Lions vs Sharks | United Rugby Championship

FULL-TIME! LIONS 40-10 SHARKS. A brutal day for the Sharks, who were looking competitive at one stage, but a wonderful win for the Lions who played some super rugby. Great to have brought the action to you… and hope you enioy the rest of your sporting weekend!

80’

Commentary

NO! The Lions win the lineout and kick the ball out of play as the hooter has gone… and that's a big win for the Lions and a heavy loss for the Sharks. Do we refer to them as the submarine Sharks from now, I wonder?

79’

Commentary

Sharks win a penalty and kick to touch close to the 5m…

77’

Commentary

The Sharks pressing forward looking for something to celebrate, but the Lions defence holds firm.

76’

Conversion

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 40-10; Hendrikse lets the shot clock run down before slotting his conversion from under the poles.

75’

Try

TRY, LIONS, SIRGEL! 38-10; Sirgel slips through a tired challenge from 5m out and runs through to under the poles for five more points. This is becoming a very tough day for the Sharks.

73’

Commentary

The Lions pour forward at the Sharks, into the 22 and right to the 5m… they also have a penalty advantage… now they run the ball, but the Shark defence is not yet beaten…

69’

Conversion

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 33-10; No problem for Golden Boot from a few metres to the right of the poles.

68’

Try

TRY, LIONS, CRONJE! 31-10; Lions pushing their ruck up to 12m short of the Sharks line… Van der Berg collects from the base and nips a gentle kick over the top of the defence for Cronje onto, the ball bouncing just right for Cronje to collect and launch himself onto the grass to claim the five points. Lovely move… and I think the Sharks might have lost yet another tough fight.

65’

Conversion

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 26-10; Lovely conversion from out wide by Hendrikse.

64’

Try

TRY, LIONS, VAN VUUREN! 24-10; The debutant scores his first URC try, breaking through from the maul that formed from the lineout… brilliant spotting of the gap and completing the try with a Shark around his shoulders.

61’

Commentary

Sharks with the scrum but the visitors are blown for collapsing the scrum… Lions kick to touch, Hendrikse finding a brilliant touch near the 5m.

60’

Commentary

Lions press forward but the ball runs out of play and the Sharks clear the danger.

58’

Commentary

TMO has reviewed a heavy tackle by the Lions but has ruled no penalty. Lions feed the scrum on the halfway line.

57’

Commentary

Sharks win the lineout and drive forward to the halfway line, then run the ball down the line, but they are called back for a penalty for a heavy tackle by the Lions.

55’

Commentary

Lions drive forward and win a scrum, but the Sharks claim the ball and launch a counter-attack which takes play up to just past the Sharks 10m line.

54’

Commentary

The Lions hard into the Sharks 22 but the visitors kick out for the throw.

51’

Yellow Card

YELLOW CARD, SHARKS. Mbonambi is given a 10-minute time out for his side collapsing the scrum.

51’

Commentary

GREAT BREAK from the Lions, breaking through the Sharks defence inside their 22 to power over the line, but the ball is held up… and it's another penalty for the Lions.

50’

Commentary

Lions turn possession over and win a penalty and Hendrikse drives play close to the Sharks' 22 where they win the lineout and ruck forward… and win another penalty for the Sharks collapsing the ruck.

49’

Commentary

Play eventually restarts after an injury and some scrumming problems, but Hendrikse's kick upfield is too deep and we'll scrum again, this time the Sharks feeding the pack.

47’

Commentary

Lions defend like trojans to hold the Sharks up and push play back up past their 22 to take the pressure off a tad.

45’

Commentary

Lions penalised in the scrum and the Sharks quickly run the penalty inside the 22… they're driving onto the line but the Lions force them all the way down to the right touchline… but the Sharks win another penalty, which is dinked into touch for a 5m lineout.

42’

Commentary

Play stopped for an injury but we're back live with a Lions scrum.

41’

Kick Off

KICK-OFF! The second half is underway as the rain and lightning has finally cleared - and we have sunshine!

40’

Half Time

The torrential rain has led the ref to extend half-time for 20 minutes…

0’

Commentary

40’

Half Time

HALF-TIME! LIONS 19-10 SHARKS. Some brilliant play from the Lions for most of the half, but the Sharks have come back fighting… so we should be in for a fantastic second half as the Sharks look to break their tough run of tight losses. Brilliant half from the referee. She's controlled the game superbly with no sign of dodgy calls. All round a good 40 minutes of rugger. More to follow in a couple of minutes…

39’

Commentary

A real pity that the Sharks man went in illegally, as it was a great try from the Sharks and would have taken us into the half with a really tight scoreline.

39’

Commentary

Yes, clearly illegal but the ref is happy for no further action. Actually, she does take some action, calling Mbonambi to the side to tell him she respects him and understands his position, but that they are equals on the field and he needs to respect her. She then confirms that it was an illegal act by the Sharks. Damn, she knows how to referee and to command respect on the field. I hope Joey Barton doesn't see that or he might explode in a fiery mass.

38’

Commentary

The fullback joins the line and Masuku draws his man and sends Fassi (who became the extra man in the line) through and over the line for a great score… but wait, the TMO has asked the ref to look at dangerous play from the Sharks…

37’

Commentary

GREAT DEFENDING! The Lions break the attack down and clear the ball up to the 22 for a moment of respite. Sharks might rue losing those three points, but it's important to go for the seven points when so close to the line.

35’

Commentary

Great driving play forward by the Sharks who threaten the Lions 5m, and the Lions are blown for off-side. The Sharks are really making a good game of it… and they are going to run from 8 metres out!

33’

Commentary

Superb, storming run down the left wing by Van der Merwe, going past three men before being sucked into a maul… and the Sharks win a penalty for the Lions not releasing. The kick hits home near the halfway line, the Sharks runs down left and win a penalty near the left touchline for the Lions trying to kick the ball out of the Sharks hands.

32’

Commentary

Lions drive into the Sharks half, get held up and try some fancy footwork but are lucky the Sharks don't intercept…instead the Lions get a scrum after a handling error by the Sharks.

30’

Commentary

SUBSTITUTION, SHARKS. Dyantyi is driven off by the golf cart ambulance and Bosch takes over his duties.

28’

Conversion

CONVERSION, SHARKS, MASUKU! 19-10; Masuku's not going to miss from in front of the poles after all the work he did to make that try.

27’

Try

TRY, SHARKS, KEYTER! 19-9; Masuku breaks up a Lions attack by blocking a grubber with his feet, then picking up the ball and driving forward, passing to a team-mate… Masuku follows him into the 22, gets the return pass and then feeds to Keyter, who is free to dive over under the crossbar. Super try from the Sharks… not looking so bad anymore it must be said!

26’

Commentary

The Lions tap and run, then from the maul Nohamba feeds to Hendrikse who lashes a kick down to the halfway line.

24’

Commentary

Sharks drive forward and into the Lions' 22… they drive past the 5m, the Lions holding them up best they can… and it's a drop-out for the Lions! Great defence.

22’

Commentary

Hendrikse's conversion slides just right of the far post, his kick from right in the corner - with the rain lashing down - was a better effort than couch potatoes might think.

21’

Try

TRY, LIONS, HORN! 19-3; Lions win the throw and work the ball across the pitch, with the Sharks holding them on the line… then Nohamba passes to the blindside where Horn has dashed through, collecting the ball and angling at the corner where he dots down for another great team try.

19’

Commentary

Penalty to the Lions, Hendrikse kicks to he halfway line, the Lions win the throw and run the ball down the line to the left wing, Nohamba getting his hands on the ball to jink into the 22… Sharks force a maul and the Lions look to run right, but the ref blows for offside and Nohamba kicks it into touch for a throw on the Sharks 5m…

16’

Commentary

SUBSTITUTION, LIONS. Van Wyk hobbles off and Cronje strides out to take his injured mate's place.

16’

Commentary

Referee Aimee Barrett-Theron gives the captains a quick talking-to. Too many questions, you play and I'll ref. OK ma'am. She's had a perfect game so far.

15’

Commentary

It's taken quickly and the Sharks power over the line, but the ref calls no try and the Lions have a kick out.

14’

Commentary

Sharks drive forward now, passing well and the forwards and back combining to take the attack up to the 5m where they win a penalty…

12’

Conversion

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 14-3; Nicely struck 15 metres in from touch.

11’

Try

TRY, LIONS, PRETORIUS! 12-3; Lions win the ball and Nohamba feeds his line at speed, they press to the right wing then spread it back quickly, creating the overlap and JC Pretorius runs through to score after a beautiful 'drawing of the man'! Great rugby from the Lions. Not looking too hot for the Sharks right now though…

9’

Commentary

BRILLIANT! Lions drive forward and try to chip over Masuku who moved over to the wing… but he reaches up to grab it, then chips it brilliantly down the line… but it just runs too far and out of play, so we will scrum on the halfway line. Fantastic opportunistic play though.

7’

Conversion

CONVERSION, LIONS, HENDRIKSE! 7-3; Not a problem from a few metres to the left of the poles.

6’

Try

TRY, LIONS, NOHAMBA! 5-3; brilliant solo effort by the scrumhalf at the base of the Lions ruck on the 22… he jinks past his counterpart at the scrum and then sidesteps the last defender before diving over for the score. He's a magnificent runners and what an eye for a gap!

4’

Commentary

INCREDIBLE BREAK! Nohamba breaks from the Lions scrum and sprints down the right win, drawing his man superbly but the Lions tackle the wing into touch.

3’

Penalty

PENALTY, SHARKS, MASUKU! 0-3; Masuku slots it from just short of the 22 and 10 metres to the left of poles.

2’

Commentary

Sharks get a scrum on the halfway line, Williams runs it right, then the Sharks push left and up to the 25 where they win a penalty.

1’

Kick Off

We're underway with the first half!

0’

Commentary

Our referee for today is Aimee Barrett-Theron, and she will be assisted by Cwengile Jadezweni and Christopher Allison. Our TMO is Ben Crous, and all four officials are from South Africa.

0’

Commentary

Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Grant Williams, 8 George Cronje, 7 Vince Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Khwezi Mona, 19 Jeandre Labuschagne, 20 Tino Mavesere, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Tiaan Fourie, 23 Curwin Bosch.

0’

Commentary

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Hanru Sirgel, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Erich Cronje.

0’

Commentary

The Sharks are buried deep at the bottom of the table with just 10 points, after picking up just a single win from their 10 matches. They have scored 194 points and conceded 231, for a tight points difference of minus-37. They have scored 26 tries and conceded 28.

0’

Commentary

The Lions are down in 11th place with 24 points after just four wins from their 10 matches. They have scored 268 points and conceded 230, with 33 tries to 28.

0’

Commentary

Back in the URC, the Sharks suffered a 21-25 home loss to the Stormers.

0’

Commentary

Next up the Sharks lost 18-20 at home to the Lions, before beating Oyonnax 38-7 in the Challenge Cup followed by a 29-9 win over Gwent Dragons also in the Challenge Cup.

0’

Commentary

The Sharks have won two of their last five games, starting with a 15-16 away loss to the Stormers in the URC.

0’

Commentary

After beating the Sharks in the URC, the Lions lost 13-3 away to Montpellier and 28-38 at home to Ospreys in the Challenge Cup. Back in the URC they lost 28-30 to the Bulls away and then 10-25 at home.

0’

Commentary

The Lions have lost their last four games, having beaten the Sharks 20-18 at Kings Park in the match before this horror run of four.

0’

Commentary

The Sharks have won four of the last five games against the Lions.

0’

Commentary

Good afternoon, and welcome to our live coverage of the URC clash between the Lions and the Sharks, direct from Ellis Park Stadium in Joburg.

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