Lions get De Bruin off to winning start

The Lions started Swys de Bruin’s first Super Rugby season as head coach with a 26-19 victory over the Sharks after the Stormers held off a fightback from Jaguares on Saturday.

De Bruin stepped up from his role as assistant following Johan Ackermann’s move to Gloucester and watched his side come out on top in a great battle at Ellis Park.

Lionel Mapoe and Aphiwe Dyantyi went over in the first half after Robert du Preez scored a try which he converted to give Sharks the early advantage.

Sbu Nkosi’s try just after the interval reduced the deficit to only two points, but Mapoe helped himself to a double and Kwagga Smith added a fourth Lions try following Makazole Mapimpi’s five-pointer for the visitors.

Lions, led by fit-again captain Warren Whiteley, saw it out, Elton Jantjies not having the best of days from the tee, but landing three conversions for the 2016 and 2017 runners-up.

Stormers also began their campaign with a victory, seeing off Jaguares 28-20 in the heat at Newlands.

Tries from Damian de Allende, Siya Kolisi and debutant Raymond Rhule gave the Cape Town franchise a 22-6 lead early in the second half.

Jaguares made a good fist of it, Emiliano Boffelli dotting down before a penalty try cut the gap to only five points, but they were denied a losing bonus point by Damian Willemse’s third penalty right at the end.