Western Province got the bonus point in the end, but they were genuinely put to the sword by the Golden Lions in a 58-32 defeat at Ellis Park on Friday night.
The WP defence was embarrassing at times, with the number of missed tackles ending up at 43 on the night as the Lions ran rings around Province in a highly entertaining affair on a mild Johannesburg evening.
On the evidence of this performance, WP will be fortunate to reach the semi-finals as they are in sixth position on 13 points, with all of the Sharks, Cheetahs, Griquas, Lions and Blue Bulls playing better rugby than the Cape side at the moment.
The defending champions exerted their authority over WP immediately from the kickoff as they scored within 40 seconds. What looked like a simple exit was turned into an attacking opportunity inside his own 22 by impressive Lions No 8 Fabian Booysen, who drew the defence and put outside centre Jacques Nel into the gap.
That opened up the field for the home side, and after a few outstanding offloads, it was Nel who fittingly rounded things off.
Province actually came back into the game and had the better of the exchanges in the next 10 minutes, with their backs finding their rhythm on attack and linking well with the loose trio of Rynhardt Elstadt, Jurie van Vuuren and Kobus van Dyk.
Flyhalf Robert du Preez put WP into the lead with two penalties, but that is when the Lions went back to their free-flowing game instead of taking on the Province pack. They avoided setting up rucks and kept the ball alive with wonderful running lines and offloads in the tackle, but they were helped by a porous WP defence that was non-existent at times.
It was Nel again who cut the WP defence to shreds up the middle, and despite protests of obstruction from the visitors, referee Jaco Peyper waved play on and hooker Robbie Coetzee barged over in the 16th minute.
The next five-pointer really showed up the diabolical tackling techniques of the Province players as Lions wing Anthony Volmink casually ran the ball back from the kickoff, ghosting past a number of opponents to find Man-of-the-Match and captain Ross Cronjé, before fullback Andries Coetzee finished off.
Two further tries before halftime secured the bonus point for the Lions, with giant lock JP du Preez (2.09m) and star centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg putting their team 37-13 ahead at the break.
The only consolation for Province was a wonderfully executed backline move that saw Leolin Zas in space out wide, and the left wing chipped over the top and regained possession to open WP’s account.
But any idea of a comeback from John Dobson’s Province outfit was quickly snuffed out by Volmink, with the Lions again displaying the kind of electric attacking play from Super Rugby to run WP off their feet.
Johan Ackermann’s playmakers brought up the 50-point tally before the hour mark through livewire flank Kwagga Smith, and the horror movie was complete for the outgunned Streeptruie.
Replacement flank Jacques Vermeulen grabbed the four-try bonus point in the last minute, but that wouldn’t mean much for a WP side battling to stay afloat in the competition.
They have been badly affected by injuries to stalwarts such as Scarra Ntubeni, JD Schickerling, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Nizaam Carr and Huw Jones – and that list was lengthened as Rynhardt Elstadt (concussion) and Jano Vermaak left the field injured at Ellis Park – but there are also a number of questionable selections in the current team.
It will take a monumental effort from here by Dobson and his side to rescue Province’s Currie Cup campaign.
@ashfakmohamed
POINTS-SCORERS
Golden Lions– Tries: Jacques Nel, Robbie Coetzee, Andries Coetzee, JP du Preez, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Anthony Volmink, Kwagga Smith (2). Conversions: Jaco van der Walt (6). Penalties: Jaco van der Walt (2).
Western Province– Tries: Leolin Zas, Jacques Vermeulen (2), Dewaldt Duvenage. Conversions: Robert du Preez (3). Penalties: Robert du Preez (2).