Northern Edition

Select Edition

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

Match Highlights - Lions roar back to set up another Crusaders decider

Kwagga Smith and Malcolm Marx scored two tries apiece as the Lions set up a rematch of last year’s Super Rugby final with the Crusaders by fighting back to beat the Waratahs 44-26 at Ellis Park.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Waratahs led 14-0 after 10 minutes at altitude in Johannesburg on Saturday, but the Lions – driven on by their powerful pack – came roaring back to seal a spot in the decider for a third year in a row.

Last year’s runners-up outscored the New South Wales franchise by six tries to four and the lively Elton Jantjies scored 14 points with the boot to deny a Waratahs side that battled back to knock the Highlanders out at the quarter-final stage last weekend.

Flanker Smith and hooker Marx were outstanding, scoring a try in each half for a Lions side that overpowered Daryl Gibson’s team in the second period and will face the defending champions at AMI Stadium next Saturday.

It had all started so well for the Waratahs, flanker Ned Hanigan powering his way over when the Lions were caught short of numbers wide on the left and the clinical Israel Folau surged through to go under the posts just four minutes later.

The Lions burst into life after a slow start, the excellent Smith taking advantage of poor defending to wriggle his way through and touch down, then Aphiwe Dyantyi conjured up a brilliant 80-metre solo score before Marx touched down to put them in front for the first time.

Tom Robertson brought the Waratahs level at the break with a try just before the interval, which Bernard Foley was unable to convert, but the Lions had plenty in the tank to take control in the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

Jantjies’ penalty put them back in the lead and Marx crossed again following a driving maul with Damien Fitzpatrick in the sin bin and the magnificent Smith added his second try.

Courtnall Skosan put the icing on the cake with another five-pointer right at the end after Jake Gordon evaded a couple of defenders to score a fourth try for a Waratahs side that went down fighting.

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 16 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
TRENDING
TRENDING All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster | Autumn Nations Series All Blacks XV player ratings vs Munster
Search