Johannesburg – The Lions are still alive in this year’s Super Rugby competition.
It was another edge-of-the-seat encounter, won by the Lions only because they finally woke up after the interval, and after coach Johan Ackermann had brought on his best halfback pairing of Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies.
Ackermann had loaded his bench with players capable of making an impact and the plan worked a treat for the hosts after they battled through a poor first half.
The Highlanders dominated the first 40 minutes and enjoyed a deserved 20-3 lead at the break.
But second-half tries by Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel and Harold Vorster left the visitors wondering how they let this match slip from their grasp.
Not once have the Lions won by more than five points this season, all seven of their victories being tight affairs, but the players and coaching staff will not worry one bit.
They’re still in the running to make the play-offs and after this result will believe they can also knock over the Brumbies this weekend before also facing the Waratahs on their home ground.
There would, however, have been plenty of worried minds in the Lions change-room at the break.
The Lions hardly asked a question of their opponents and were on the back foot throughout the first period.
And, while their defence stood tall, it was only a matter of time before the visitors broke through the defensive lines.
Highlanders’ strike runners Malakai Fekitoa, Patrick Osborne, Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith were kept in check by a resolute Lions’ defence, but in the final five minutes of the half flank Gareth Evans and then Fekitoa went over the whitewash – both tries coming after the Lions had turned over the ball.
The Lions were well and truly out of the game at that stage – mainly because their line-out wasn’t working and because they couldn’t control the ball or the tempo of the game.
Down 20-3, De Klerk and Jantjies entered the fray and there was an immediate increase in the Lions’ intensity, and it wasn’t long before Skosan went over, and then between the 55th and 62nd minutes Kriel and Vorster scored.
Both tries came after wins in the line-out – proof that if the hosts get it right in the set-piece they can be as deadly as any other team when close to the line.
Kriel’s dot-down was especially magical.
After Warren Whiteley had taken the ball in the line-out, the Lions marched towards the tryline, all of 25 metres, to show their intent.
Vorster’s try came after Franco Mostert had won the line-out.
The match was sealed in the final 10 minutes when Jantjies struck two penalties to put his side in the clear, forcing the Highlanders to score a try to get ahead.
It didn’t happen as the visitors managed only a drop-goal by Ben Smith in the second period.
Ellis Park
Lions (3) 28
Tries: Skosan, Kriel, Vorster
Conversions: Jantjies (2)
Penalties: Boshoff, Jantjies (2)
Highlanders (20) 23
Tries: Evans, Fekitoa
Conversions: Sopoaga (2)
Penalty: Sopoaga
Drop-goals: Sopoaga, Smith