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Lions make Leinster pay

Writer's picture: Michael OakleyMichael Oakley


Leinster Rugby discovered the true meaning of FAFO at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.

After disrespecting the Emirates Lions by selecting a side that is not their best, the United Rugby Championship leaders were hit hard by an early try barrage from which they never recovered followed by a staunch effort on defence as they lost the first match of their South Africa tour 44-12.

An opening blitz of three tries (two converted) and a penalty put the Joburg side 22-0 up after 15 minutes with Morne van den Berg, Quan Horn and Marius Louw crossing the whitewash while Sanele Nohamba added the other seven points with his boot.

The Irish side seemed to wake up from their slumber in the second half of the first period but didn’t really look dangerous going forward but at least they spent some time in the Lions half.

Being behind early would have been their worst nightmare as they knew that the altitude and heat would become a factor late in the game and having to chase from this early was going to sap their energy.

Some silly penalties and line-out issues halted the Lions' momentum and they had to step up in defence as Leinster found their feet and pushed hard to get back into the clash, turning down easy shots at goal for line-outs as they tried to bully their way over the tryline.

Defence coach Jacque Fourie would have been proud of how the men in red put their bodies on the line, keeping the visitors out and their side of the scoreboard blank at the break with Willem Alberts (who played the full 80 minutes) collecting bones like a man half his age.

Leinster started the second half the way they finished the first but still couldn't break through and when they did slip a few tackles the try was, rightly, disallowed for a massive forward pass as they knew they needed to score first.

This served as a wake-up call for the Lions as they found their mojo again and began to put pressure on the visitors rather than soak it up with their scrum coming to the fore and it was the Lions who opened the second half scoring with Nohamba nailing a long penalty (by millimetres) to go 25 points clear after 49 minutes.

Leinster went to their bench early as the heat and thin air started to have an impact, meaning their finishers would be tired when the Lions brought theirs on much later in the game.

Those fresh legs did make an early difference though as fullback Ciaran Fawley dotted down to open their account after 53 minutes, Harry Byrne adding the extras.

The Lions responded immediately though with Emmanuel Tshituka getting their bonus point try in the 58th minute to make it 30-7 as the benches started to empty for both sides.

Leinster showed that even with this second-string side they are a force and refused to go away as Fawley scored his second of the day a few minutes later to get them into double figures (30-12).

Man of the Match Tshituka made it safe with a great try in the 76th minute putting the Lions well ahead, Jordan Hendrikse nailed the conversion to make it 37-12 as the visitors were out on their feet.

And as a cherry on the cake Franke Horn, on his 50th game for the Lions, sealed the deal with their final try of the day with Hendrikse adding the extras to complete the scoring.

In the end the Lions finish with a vital five points and their play-off dreams alive and well.

The Race For The Eight, as it's known, is well and truly on and the Bulls and Stormers owe the Lions a beer.

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