JOHANNESBURG - The Lions have got their home final!
Johan Ackermann’s men scored a sensational 44-29 win against the Hurricanes here on Saturday to book their place in next Saturday’s Super Rugby final where they will face the multiple-champion Crusaders.
Ackermann’s men scored six tries in a little over 40 minutes to down the defending champions in front of a boisterous crowd on Saturday afternoon.
It was as dramatic as you get after the visitors from New Zealand had gone 22-3 up after 30 minutes.
They had dominated the match with their physicality and skill at the back and the home team had no answer. It was the first time this season that the Lions faced a New Zealand team and they looked spooked by the occasion and prospect.
A try on the stroke of halftime though by prop Jacques van Rooyen gave the Lions hope and they followed it up with further tries after the restart by Ross Cronje and Malcolm Marx.
And while Ngani Laumape got a third try for his team in the 56th minute to see the Canes into a 29-22 lead, the Lions upped their tempo and ran them ragged.
A yellow card given to influential No 10 Beauden Barrett lifted the Lions’ spirits and Harold Vorster, Elton Jantjies and Kwagga Smith scored further five-pointers to seal a famous win.
Point Scorers
Lions (10) 44 - Tries: Van Rooyen, Cronje, Marx, Vorster, Jantjies, Smith. Conversions: Jantjies (4). Penalties: Jantjies (2).
Hurricanes (22) 29 - Tries: Perenara, Goosen, Savea, Laumape; Conversions: Barrett (2); Penalties: Barrett.