A hat-trick of tries from Rabz Maxwane and a stunning debut from former Junior Springbok Sam Sam Francis guided the Fidelity ADT Lions to a commanding 75-21 victory (halftime 35-7) in their Carling Black Label Currie Cup match at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening.
Former Junior Bok flyhalf Francis, made a dream start to his professional career scoring all 16 points to open an emphatic lead against the Pumas with three penalties, a try and a conversion inside the first 15 minutes.
This is the kind of rugby that got the Lions to 75 points in Mbombela 🦁
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 12, 2024
A great team move finished off by Gianni Lombard for his first #CarlingCurrieCup try 👇 pic.twitter.com/7WJMJm4cfm
Winger Maxwane, hugging the advantage line, snaffled two intercept tries to give the visitors control of the match and completed his hat-trick in the final moments of a hotly contested but largely one-sided match.
Pumas flyhalf Clinton Swardt and scrumhalf Ross Braude, punched through an otherwise rigid Lions defence for consolation tries but the dam wall had been breeched by the final 15 minutes and the Lions rampaged through a weary defense.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Clinton Swart, Ross Braude, Dewald Maritz. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2), Dewald Maritz
Fidelity ADT Lions: Tries: Tapiwa Mafura (3), Sam Francis, Rabz Maxwane (2), Nico Steyn, Sibabalo Qoma, Gianni Lombard, Morne van den Berg. Conversions: Sam Francis (6): Penalties: Francis (4)