Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Match Highlights: Deft grubber kick from Springbok No.8 Whiteley sets up try as Lions beat Chiefs

Captain Warren Whiteley has underlined his influence and importance to the Lions, returning from a long-term injury to lead his side to a 23-17 Super Rugby victory over a fast-finishing Chiefs in Hamilton.

ADVERTISEMENT

Whiteley had missed six games due to a muscle tear in his chest and the South Africans had not looked the same side who’d made the past three Super finals.

Carlu Sadie and winger Aphiwe Dyantyi scored tries on Friday for the Lions, who snuffed out any late comeback when Elton Jantjies slotted a 79th-minute drop goal.

Winger Sean Wainui, prop Nepo Laulala and replacement Tumua Manu scored tries in the last 20 minutes for the Chiefs, who only came alive in the final quarter after a 30-metre burst by scrumhalf Neil Weber had set up Wainui’s try.

Lions celebrate win over Chiefs. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Virtually all of the Lions’ first-half points had been due to the influence of tighthead prop Sadie, who constantly had his opposite Angus Ta’avao under pressure.

Ta’avao, normally at tighthead, had been forced to the loosehead side of the scrum due to an injury crisis at the Chiefs and also had trouble last week against the Blues.

ADVERTISEMENT

Sadie was able to earn two scrum penalties that Jantjies converted to give his side a 6-0 lead before a third set up an attacking lineout and series of drives that ultimately ended with the prop crashing over for a 36th-minute try.

Dyantyi pushed the score out near half-time after a deft kick behind the defensive line by No.8 Whiteley gave the visitors a 20-0 lead at the break.

Weber sparked a Chiefs fightback when he darted down the blindside and turned the Lions’ defence around to set up their first try to Wainui.

That attack sparked the Chiefs with Laulala smashing over to give the home side their second within three minutes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Tumua continued home hopes when he scored their third try with four minutes remaining after another sweeping movement, but a Chiefs turnover gave the ball back to the Lions and set up Jantjies’ drop goal.

AAP

Watch: Rugby World Cup City guide: Tokyo

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 34 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
Search