scrum-half Chris Jonck's first ever Super14 try. In the team for Jano Vermaak who was absent due to bout of the 'flu, Jonck had a excellent night. His distribution was crisp and his kicking precise.
Jonck's try was the result of some sterling work from the Lions' pack as his massive right shoulder allowed Willem Alberts to break into open ground on the side of the scrum.
Heinke van der Merwe was controlling things up front while the Lions loosies were cleaning up at the rucks and tackling the life out of the Chiefs' attacking moves.
Eugene Eloff must have been chanting "don't give them space to run" all week and the Lions did just that. As expected the Chiefs looked dangerous in broken play but the home team endeavoured to keep the pressure on their visitors with some 'in your face' defending.
Chiefs hooker Aled de Malmanche rounded off some good work from his pack with a try to allow Stephen Donald to draw the teams level, but before the pause Alberts was in the mix again to put his side ahead.
Rose had a fortuitous bounce to start the move, but that's the way the game would go as for once Lady Luck smiled on the Lions. Returning Springbok centre Jaque Fourie also had a hand in the action and was impressive in his first game back after a long lay-off.
So the Lions led 17-13 at half-time and kept the momentum after the break with another Rose penalty and try from captain Cobus Grobbelaar.
27-13 down the Chiefs were needed to do something special and one got the feeling they were forcing the issue just a little and making the silly handling errors we've come to expect from the Lions.
The visitors did get their act together and when Lelia Masaga sailed over it looked like it was game on. But the opposite was true as referee Stuart Dickinson dealt them a double whammy by disallowing the try and sending Ben May off - for good - for standing on Joe van Niekerk's face. May protested that he hadn't done it intentionally, but the damage was done.
Rose continued to slot penalties and ended the night with a record of seven from seven. There was probably more cheering in Durban than in Jo'burg as the Lions were doing the Sharks a massive favour in their bid to make the semi-finals.
33-13 up with two minutes to play, the Lions were dead on their feet as the Chiefs ran in two long-distance tries to sneak back on the scoreboard.
That late rally saved the Chiefs a bonus point which might very well be vital when the final sums are done to determine who makes the play-offs. That Durban cheering was no doubt a little more subdued at the final whistle here.
Man of the match: Van Niekerk (who stole 4 chiefs line-outs), Van der Merwe, Alberts and Grobbelaar all had great games as did Rose who's evening was soured by a yellow card in the closing stages. But Chris Jonck gets the nod for a sterling display behind the scrum.
Moment of the match: May's red card was the death blow to the Chiefs hopes, but they were already going down the drain when Grobbelaar's try put the home side 14 points clear.
Villain of the match: Ben May said he wasn't looking down when he stood on 'Big Joe's' face. We're not so sure.
The Scorers
For the Lions:
Tries: Jonck, Alberts, Grobbelaar
Cons: Rose 3
Pens: Rose 4
For the Chiefs:
Tries: de Malmanche, Masaga, Muliaina
Cons: Donald 3
Pens: Donald 2
Yellow card: Earl Rose (Lions - 72nd minute - hands in the ruck)
Red card: May (Chiefs - 64th minute- foul play)
The teams:
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Joe van Niekerk, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 JC Janse van Rensburg, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Wilhelm Koch, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Jannie Boshoff, 22 Dusty Noble.
Chiefs: 15 Mils Muliaina (c), 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Dwayne Sweeney, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown, 8 Sione Lauaki, 7 Tanerau Latimer, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Kevin O'Neill, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Ben Castle,2 Aled de Malmanche, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Tom Willis, 17 Simon Lemalu, 18 Jono Gibbes, 19 Faifili Levave, 20 David Bason, 21 Viliame Waqaseduadua, 22 Sosene Anesi.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Brett Bowden (Australia), Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)