The British and Irish Lions maintained their 100 per cent record on tour in South Africa with a 39-3 victory against a severely depleted Sharks team on Wednesday.
Magnificent defending by a home team lacking nine regulars on Springbok duty restricted the winners to a 7-3 half-time advantage, but the touring team cut loose in the second half to romp home in their fourth tour match.
Next up are Western Province in Cape Town on Saturday and one week later a three-Test series against world champions South Africa begins back in Durban.
“It was a very tough challenge and pressure paid off as we racked up a good score. It was also brilliant that we defended so well and conceded just three points,” boasted Lions skipper and lock Paul O’Connell.
Man of the match and Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips was equally thrilled: “This was a massive effort by the boys. As a number nine it is great to play behind our pack. Our win was created up front.”
The freezing weather that has enveloped much of South Africa was mercifully missing as the Lions defended a 99-year, 10-match unbeaten record against the Sharks.
And the visitors quickly established territorial supremacy with the home team camped inside their ’22’ for long periods and heroically holding out when tries seemed inevitable.
Lions No.8 Jamie Heaslip did cross the line only to be held up and it took 23 minutes before they finally broke the deadlock through hooker Lee Mears after good work from halfback Mike Phillips and Heaslip.
Five-eighth Ronan O’Gara converted to give his side a seven-point advantage that lasted six minutes before halfback Rory Kockott succeeded with his first penalty attempt.
The television match official was called into action after Sharks fullback Stefan Terblanche and Lions wing Shane Williams failed to secure possession from a O’Gara kick into the corner and Lee Byrne touched down.
But the ball was judged to have been knocked forward and the first half ended with the Sharks still four points behind having tackled themselves to a standstill.
There was a lively start to the second half with Phillips – considered a likely first Test starter – crossing the line on 42 minutes to drop a hint of things to come.
Kockott was unlucky with his second shot at goal, a long-range penalty attempt that was accurate but fell just under the crossbar, and the Lions went further ahead soon after via a simple O’Gara penalty.
Sharks flanker Jacques Botes was warned by referee Jonathan Kaplan for constantly infringing and O’Gara slotted the resultant penalty from close range to give the Lions an 18-3 lead.
The home team were fading fast as the first-half heroics took their toll and wing Luke Fitzgerald scored his first try of this tour after Brian O’Driscoll drew two Sharks and passed to his unmarked Ireland team-mate.
O’Gara converted from the touchline, the lead stretched to 22 points, and the Lions were as good as home with almost a quarter of the match still to go at Absa Stadium.
Derm
Roar Guru
LOL - KO knudges the knaves out the gangplank a little bit further.....
Knives Out
Guest
So? Every team has to make do with coaching inadequacies at some point. Brian Ashton anyone? Mike Catt and Andy Farrell at 10 and 12?! Jake White stuck with his squad when they were underperforming, why shouldn't PdV? They are by and large the players that won the WC, after all.
van der Merwe
Guest
Cop out?! If de Villiers plays a lumbering lock at openside, and the Boks struggle at the breakdown (as they will if he does so) and ultimately lose, how is it anything other than his fault?
Derm
Roar Guru
:) Like that one.
Knives Out
Guest
I didn't mean you specifically, my man. I meant in general. Even prior to the tour the SA media windmills were chugging away claiming that a loss could ONLY be attributed to PdV. Nonsense. You can never, ever beat SA, you just score more than them.
Derm
Roar Guru
Cop out?!! Dangerous words, KO. I may never speak to you again.
Knives Out
Guest
I think the Lions will take the 1st test but I can't speak for the last two. Your hat may yet be safe.
Greg Smith
Guest
PdV doesn't exist ... in reality it's a competent duo Dick Muir and Gary Gold with camouflage If they lose, I'll eat my hat
Knives Out
Guest
I think this is the ultimate cop out being bandied about. If the Boks win it's down to the players and if they lose it simply couldn't be because they aren't a great team, it must be because of PdV.
Derm
Roar Guru
Ooh , Guy, I so wanted to say that last sentence for a while, but didn't have the gumption. PdV strikes me as an overweaning, control freak, with a large cushion tacked to his capacious arse to go along for the ride, who utters banalities in poor English that he thinks are clever. But they're not. The Boks will win, despite him. Or will lose because of him.
Guy Smiley
Roar Pro
Spies won't be playing wing anytime soon and I'd have Pietersen over Nokwe any day. de Villers is mad not to have included a fullback in his squad, but then we knew he was mad anyway. If the Boks win the series, as they should, it will be because of their players and despite the efforts of PdV.
Greg Smith
Guest
@Guy - I wouldn't put my house on it ! With this backline ... I'd run everything and remember Pierre Spies played on the wing at school so I'd fancy the Boks to run ... also listening to PdV I a predict a fast game with deft kicks ... and I'm going Jongi Nokwe because he's an Eastern Caper ... but in reality he's just on the way up ... he's going to be the player of the series ! Move over Brian Habana, Jongi Nokwe has arrived. Jongi Nokwe might be dodgy in defense(actually never worried about him) but I'd rather have the worlds best attacking winger in the team than a 50/50 attacker for 50/50 defender ... When Jongi's in full flight... he's like an Arabian stallion ... beautiful to watch... like Lote Tuqiri when he was still great
Guy Smiley
Roar Pro
'The Boks aren't likely to play a forward game'!! They're just about the best in the world at it, yes they will.
Guy Smiley
Roar Pro
But then O'Gara gets 'skittled' too often by oncoming back-rowers far too frequently. Also he failed to fully control the backline v the Sharks and kicked ahead too often when in the 22. Jones for me, Hook is too unreliable.
Greg Smith
Guest
@Colin N - Jannie Du Plessis is an old fox ... although I agree with you regarding the irritation of constant collapsing, I was carefully watching Jannie Du Plessis and he was pushing Gethin Jenkins straight down into the muck ... In my book that's a test. And Jenkins failed. I'd like to see Western Province continue with the collapsing. By the time the tests start... from a South African point of view... the Lions will have a long history of collapsing in the scrum... (maybe I'm just being hopeful) Speaking with my brother, we agree that the Lions are looking solid up front. However, the Boks aren't likely to play a forward game... If the Boks can keep it fast and spread it cleanly from the breakdown ... the Lions might look like dinosaurs
Knives Out
Guest
Stephen Jones tends to get himself into bad positions when tackling. He isn't the most graceful athlete nor the most agile. I'd target him all day long if I were Spies. James Hook is indeed a great talent but he has been so erratic since his breakthrough season that he has managed to prolong the second season syndrome beyond reasonable belief. You have to worry about a fly half when his test and club coach plays him at 15, 13 and 12. That he was eventually selected confirms that McGeechan was wrong to only bring two 10's.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
Look, I didn't watch any 6N and I've seen only about 20 minutes of the Lions in South Africa. So I cannot comment at all on form trends. But what I can say is that I was amazed that Hook wasn't in the initially selected squad, because there is no doubt in my mind that he is easily the greatest talent of these three 10s.
Greg Russell
Roar Guru
I think when it comes to assessing defence, many people confuse courage with quality. Stephen Jones is a very courageous defender, but that doesn't make him a good defender.
Derm
Roar Guru
Maybe it's more a question of who is the poorer between O'Gara and Jones? Or even who is perceived to be the poorer of the two? Or should James Hook just get the job instead?
Knives Out
Guest
I think we are the minority shareholders in this view, Mr. Russell.