Lions
27
Match Complete
Reds
20
| E. Jantjies | 75 | |||
| E. Jantjies | 68 | |||
| C. Skosan | 67 | |||
| 62 | B. Hegarty | |||
| 61 | T. McDermott | |||
| E. Jantjies | 41 | |||
| M. Schoeman | 39 | |||
| 25 | B. Hegarty | |||
| T. Green | 15 | |||
| 10 | B. Hegarty | |||
| 9 | J. Campbell | |||
| T. Green | 6 | |||
| 4 | B. Hegarty |
| 4 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Lions host the Reds at Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 12:05pm (AEDT).
In the last match-up eight months ago, the Reds beat the Lions in Queensland. It was one of the rare wins by the Queenslanders in 2019, a classic game of two halves where the visitors were held scoreless in the first half while Brad Thorn’s men amassed 24 points.
But playing at altitude today in cooler temperature is a different thing altogether, which represents an advantage to the home team. Losing narrowly last week against the Brumbies, the Reds will like their chances against a team which was thrashed last week by 30 points and five tries.
We did not get to observe Lions’ game model due to the overwhelming performance of the Jaguares. Nevertheless, they were poor. They only achieved a mere five linebreaks and missed a staggering 37 tackles.
The Reds on the other hand, demonstrated marked improvements compared to 2019, in particular the reduction in penalties. The attack through Isaac Lucas and James O’Connor was very good, facilitated by set-piece superiority over a rookie Brumbies lock pairing in the first half.
The Reds made minor changes to last week’s pack with Iszack Rodda and Alex Mafi coming into the starting team. Brad Thorn has also moved O’Connor into flyhalf which may prove to be a useful change. But the inclusion of Hamish Stewart at inside centre will blunt their attack somewhat.
Despite the crushing loss last week, the Lions have gone for the same team. This is a vote of confidence by new coach Ivan van Rooyen in his team and style, the latter of which will be similar to his predecessors.
Prediction
This game will be a major tell for both coaches. While “Cash” van Rooyen’s is a successful Currie Cup coach, this is only his second Super Rugby game. As demonstrated by the Reds’ unsuccessful promotion of Brad Thorn from a successful domestic competition, the move may backfire for the Lions.
However, van Rooyen has been part of the side’s coaching team for over a decade and is known for keeping his team super fit. This will make a big difference at altitude. I will go with this perspective, and with the bookies’ odds. Lions for the win.
Kick-off: 12:05am (AEDT)
Venue: Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel
Odds: Lions $1.53, Reds $2.51
Lions
15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Tyrone Green, 13. Duncan Matthews, 12. Dan Kriel, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies (c), 9. Morne van den Berg, 8. Len Massyn, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Ruben Schoeman, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Pieter Jansen, 1. Dylan Smith.
Reserves: 16. Jan-Henning Campher, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Carlu Sadie, 19. Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20. Ruan Vermaak, 21. Dillon Smit, 22. Manuel Rass, 23. Shaun Reynolds
Reds
15. Bryce Hegarty 14. Jock Campbell 13. Jordan Petaia 12. Hamish Stewart 11. Henry Speight 10. James O’Connor 9. Tate McDermott 8. Harry Wilson 7. Liam Wright (c) 6. Angus Scott-Young 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto 4. Izack Rodda 3. Taniela Tupou 2. Alex Mafi 1. JP Smith
Reserves: 16. Sean Farrell 17. Dane Zander 18. Josh Nasser 19. Angus Blyth 20. Seru Uru 21. Moses Sorovi 22. Isaac Lucas 23. Hunter Paisami
Referee: Jaco Peyper (SA)
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers mate! GO REDDDdddsSSS lions too :stoked:
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Great summary Rob, comprehensive and informative ... thanks
Cadfael
Roar Guru
It is a joke that we don't have neutral referees in Super Rugby. There are four countries involved. Surely we can have neutrals. A joke in round inw when we saw an Aus referee a game with two Kiwi sides and a Saffa referee a game with two Aussie side.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Have been informed that he may have been nominated as both LH and TH. That would fix it. But was he?
RobC
Roar Guru
SIX tries in total, four in the first half. Four tries from the Lions in this game, who scored three in the first 40: two were from Tyrone Green on both sides of the wing. Reds delivered one try in each half, which was enough to earn a losing bonus point – helped by many scrum penalty wins. Reds set piece dominate yet again, harking back to the dismal Richard Graham / Stiles era of 2013 onwards. The Lions pack lacked in weight, but made up in mobility, determination and ball retention ability. Their final and (only try) in the second half was scored after a remarkable 21 phases, faciliated by a flanker’s tip pass to a half open Skosan in the right midfield The Lions should have delivered more attacking prowess at the tackle line. But they did not, especially when poor Reds discipline whittled them to 13 men. The Lions had twice the carries, almost twice the passes and defenders beaten than the Reds. But the Lions delivered less offloads and almost the same number of clear breaks Lions attack especially in the second half, is somewhat one dimensional and flat. They must play with more variety, dynamic deception – if they want to reach the finals against formidable foes in the South Africa conference. The Reds backline attack… was non existent. One try from Jock Campbell was facilitated by Lions grubby grubber. The other was off scrum dominance. The first half started with first blood from Reds scrum dominance – the first of many. The first try of the game was from an excellent Beltin grubber for an easy Tyrone Green dot on the right side. But the Reds hit straight back! Straight after the next Reds restart, Beltin delived a clever chip over the top. A collect and followup grubber from Coetzee went straight to Jock Campbell. A short interplay with Tate McDermott created a 40m Campbell clear run to the tryline. You live by the grubber. You die by the grubber One dimensional Reds play created opportunities for the Lions to reach the Reds redzone regularly. One redzone campaign lead to a second Green unconverted try on the far left. The other was a uniquely clever maul try. A Reds maul defensive trick was used against them! It cost them 7 points. The second stanza was a bash session. The Reds on one end were satisfied with scrummaging in the Lions redzone. Wilson was denied a try. Probably deserved to be ruled out, considering he was up against Beltin who is half his weight. The 2H Lions was happy to do a Super Rugby version of 1917 WWI via mindless running across the fields of Emirates Park. In Summary The Reds needs to stop the yellow cards. They need a more useful inside centre. Jordan Pateia has been quiet. He needs to step up. The Lions needs a lot of things, starting with set piece and a bit of attacking variety especially from their backrow. Coach Summary Both sides have not settled yet, which is expected due to the post RWC 2019 reset. Whilst 1st year Cash van Rooen will be given a bit of time to settle in. Brad Thorn… has no more time. He’s had two years of poor results. The Reds management better make sure BT starts winning. They also need a solid PLAN B. No more “coaches on training wheels” for one of the oldest Rugby teams in Australia and the world.
RobC
Roar Guru
RobC
Roar Guru
SUMMARY
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
Yep and you could have made that comment numerous times over the past few years.
RobC
Roar Guru
All good Corne I picked Highlanders game 1. Wrong as wrong can be
Corne Van Vuuren
Roar Guru
Hi Rob, good and you mate. Yeah early season picks are guess work for the most part
RobC
Roar Guru
Jags, if they play ilke last week. Are going to be hard to beat anywhere
RobC
Roar Guru
BB! How are you mate? Still round 2. So the tips will be tipsy Happy new year and all that. Hope you are in the pink of health.
Peter Russell
Guest
Doesn’t the rule allow you to nominate more than one position? Couldn’t you write loose and tight for each prop? You’d be a fool not to.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
If we get this weeks refs again we have no chance.
Toulouse Lautrec
Roar Rookie
Hegarty is a huge liability at FB, he's git a Foleyesque boot and puts his team under huge amounts of pressure. Wallabies have shown for years the problems with having non kickers back, need to make drastic changes or the losses will pile up
Corne Van Vuuren
Roar Guru
Damn, picked the Reds to win by 7, my superbru weekend is not going well.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
Rugby Laws 3. (Team) 10. Prior to the match, each team must advise the appropriate match official of their front-row players and possible front-row replacements and which position(s) in the front row they can play. Only these players may play in the front row when the scrum is contested and only in their designated position(s). Jaco needs a refresher. Smith started as a loose-head and is not entitled to switch mid-match regardless of his ability to do so. Reds should have been down to 12 for a couple of minutes with uncontested scrums until Tupou (and the bloke who would have gone off when they went to uncontested scrums) came back on.
RedBear
Guest
Where do you start you can't win a game with only 13 men on the field, in saying that yet another SA refereeing team appointment that favours the home team. could you get anymore glaring example than the set piece. Lions 3 line out penalties for Reds were warned & next one went to the bin & the next one also. Reds 7 scrum penalties, including 5 in row 5 meters out and the comment when asked was " there is nothing illegal" , you have blown a f$&@@en penalty 5 times in a row for what then you flog. Yet again WHAT a great advertisement for "NEUTRAL referee's" tonight's game was
ols
Roar Pro
Not tonight there's not :angry:
Dean
Roar Rookie
I reckon if the lads put in next week like today, they will get up. A lot of good things and only a couple of tune ups required. They were robbed, but we know that happens. Chin up lads and bash em next week.