Advertisement

Brandon brace gives Lions some relief with workmanlike win

rugby18 October 2025 14:48
By:Brenden Nel
Share

The Lions finally found their winning ways as a late brace of tries by replacement Morne Brandon secured them a workmanlike 29-18 win over the Scarlets in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Played in consistent rain, the Lions made heavy weather of the win, despite dominating all the stats, having 60 per cent possession all game and forcing the Welsh side to make double the amount of tackles.

While this was by no means a classic, it was a gritty win by a side under pressure, although large parts of the match were a firm reminder that this was team fifteen playing sixteen in a sixteen team competition.

To say that on this performance either of the sides will be worthy of a top eight place may be a bit hopeful, but for the home side it was a welcome respite after three weeks of pressure and poor performances.

SCARLETS ONLY HAD SCRAPS TO PLAY WITH

Their return home couldn’t have found a better opponent than Scarlets, who despite their enthusiasm had little to answer on attack and played with scraps the entire game. The only thing that saved the Welsh side was their breakdown, where they turned over several balls and stunted the Lions' march time and again by beating them there.

In contrast, and despite the scoreline, the Lions looked like a side that were doing the basics well, with their scrum and lineout strong, but their attacking play lacking that nuance needed to score a bunch of tries that would complement their dominance.

Instead it was a nervy performance, one where the attack struggled and the options were difficult to execute, where momentum was often missing and it was only when they were down to 14 men after conceding a penalty try that the Lions looked a lot sharper.

The win will lift some of the pressure on coach Ivan van Rooyen, who will be hoping it is the turnaround the side need ahead of a long arduous campaign that got off to the worst start.

SOME RELIEF AFTER POOR START

Still, one swallow doesn’t make a summer, not even in rainy conditions, but it is a start. The problem is that this same coaching team has not won more than 45 per cent of their games over four and a bit seasons and common sense says that is unlikely to change soon.

Yet none of that will be talked about after the win. The sense of relief was palpable from the players’ reactions at fulltime and will resound through the handful of fans that turned up on a wet Gauteng afternoon to watch the side.

There are so many unanswered questions about this side, but after the win, they will be left for another day.

At one stage the Lions had more than 70 per cent possession and territory, but only led 5-3 at the break in a dour first half that would have put many a rugby fan to sleep. This wasn’t flair at its best, but a tame plodding on.

The only difference was that Scarlets hardly threatened the Lions' line in that period, while the Lions did a circus act of ensuring they did not trouble the scorers too much despite a plethora of possession.

They had a try disallowed after Sam Costelow opened the scoring for Scarlets, but didn’t make a mistake with their second bite at the cherry, with Quan Horn finishing off a wonderful team try that passed through several hands.

BETTER SECOND HALF

But that was the sum of their luck when it came to the first half, and the second was a lot better by the Lions as they kept the scoreboard moving through a penalty apiece by Chris Smith and Gianni Lombard, before Franco Marais got them firmly in front by rounding off a well-worked rolling maul try that Scarlets couldn’t stop from rumbling over the line.

The Lions weren’t in control of the scoreboard until Darrien Landsberg stopped a Scarlets maul illegally and collapsed it over the line, earning himself a yellow card for his efforts and costing his side a penalty try in the 69th minute.

Suddenly the Lions sprung into action and Nico Steyn saw a gap from a lineout, burst through and put Brandon over the line without a defender laying a hand on him.

Four minutes later Brandon went over at the back of the maul to secure the win for the Lions, and even though Joe Roberts scored a late try for the Scarlets, it was never going to be enough.

Lombard had the last say with a penalty on fulltime, ensuring the win and making sure that Scarlets couldn’t sneak in a late bonus point.

SCORERS

Lions - tries: Morne Brandon (2), Quan Horn, Franco Marais. Penalties: Chris Smith, Gianni Lombard (2).

Scarlets - tries: Penalty try, Joe Roberts. Penalties: Sam Costelow (2)

Advertisement