Golden Lions (37) 58
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). Penalty: Jaco van der Walt (2)
Western Province (13) 32
Tries: Leonlin Zas, Jacques Vermeulen (2), Dewaldt Duvenage. Conversions: Robert du Preez (3). Penalties: Robert du Preez (2)
The Golden Lions are not going to give up their Currie Cup crown without a fight, and they sent out a timely warning to the other title contenders after their demolition of Western Province at Ellis Park last night.
The ruthlessness and brute force with which the Lions played was reminiscent of their unbeaten run to the title last year and this time around the win catapulted them above Western Province and kept their semi-final hopes alive and well.
Having started the competition immediately after playing in the Super Rugby final and without eight of their star players, who are busy on national duty, the Lions looked to be in danger of missing out on the play-offs after defeats against Griquas and the Blue Bulls.
However, they responded to the pressure in the best possible way, flexing their muscles and continuing with the fluent running brand of rugby that made them the darlings of many South African fans in Super Rugby.
Johan Ackermann’s men wasted no time in registering their first of eight tries when centre Jacques Nel crashed over the line within 30 seconds of the game, kicking off after some breathtaking interplay between the forwards and backs.
The Lions continued to up the intensity and it was their swift response and devastating speed off the mark that saw them race to a 23-6 lead in the first quarter of the game with hooker Robbie Coetzee and fullback Andries Coetzee scoring tries engineered deep within Lions' territory.
The writing was on the wall for the men from Cape Town at half-time when Rohan Janse van Rensburg cantered over for the hosts' fifth try to give them an unassailable 37-13 lead.
Much of the Lions' blitzkrieg came courtesy of the high tempo with which they approached the game and their ability to run into space instead of over the players benefited them as they were always a yard or two faster than Western Province.
It was the same fast-paced game that was part of their Super Rugby fairy-tale story and they complemented it with a handful of line-out steals, steady scrums and dominance at the breakdown.
The Lions managed a staggering 15 turnovers which starved Western Province of vital possession, but John Dobson’s men let themselves down with inept defending which saw them concede an embarrassing 43 missed tackles in the game.
The scoreline would have been bigger than the 26-point winning margin as the Lions took their foot off the gas somewhat in the second half but were still able to maintain a stranglehold on the game by forcing the visitors into playing catch-up rugby.
It was all about the Lions on the night as they sealed a momentous victory with three more second-half tries.
Saturday Star