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Lions defeat Hurricanes in entertaining Super Rugby semi-final, will play Crusaders in final

Roar Guru
29th July, 2017
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Can the Lions finally claim their elusive first Super Rugby championship? (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
29th July, 2017
154
6804 Reads

A second half blitz has seen the Lions defeat the Hurricanes by 15 points in a highly entertaining Super Rugby semi-final.

» Re-live all the action in our live blog

The intent from both sides was on display, looking to take advantage of the beautiful conditions and it was the Lions to strike first, an early penalty converted by Elton Jantjie. The Hurricanes quickly jumped into gear though, a solo effort by TJ Perenara scoring the opening try as he toed a loose pass ahead and regathered to score.

The momentum swung towards the visitors, the Lions struggling at times with the width and pace of the Hurricanes and a second try scored by wing Wes Goosen suddenly had the Hurricanes ahead 15-3 lead.

The Hurricanes looked to be all over the Lions but could not finish several hot opportunities as impatience with the ball proved costly, but just when the Lions looked to have survived on defence and building their own momentum, loose handling from Ross Cronje was swooped upon by Ardie Savea to score another try against the run of play.

The Lions, however managed to keep themselves in the contest, capitalising on Hurricanes ill-discipline. They built pressure inside the Hurricanes 22 and prop Jacques van Rooyen barged over in the shadows of halftime.

At the break, it was the Hurricanes up 22-10, but the try on the bell would signal a significant change of momentum.

The Lions began the second half full of running as the Hurricanes looked stuck in second gear, dramatically lifting the pace of the game as the Hurricanes began to falter.

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Unforced errors saw the Lions cross early with a try from the base of the ruck to Ross Cronje before further sustained pressure and ill-discipline allowed the Lions an opportunity to maul from close, with Malcolm Marx crossing to lock the scores.

There was brief respite for the Hurricanes as a turnover inside the Lions 22 and quick hands saw Ngani Laumepe cross out wide. It gave the Hurricanes the lead back, but it was short lived as the pace from the Lions told and a killer blow was struck as the Hurricanes, scrambling under pressure inside their 22 received a yellow card to Beauden Barrett for what was deemed a cynical infringement at the ruck, dragging the ball out with his legs as he attempted to drag himself away after the tackle.

The Lions wasted little time, taking full toll, converting the resulting penalty through Jantjies before two tries were scored in the ten-minute period, to Harold Vorster and Jantjies himself, both converted. It handed the Lions a ten-point lead and all the momentum.

Try as they might, the Hurricanes simply had no answer for a rampant Lions side and in their desperation, the Lions added the icing to the cake, an intercept pass inside the Hurricanes 22 seeing a final try to Kwagga Smith.

The victory for the Lions sees them book a place in next weekend’s grand final against the Crusaders, who defeated the Chiefs earlier on Saturday in the first semi-final by 14 points.

Final score

Lions 44
Hurricanes 29

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