The Lions mauled the Waratahs in Johannesburg 55-36 in front of an adoring home crowd, scoring eight tries to five. They were superior in most facets of rugby and were it not for some of their own blemishes they would have won by 40.
With injuries to Wallabies Skelton, Foley and Phipps in the days leading up to the game the visitors were never in the lead and never looked likely to win.
Waratahs’ hooker Tolu Latu tackles Lions’ centre Harold Vorster
First half
One theme of the game occurred early when the Lions drove from a lineout maul and skipper Whitley scored. There were two other tries like that in the match because the Waratahs had no clue how to defuse them.
But fullback Kellaway had the visitors’ bench cheering when he made a break up touch and put winger Horne in to level the scores.
Michael Hooper scores after being set up by Matt Lucas
There was another pair of tries when Ackermann got the second Lions’ maul try and scrummie Lucas put Hooper over for the Waratahs after a visit it to the home 22. Despite losing winger Robinson to the bin for a dangerous tackle, the Tahs had drawn level 14-14 after 20 minutes.
But that is as close as they got.
The Lions scored three other tries in the half and the Waratahs looked down and out but just before half-time Hegarty, chipped the ball for himself for five points. Brilliant.
Halftime score: Lions 33 – Waratahs 24.
Rohan Janse van Rensburg – scored two tries
Second half
The Waratahs struggled after the break as they did near halftime. They were sucking in seagulls as they struggled for air in the high altitude, trying to stop the more powerful Lions forwards who were playing power rugby.
Their backs had trouble keeping their defensive patterns because they were too slow to man-up, but at least should be credited with scrambling well sometimes to force errors from the Lions in open play
The Lions scored three tries in the half: van Rensburg scored his second, set up by flanker Kriel, when there was a vacancy on defence – reserve Mahuza scored after good continuity and a charge by Whiteley, while the Tahs were getting off the ground – and reserve hooker Marx got the third maul try.
The Waratahs scored two of them – McDuling from a goal-line ruck and Folau from a sparkling individual try after the siren.
Final score: Lions 55 – Waratahs 36.
Warren Whiteley – his Lions were better this week but allowed some soft tries
The wrap-up
It was a poor effort from the Tahs who were off the pace of the game too often, and their technical deficiencies in the set pieces, mauls and contestable rucks were glaring.
They were lacking the grunt they had from their big men in recent years and were too passive against opponents who were no bigger than they were – and they missed over 30 tackles.
Also their clearance kicks compared poorly with that of the locals
The Lions took a step up from their tepid performance last week but leaked too many soft tries themselves
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The Game Changer
The game was tied when the Lions scored three tries in a row, and the Tahs never recovered. Van Rensburg scored when Robinson was absent from his post, in the bin; Coetzee was over when he picked up a loose ball from a kick through, and Cronje sniped from a scrum after Kepu was carded and Robinson was no.8.[/one_third]
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The G&GR MOTM
Scrummie Cronjie took his chance well when de Klerk got dropped to the bench and the official MOTM, flanker Ackermann was energetic and destructive.
But the G&GR MOTM was the other flanker Jaco Kriel who kicked through for one try, gave the pass for another and counter-rucked like a brute.[/one_third]
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Wallaby Watch
Not many were shining lights. Hooker Latu was strong over the ball, but lacked helpers; Mumm was a pest, but to a fault; Lucas played well but needed more snap; Kellaway had his best game as a Waratah and is progressing well; and Folau was not stellar except for one move at the end when it didn’t matter.[/one_third]
G&GR Man of the Match Jaco Kriel reaches out for David Horwitz
Score & Scorers
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Lions – 55
Tries: R. Janse van Rensburg (21′, 51′), W. Whiteley 4′, R. Ackermann 15′, A. Coetzee 24′, R. Cronje 33′, S. Mahuza 65′, M. Marx 77′.
Conversions: E. Jantjies (5′, 16′, 22′, 25′, 53′, 78′)
Penalties: E. Jantjies 50′
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Waratahs – 36
Tries: R. Horne 7′, M. Hooper 18′, B. Hegarty 38′, D. McDuling 59′, I. Folau 80+’.
Conversions: R. Robinson, (8′, 39′, 80+), B. Hegarty 19′.
Penalties: R. Robinson 27′:
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Cards & Citings
Yellow Cards
Waratahs – R. Robinson 9′ (dangerous tackle), S. Kepu 31′ (cynical play).
Lions – F. Mostert 58′ (repeated infringements).
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Crowd
tba
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