The Emirates Lions will be kicking themselves after producing a terrible performance to slump to a 20-17 loss against Cardiff in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match in the Welsh capital on Friday night, dealing their top eight hopes a massive blow.
With the race to the playoffs as tight as it is, this was the perfect opportunity for the Lions to get some valuable away points but they remained their own worst enemies as they couldn’t capitalise on a dominant display and turn it into points when it mattered.
To make it worse, they ended the game on the wrong side of some strange decisions by Italian referee Federico Vedovelli, who inexplicably yellow carded Gianni Lombard for an alleged deliberate knock on, even though more than enough replays showed he had wrapped his arms and any knock on was accidental.
Drama in the final few minutes but Cardiff hold on for a narrow #VURC win over the Emirates Lions 😬 pic.twitter.com/TakEDUz5hm
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 21, 2025
It was so farcical that even the Welsh commentators said there was little in it, and were then surprised when Vedovelli reached for his pocket for the yellow card.
The Lions were further bemused when in the last minute they tried - again inexplicably - to power their way over from close range - claiming a try but Vedovelli refused and said it was held up, much to the disbelief of the Lions players and delight of the Cardiff players when the game ended.
ANOTHER POOR PERFORMANCE
But the strange ending to the game only masked another Jekyll and Hyde performance by the Johannesburg team that did more than enough to win the match, but never translated their dominance into points.
Watching the game any outside neutral would have wondered how the scoreline was so close, especially as a reading of the stats would tell a story of dominance from the Johannesburg side.
The Lions felt they had dotted the ball down over the line.
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) March 21, 2025
Referee Federico Vedovelli disagreed and called that the ball was held up.
A drama filled Friday night of #VURC action. pic.twitter.com/RBvAHeVvyk
For instance, the Lions had no less than 65 per cent possession and 66 per cent territory, made only 84 tackles in the game, forcing Cardiff to make a massive 241. They also made 200 passes to 92, and 165 ball carries in the game to Cariff’s 71.
In every respect the Lions should have won this game, but the fact they were scrambling at the end looking for the victory was more a testament to Cardiff’s bravery and the Lions poor option taking and handling than anything else.
Cardiff’s Alun Lawrence put in a massive 28 tackles in the game, and at times it looked as if the Lions had run out of ideas on attack.
LOUW’S INTERCEPT CHANGED THE GAME
The big moment that changed the game came also from a Lions mistake when Marius Louw threw a poor intercept pass which was gobbled up by Harri Millard, who ran a good 70 metres to score what would be the winning try.
Before that the Lions had forced their way back into contention when captain Francke Horn had gone over from close range just six minutes earlier to take the lead.
While playing away from home is always difficult, the Lions did their best to make life difficult for themselves, even though they started the game on fire, and scored first - also through a close range pick and go from big Asenathi Ntlabakanye, who took the short route to the line.
DOMINATED
They dominated every phase of play early on but got no other reward, only for Cardiff to score with their first foray into the Lions 22, and with relative ease, coming from three consecutive power plays that the Lions simply couldn’t stop, with Ben Donnell taking the last pass to claim the try.
Calum Sheedy grabbed a penalty and despite all the back pedalling, suddenly Cardiff were in the lead.
Lombard pulled one back just after halftime, and Sheedy responded, leading to the arm wrestle in the midfield that the Lions seemed to be winning.
When Horn went over it seemed the Lions were starting to take control, but Louw’s intercept changed the complexion of the game, and gave Cardiff more motivation to resist.
The Lions tried to find the try to win the game, but came up short twice, underlining their own performance that will leave them frustrated as they head to Glasgow next week to face the defending champions.
Scorers
Cardiff - tries: Ben Donnell, Harri Millard. Conversions: Callum Sheedy (2). Penalties: Sheedy (2)
Emirates Lions - tries: Asenathi Ntlabakanye, Francke Horn. Conversion: Gianni Lombard (2). Penalty: Lombard