Lions romp into Super Rugby final
Relegated four season ago, the Lions are now bound for Wellington for a Super Rugby final showdown against the Hurricanes next Saturday. It was just one long trip too far for the Highlanders as the Lions turned in another master class display, to outgun the New Zealanders 42-30
It was just one long trip too far for the Highlanders as the Lions turned in another master class display, to outgun the New Zealanders 42-30 in front of a fiercely partisan home crowd of 50 000 at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Last season’s runner’s up, The Hurricanes, secured their second consecutive home final with a 25-9 victory over the Chiefs in Wellington. The Hurricanes put 50 points past the Lions in their league encounter earlier in the season at the same venue.
The men in red and white out-muscled,
out thought and out-scored their opponents with four goals, a try and three
penalties to two goals, two tries and two penalties in front of a partisan
50 000 crowd.
Leading 17-6 at the break, crossing the opposition line twice, the Lions re-asserted their dominance immediately in the second half with a long range Elton Jantjies penalty and a Cortnal Skosan try, to go 25 points to 6 clear.
Skosan’s try the result of a Jantjies breakaway in his own half.
The Highlanders hit straight back with a Matt Fadders try virtually from the restart, but Jantjies was back on target minute later again, to restore daylight between the two sides.
That daylight got even brighter when a magnificent cross kick by Jantjies was picked up by skipper Jaco Kriel, who crossed the whitewash.
Substitute Lourens Erasmus also joined the try-fest in the second half before Waisake Noholo and Joe Wheeler grabbed two late consolation tries for the Highlanders, to unfortunately have the last say in the match, adding to an earlier Lima Sopoaga try.
Jantjies’ personal contribution was 22 points in one of the games of his life, to deservedly walk away with the Man of the Match award.