If this were the real tournament instead of the Neo Africa warm up I’d be over the moon… but it’s not an indicator… nevertheless we must take good news where we can find it…
So last night in the Neo Africa series the Sharks set up a full strength team of mercena… I mean side against basically a weak Lions side.
Result:
Lions whose numbers for the Sharks included Charl McCloud, Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik were soundly trounced by a five try rout from the Lions to the tune of 41-10.
The boys at some other more biased sites did not take the news very well, but what we gleaned from match commentary was that Plummo has a lot to be worried about because this was not a case of men holding back and the Lions victory came because of some fundamental errors from the Durban outfit. In particular their tackling was apparently pretty poor and tactical kicking similarly weak whilst key players like Ryan Kankowski had nightmare games. The backline was particularly weak on defence. However, DavidS predicted that Meyer Bosman’s weak right shoulder defence was going to haunt the Sharks… it’s a long standing problem for the Cheetahs import so nothing new… again a fundamental shortcoming… this after I had to listen to my brother in law (a four year Durbanite) tell me last night that the Sharks are “the best provincial side in the world”.
Lions fullback James Kamana had a start off the bench at fullback and was an immediate impact on the game.
Anyway back to reality:
Both coaches were quick to make off the results of this game as saying nothing about proper performance of the sides.
DavidS agrees.
I’ve always said it… these games say nothing… BUT if you’re a Lions fan… you’ll take the good news where you can find it… no matter how small… this was a small step in the right direction.
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February 2nd, 2011 at 9:13 am
Good news BUT
What can we take from it?
Pretty much fokkol I think aside from saying that at least having the belief that they can beat the Sharks is a start for the Lions…
In previous years they didn’t even have that belief in warmups..
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:15 am
Heheheheheh
Hey Morne
Great minds…
Insider joke..
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:19 am
Reply to DavidS @ 9:15 am:
The original stays, and I’ll give you a Lions moment in the sun!
Anycase, I disagree somewhat, these games mean a lot.
Of course it means nothing on the log, but the confidence and belief the Lions will take from this cannot be coached. Rugby is won in the head first, and the Lions took a massive leap forward.
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:34 am
Well the Lions fans are so starved for success anything will do.
And yes it is a small step…
Very small but as you said following the Stormers result this was massive for the young Lions’ self confidence and belief in themselves seeing as the past few years they haven’t even managed to win their warmups against fellow S14 local teams.
For the fans there is just a spark… from my friend Jacques who has bought every jersey the Lions ever sold from the old Rooibontes with the Transvaal badge to my daughters who are just setting out as “Welpies”…
I am still in two minds about the value of these games.
On one sid I don’t see value.
BUT
In this particular one there were certain fundamental shortcomings in the Sharks that the Lions exposed and THAT MUST worry Plumtree.
It’s okay to lose if you’re not committed to tackles or you change your whole squad throughout the game and disrupt patterns, but when key players fail to pitch and you actually fall off tackles you committed to or play slower than the opposition…then there is something to worry about.
ESPECIALLY if it happens against an unfancied side like the Lions…
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:38 am
Hargreaves apparently still in hospital, not looking good.
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:41 am
BTW
Where the hell does one find scores for these games?
Looks like NOBODY’s covering the games…
How much did the Stormers win by on Saturday?
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:43 am
Reply to DavidS @ 9:41 am:
15-0
Twitter.
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:44 am
Reply to Morné @ 9:38 am:
Shit…
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:46 am
I will be at the Sharks/Stormers game.
February 2nd, 2011 at 9:51 am
well someone on keo metioned how well conditioned the Lions looked against the stormers.
In this game almost all points were scored off set pieces in second halve! This bodes well for Lions.
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:24 am
I will take it wherever I can find it! Thanks Davids!
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:35 am
My favourite $hark- yeah I know that is kind of an Oxymoron- is Meyer Bosman!
SeriAAs!
February 2nd, 2011 at 10:36 am
The Stormers vs Tjarks result will be interesting, although it means nothing…
Looks like the Lions did a good job, congrats. Hope they keep it up in the S15.
“…some other more biased sites did not take the news very well…” Was lanklaas daar maar dis verskoning genoeg om stilletjies in te loer!
Reply to DavidS @ 9:13 am:
From SS : ” The Lions were beaten 15-0 three nights earlier by the Stormers in the opening match of the Neo Africa Tri-Series which is being played at Newlands as a warm-up for the Super Rugby competition which kicks off in just over two weeks.
Mitchell said then that the game would have given pointers on what to work on, and the product of the labour put in by the Lions during their camp in Cape Town was clear to see.”
If the above is true, I’ll take that as ‘fairly-good-to-fekking-astronomical’ . Last year the Lions got snotted game after game after game with some glaring shortcomings and njada was done to fix it. This seems to be a big step in the right direction.
Reply to DavidS @ 9:41 am:
Reply to Morné @ 9:46 am:
Amper geen van die opwarmingsgames is ooit voorheen uitgesaai nie. Weet nie hoekom, maar dis die reël.
MAAR SS saai Vrydag 17:15 ‘n herhaling van die Bulls vs Kings uit en Saterdag 19:00 die Stormers vs Tjarks game. In die daaropvolgende dae is hoogtepunte van die hele Neo-tri reeks, sien ek ook.
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Reply to Morné @ 9:43 am:
Why can’t we do the games?
Where are they playing?
15-0
What do you think?
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Reply to WiLLem @ 10:35 am:
Mine too and I suspect all his opponents too.
Nam
Die Bulle Kings game was uitgesaai op SS
February 2nd, 2011 at 12:20 pm
A friend of mine just started his own business.
He manufactures land mines that look like prayer mats.
It’s doing well.
He says prophets are going through the roof.
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:55 pm
Reply to Morné @ 9:38 am:
Depends on who you are asking… personally he offers nothing (in the air) over the rest… and that’s all he’s got in my books… CC player… Sharks are bare here if Skeate doesn’t step up to the plate and Mostert improve… Sykes is Sykes and I’ll take him anyday over these guys… and Bresler well… he’s a VC player…