Big games require big players and they don't come much bigger than Asenathi Ntlabakanye.
The massive Fidelity ADT Lions tighthead prop had a moment to remember in the first Carling Cup semi-final at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday in the 30th minute of a ding-dong battle between the home side and the Toyota Cheetahs.
After being slipped the ball by exceptional No 8 Jarod Cairns the big man bumped off a tackler and started to rumble in the Cheetahs' 22m area and he wouldn't be stopped, he couldn't be stopped as he powered his way over the line for his first Currie Cup try.
Up until that moment of magic the home side had spent most of the first half on the back foot as the Cheetahs proved that they had a plan to halt the free-running Lions, slowing down their ball and doing the dirty work while frustrating the men in white.
The visitors opened the scoring through flyhalf Ethan Wentzel when his chip over the Lions defence bounced perfectly into his hands and despite the best efforts of his opposite number Kade Wolhuter he dotted down under the posts.
He converted his own try to take the defending champions seven points clear after six minutes.
He was the man of the moment again shortly afterwards when the bounce of the ball went their way after a Lions chip and chase bounced the wrong way for them and he was put through for an easy score, which he also converted.
The Cheetahs were keeping it tight and using the boot well to negate the speed and power of the young Lions but Wentzel then went from hero to zero as his clearance kick was charged down by Wolhuter and the ever-present Cairns dotted down.
Then came Ntlabakanye's moment of magic, one that will ensure that he never has to buy himself a frosty beverage in Joburg ever again as the Lions took the lead for the first time (14-12) with the crowd screaming in disbelief and shaking the stadium's foundations.
The men from the Freet State hadn't made the trip to make up the numbers and struck back straight away after great work down their right by fullback Michael Annies put Choen Jasper in for a try on his 50th appearance.
Annies though was unable to convert as he ran out of time but they were now five points ahead again.
They looked like they were going to extend their lead before the half-time whistle but another turnover from Man of the Match Cairns five metres from their tryline set them on the way for the try of the day.
Skipper Jaco Visagie spotted that the Cheetahs defence wasn't ready for a counter and swung the ball to speedster Rabz Maxwane.
Some slick passing, speed and great commitment saw the Lions beat the scrambling Cheetahs on defence and Ruan Venter went over in the corner to leave the scores 19-all at the break.
The Lions started the second half like a house on fire with Marius Louw crossing for another five pointer which Wolhuter converted to make it 26-19 to the home side.
Cheetahs skipper Victor Sekekete personified the fight in his side though by answering straight away as the Lions fell asleep at the back. Wentzel missed the conversion before leaving the field to leave his side two behind.
The Cheetahs kept the pressure on and scored from a rolling maul to retake the lead with the nineth try of the game.
George Lourens couldn't convert from the touchline but they were now three points ahead and full of confidence, boosted even more by a rough yellow card to Louw, leaving the Lions with 14 men and missing one of their senior players.
But the Lions dug deep and not only didn't they concede during the time he was off the field they actually leveled the scores through a penalty by Sanele Nohamba.
The Cheetahs would have felt that they were still in this game, altitude or not but they didn't reckon with the magician Nohamba, who, like everyone else, made a massive impact off the bench.
In the 65th minute he danced his way through the defence and converted his try to make it 36-29.
The Lions topped the Currie Cup log due to their accuracy on attack and defence and it was lacking for most of the semi-final but the men who came off the pine brought a calmness as the game became more ragged with the Cheetahs throwing everything at the home side's line.
This paid off for the Lions when the speed, yes, the speed of replacement hooker Morne Brandon secured them victory.
He sprinted home from just inside his own half (fighting off the attention of fowards and backline players in Orange) as the Lions fans lost their voices once again as he tumbled his way over the line like a (poor) gymnast.
Don't care what the Russian judge says about the landing, it was a try that will live long in the memory of those at the Lion's Den on Saturday, like Venter's and Ntlabakanye's.
Nohamba converted to give the Lions a 14-point lead with less than five minutes left.
Just as those fans started to relax Lourens crossed for the Cheetahs to ensure that the last minute was stressful for those wearing red and white.
But his missed conversion put an end to that threat and the Lions held on and will now host the Currie Cup final at 4pm on Saturday.
Comments