Closing the weekend of Super Rugby is the Lions hosting the Cheetahs at Coca Cola Park, where the two big cats will take each other on in a match where victory could mena a lot more than just the four or five points.
The Lions are Currie Cup champions, and will want to carry that momentum into the Super Rugby season, and with the Cheetahs first up, could capitalize on facing a relatively ‘weak’ side, to build their confidence and get off the mark early in the conference.
The Cheetahs will have it all to prove, with a young team and new pivot which comes with an air of expectation, and will also see this game as a must win, for reasons we are all very aware of.
Both teams are filled with exciting young stars, players that will certainly wear the Green and Gold at some point in the future, so strap yourself in for what should be a really exciting game.
Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Alwyn Hollenbach, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. James Kamana, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Joshua Strauss (Captain), 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Callie Visagie, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Hendrik Roodt, 19. Warren Whiteley, 20. Tian Meyer, 21. Butch James, 22. Lionel Mapoe
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Dusty Noble, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Davon Raubenheimer, 7. Nelis Labuschagne, 6. Heinrich Brussow, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Trevor Nyakane
Replacements: 16. Hercu Liebenberg, 17. Lourens Adriaanse, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Ashley Johnson, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Willie Le Roux
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Look out for Orange no.10, the best thing since sliced bread. 😉
@Die Kriek (Comment 1) :
Here kitty kitty …
A very wet and stormy Ellis Park …seems to be letting up a bit though …
Can’t wait to get a glimpse of the worlds best 1O…
Jantjies !!!
L I O N S !
Elton miss his first attempt @ goal, but slots his 2nd chance
Lions 3 – 0 Cheetahs
5 min
I want the Lions to win this but have a feeling they won’t with Goosen kicking anything within 60m 👿
Cheets on attack, 5 meters out, advantage to them
Try by WP Nel, and Cheets are on the score board…
Goosen slots the convesion
Lions 3 – 7 Cheetahs
10 min
lions 10 meter out, and with advantage, and now a tip-tackle by Andries…..
Van Heerden the victim and carried off the field
Yellow for Andries, and a white card for a review later
Unfortunate tackle that – Strauss isn’t a dirty player, but a real powerful bugger.
Elton slots the penalty
Lions 6 – 7 Cheetahs
12 min
Cheetahs scrum on lions 22
Goosen gets a chance to kick at goal after a penalty conceded by the lions
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : I actually have to disagree, he is the same as Juan Smith, what in afrikaans we would call “geniepsig” almsot translated into English as a bully.
Goosen slots the penalty
Lions 6 – 10 Cheetahs
14 min
@Big Fish (Comment 13) : that’s a citing! If Warburtons tackle is anything to go by he was lucky he didn’t get a red
Now Elton gets a chance to pull back 3 point and slots the PK
Lions 9 – 10 Cheetahs
17 min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) :
When have you ever noted that? In all his time at the Sharks and now at the Cheaters, I haven’t ever seen malicious behaviour from him.
Cheetahs with the ball and gets penalized for playing a man without the ball, lions relieving kick
@Big Fish (Comment 21) : SORRY!!!!!! I thought it was the Hooker Strauss. 😳
My apologies. I’m watching Wales v Eng
Cheetahs up to the lions 10
.
A penalty gives Elton a chance to relieve some pressure
Cheetahs 5 meter out but knocks the ball, Lions hack the ball down field
61% possession to the Cheetahs
Been focusing on the Six Nations game, has here been an update on Wikus health?
Goosen slots a penalty
Lions 9 – 13 Cheetahs
28 min
@LordHope (Comment 29) : just now, concussion
As soon as press submit Owen Nkumane (sp) says something about it.
Co-incidence, or can I control minds…
@LordHope (Comment 29) : JUST gave one a minute ago, he has concussion.
again a player is been played without the ball, penalty against the Cheetahs, Elton for goal
Elton slots the penalty
Lions 12 – 13 Cheetahs
30 min
@LordHope (Comment 32) : 😆
@Franshark (Comment 31) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 33) :
Thanks
I hate this Cheetahs jersey, the prominently white one is soo much better in my opinion.
Elton with a bad kick and it goes directly into touch
@LordHope (Comment 36) : ALL Cheetah jerseys look crap IMO. 😛
Cheetahs line out..
lions turn the ball on the ground….
Anyone else extremely disappointed in the attendance turn out for the reigning Currie Cup champions.
Pathetic really, and I have a soft spot for the Lions
@KSA Shark © (Comment 38) : 😆
I get SOOOOOOOOOOOO P’EED OFFFFFFF when a ruck stops and the ref tells the defending team to leave the ball 2 or 3 times and then lets the ball get played. 👿
F^&*#$N penalise them and they will learn soon enough that you cannot Ag Nee [email protected] Matfield is here as well. 👿
Cheetahs have a feed to the scrum after a knock,
Goosen with a drop kick from the half line
Lions 12 – 16 Cheetahs
36min
@LordHope (Comment 40) : People want to avoid seeing the Cheetahs Jersey. 😛
Goosen has a chance to kick from 57 meters
Lions 12 – 19 Cheetahs
38 min
@Franshark (Comment 46) : Do I get extra points in FL if the kick is over 50ms?
HALF TIME
Lions 12 – 19 Cheetahs
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) : 😆
The Cheetahs seem to have the Game Breakers that the Lions are lacking. Goosen is a monster kicker and a great runner while they also have the ultimate fetcher in Brussow.
Lions have a great captain and a good kicker, but they don’t seem to have the x-factor players that the cheetahs posses.
my LMS under pressure here
@Leviathan (Comment 50) : Congrats with your teams victory earlier
C’mon Butch must come on and give Goose a how’s your father
I’m glad I took a bye in LMS
Goosen to start the 2nd half with a penalty kick
Lions 12 – 22 Cheetahs
42 min
lions gets a penalty, Elton to kick from almost the half line
Lions 15 – 22 Cheetahs
44 min
@juba_fan (Comment 54) : Luckily I got the Stomers, if I chose like I did on SB, I’d be dead chick walkin’!
Elton gets another shot at goal
and slots it
Lions 18 – 22 Cheetahs
47 min
Stransky: This is on the edge of jantjies’ range and then Jantjies bangs it over with LOTS of room to spare. 😆
My SB is so bad it’s like it haven’t started yet
@Franshark (Comment 52) : Muzi gaan skeit! Vertel my op twitter die bulls het ons genail! Ek is seker hy’t nog stains op sy onnie agv di laaste 10 min van die game! LOL
Goosen with a good take from the air and gain meters up field, now gets a chance to kick at goal
over from straight in front
Lions 18 – 25 Cheetahs
50 min
Ashley on now
Goosen gets a yellow
@Franshark (Comment 64) : Great! My FL is in the negative with him and Bissie! LOL
Elton get the score closer, PK
Lions 21 – 25 Cheetahs
55 min
Cheetahs steel another Lions line out
@Ice (Comment 65) : why for Bismarck? 🙂
Tewis withe a PK while Goosen is off
and miss
Chetahs forward with a run down the side line but bundeld out…
lions awarded a penalty, and gets a relieving kick
[email protected]Ice (Comment 61) : haha blikskottel
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : Hahaha I am new to this thing! Thought u get points subtracted for penalties! 😀
Penalty for the lion, straight in front, Elton to bring the lions score within 1 point
Lions 24 – 25 Cheetahs
64 min
@Ice (Comment 73) : but now points for bad play….. Bismark ows us
Lions gets a penalty after a good run by them and the Cheetahs back line all off side
Goosen gets a knock just after he gets back on the pitch
Elton to kick his 9th penalty kick in the match…. but miss
Lions immediately back at cheetahs 22, but concedes a penalty… Sis replaced Goosen and kicks for the line out
So is the incumbent Bok fly-half off the pitch now?
How dare the Lions injure him. 👿
Lions penalized for slowing the ball, Sias to kick from almost halfway…. way miss
8 min to go, lions launch an attack, PK going the way of the lions…..
Elton almost slots a drop goal…. back to the PK
Elton PK for the lead
Lions 27 – 25 Cheetahs
73 min
I have the Cheetahs by 3 on SB (head) but I want the lions to win (heart).
@Franshark (Comment 83) : The Cheetahs need to learn VERY early in the season you can’t build your entire campaign around one player’s boot.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 84) : Lions….. lms ……. the nerves
@LordHope (Comment 80) : The kid is good, make no mistake! Much different type of player from Lambo….seems to play more “flashy”, drop goals etc…think Lambs need to get a few tricks up his sleeve…(Don’t kill me, just an unbias oppinion)
Lions turn the ball on the ground right in front of their post…….
a lot off stops, past 9 all ready and still 3 min to go
@Ice (Comment 87) : I’m one of the Goosen fanboys who screamed like a little girl when I first saw him playing in 2009. 😆
And its all over after I almost shiiiiiiit myself
Lions 27 – 25 Cheetahs
FULL TIME
Awwww the Cheetahs must be devastated.
They should have called Coenie he would P*&sed the Lions to Death.
4 from 7 and 5 margin points 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 92) : 😈
Lions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@LordHope (Comment 90) : and I did not think the hype was justified.. I think I was wrong..
@Franshark (Comment 52) :
I tell you what. I’ve been on Sport24 and the comments section is just overflowing with insults between Bulls and Stormers supporters.
I’m glad I found this sight, there’s no pointless anger here.
Thanks for the congrats. Big show by the youngsters tonight. especially Kolisi and Etsebeth. Would have liked the bonus point, but the win will do for now. 😉
@Franshark (Comment 91) :
Almost?
You have stronger bowels than me sir.
Aye this game was over 2 hours from kick-off to final whistle….WoW
Glad the LIONS won…but were they the more deserving side….Hmmm…I donno
This must be the opening week with the highest tally of penalties in Super Rugby history….
The LIONS did not look as smooth as they did last year…had moments with ball in hand…but not many….
The Lions are staking their claim to Super Rugby through solid teamwork and determination. Congrats to the Lions, Bulls, Stormers and everyone else who won this weekend. And don’t worry the losers, the tournament is still young and there is much more to come. See you next week Sharks, bring your A-game.
Go Stormers!
I am just happy that the LIONS won a close game they would have lost last year…just like Mitchel said…
Last year the LIONS lost a few close games they should have won…about time it was the other way around…lol
@KSA Shark © (Comment 92) :
Shit, I almost fell over laughing! You been in top form of late, Oubaas!
Best SA players:
1. Kitshof
2. Liebenberg
3. Casterns
4. Etsbeth
5. Kruger
6. Brusouw (but no standout here)
7. Potgieter
8. Strauss
9. Hougaart
10. Goosen
11. Basson
12. Doppies
13. JPP
14. No one
15. Viljoen
Hmmm
As far as I know Deon Carstens didn’t play this wkend. He wasn’t even on the bench for the Stormers! 😆
Unless of course you’re referring to another Carstens who plays tighthead for one of the other SA teams. 😈
@wpw (Comment 107) : not Carstens… Casterns… 🙂
What a fun weekend! 6 from 7 in SuperBru, LMS lifeline still solid, but the Stormers did get a good few swearwords! My FL didn’t do too great, but eh, live and learn
First off all … nobody ever gets what i say so ill jsut say this ..
next
@Ice (Comment 96) :
Look .. Goosen is good there is no denying that . i Agree . BUT . Natural talent will only get you so far . i believe you need to learn the trade . and even the Cheetahs coaching staff agree with me . They picked experienced players around him to help him .
@Die Kriek (Comment 109) : Yeah flip my SB was shocking. 🙁
I’ll need to go have a look and see how the mountain goat did in his SB.
I was safe in LMS, I took the safe bet option. 🙂
FL was okay, Goosen did well until he got the yellow. 😳 He is my Capt. For this round, but I think I only got 3 tries in my whole squad. And I have already got 2 enforced trades 😥 Burger & Masaga
@Zibbie (Comment 110) : Their big mistake and I said as much on their FB page last night is that they are building their WHOLE campaign around him and his boot.
You just can’t do that in any rugby competition, the guy get’s a yellow and/or cramp and suddenly your team falls apart.
@Leviathan (Comment 97) : I know what you mean, I don’t read Keo any more, the quality of debates is very low and the insults endless. We have a good thing going here. There’s respect for each other’s comments, the standard of debate is good. Keep it up guys.
@Hmmm (Comment 106) : I have one change to your team, it’s at 7, Coetzee, no other number 7 came close to him in SA.
Well done my Lions ..finally starting to turn a corner in SR ..in games past we would have conspired to lose a match like that.
Attendance was poor but to be fair I was seriously considering giving it a miss too cause the storms we’ve been having in Joburg have been very intense.
A couple of hours before kick off it had been raining non-stop and a very electrical storm ..A 30 year old tree in my back garden ripped in half.
Its most certainly wasn’t our best game and looked rusty ..was pleased with our defence and Im pretty certain getting the first game out of the way with a win will bode well for us next week.
Now my major gripe is all the talk of Goosen with hardly any mention of Jantjies ..so you can kick 60m and you are the next best thing since Dan Carter ..grossly unfair ..while I don’t doubt he is a talent is NOT better than Jantjies.
Elton burnt him on 2 occasions and left him standing looking for parking.
There is not a flyhalf in SA at the moment that attacks the advantage line and gets his backline going like Jantjies does …FACT !
And there is zero wrong with his defence. Also the small matter of breaking a SR record to boot
And goosen came off after …wait for it…trying to tackle Jantjies and fell on his arse.
Minnie was quiet by his standards and hopefully our loosies get better for the Canes.
We missed Maku big time last night …I saw enough of Callie to give the lad more chance to improve his lineout throw ..cause frankly we were shocking in that dept …
Mitchell did mention after the match that it was nerves ..so something to work on.And Roodt can become a really good lock imo
@csb (Comment 115) : Agree 100%.
Yesterday was (to me anyway) a good test of these 2 one on one against each other that actually WAS a test against each other. So often you have clashes of big names and then they aren’t actually clashes because they never come near each other because the flanker are always defending the flyhalf channel etc. These guys clashed plenty.
Goosen kicked 60m and none of the commentators questioned his chances rather saying how good he was. When Jantjies took a 45m shot they suddenly questioned if he had the ability to get it especially because he only takes a 2 step run up. Well he certainly shut them up when it sailed through the middle.
One on one defence and attack Jantjies came out on top IMO. Goosen, got a YC, got bounced on his arse and suffered from cramp. None of those happened to Jantjies.
Jantjies 1 – 0 Goosen.
And a special mention to Jantjies for learning from last year and coming off the off season in great physical shape without any conditioning issues.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 117) :
Spot on ..he quiet frankly out played him.
Look I don’t mind hype around a player and I can see why there is for Goosen …but what gets my back up is the blatant double standards ..why is it that Jantjies doesn’t get the same recognition …The kid is seriously talented and showed alot of heart last night ..he was fearless.
He has grown since last year in confidence ..to come back after missing a couple and slotting rather difficult ones afer shows that to me.
@csb (Comment 118) : The answer is quite simple.
Bloem has Johan Thormallen and Hendrik Cronje punting Goosen at every chance they get. The Lions don’t really have a personal reporter like the other unions do. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 117) : @csb (Comment 118) : I agree lads. Jantjies was the better man. Outclassed Goosen. Wow! We are starting to develop some great depth in flyhalf in SA. Almost as much depth as the Stormers” loose forwards. 🙄 😆
I was impressed with the maturity of the Lions team last night to close out the game. They tried to play a bit too much rugby in their own half in difficult conditions and think they needed to play a bit more territorially initially. That said I dont think it is a good thing to read too much into 1st round games when inevitable rust is prevalent, new combinations are developing and the usual over zealousness is on display.
I think they missed Michael Rhodes a lot, particularly his abrasiveness and his lineout ability at the back. They need someone to provide a tail option to get the backline firing off first phase and it was a bit of a shambles in that respect. But I think it was a matter of having Vd Merwe and Van Heerden under a injury cloud and probably not enough practice time for Visagie and the locks. Also losing Van Heerden didnt help either.
I was impressed with both Goosen and Jantjies. Jantjies looks a lot more conditioned and played with maturity. Goosen looked classy but I think he struggled a bit with decision making in pressure situations which will come good with experience.
I think the Lions have a good chance to beat the Canes on Friday. They will struggle going up to altitude with a depleted side and a suspect tight 5 and if the Lions keep Beauden Barret in check and dominate up front they should win.
Yeah, I’m with you guys. Jantjies won that match-up. He looks much more mature and rounded (in his game, not shape) this year.
Goosen is really good, but the way he is talked up is hyperbolic, and also neglects the formidable talents of both Jantjies and Lambie.
Healthy competition for the 10 jersey in SA for the first time in years.
@Pat (Comment 121) :
Great analysis …We most certainly missed Rhodes and our poor lineouts was down to Callie not finding his jumpers …Im sure they’ll work on it and the kid will come good.
@Big Fish (Comment 122) :
I don’t think we’ve ever been in a position of having 3 possible world class 10’s in SA at once.
imho Lambie still is the front runner cause he HAS already proven himself at international level.
@csb (Comment 124) : I agree that Lambie is the front runner. But then we need Frans Steyn next to him who can kick the ball a mile.
@csb (Comment 124) :
F??k I can’t believe I’m actually gonna post this. 🙂
4 worldclass flyhalves. Let’s not forget we still have Morne Steyn as well. (no I didn’t forget to put a smiley in here)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 126) :
True how could I forget ..and with Wynand on his inside we should be humming 😎
@csb (Comment 127) : 🙂
Thank you 4 world class,we can all attack Morne Steyn,but when you looking for a match-winner,1st flyhalf on most people lists
@Ludz (Comment 129) : Times are changing. Thank goodness.
We do need Frans, but he’s not the only one who can kick it a mile. Put Jaco Taute at 15 (I know, he wasn’t great last night, but then, how many big names were?) He can also kick 70+ers
Im glad Elton is getting some praise . Good on the young man . Long way still to go ! Keep on improving !!! Keep up the good work !!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 112) :
Id also like to raise the point that if Goosen knows he is an integral part of the team he should not be flirting with Yellow cards .
He really needs to improve his discipline
@csb (Comment 124) : Goosen is a dam good player, but last night he was a fragile little girl .What people say is true ,he needs to mature some aspects of his game ;Decision making and resilience on defence . I have always been a Jantjies fan, I think the guy has huge potential .Lambie to me is the first deputy behind Morne ,he may even be better ,but If we have to play blue bulls rugby Morne is the man.
On a different note ,I believe the Sharks have two of the best young backline players in the competition ,Tim and Paul .I can’t wait for them to be incumbents in the Sharks backline, well Jordaan specifically.