The Fidelity ADT Lions put on a comprehensive forward performance to demolish the Vodacom Bulls XV 42-19 in their Carling Currie Cup game at the University of Johannesburg Stadium on Saturday evening.
This wasn’t a contest; it was one-way traffic as the young Lions side were totally dominant against a Bulls side missing 45 players from their contracted squad, and who lost three players to injury this past week.
The gulf between the two sides was very apparent as the Lions ended the first half 28-0 up and could have been further up. Only a late rally by the Bulls made the scoreline look a lot more palatable.
Still, it is hard to fault the Lions, whose powerful pack was dominant, and whose maul destroyed the Bulls in the first half. If they carry on like this, Mzwakhe Nkosi’s side are poised to finally go third time lucky in the domestic showpiece.
But the Lions may well pay for their indiscipline. Although the game was well won by then, their captain Ruan Delport was red-carded for a dangerous cleanout late in the game, something that may cost them his services for a few weeks when the disciplinary committee complete their work.
Either way, the Bulls had little answer to the Lions' power and it was only some brave defending that kept them from being routed away from home.
The Lions had their maul working overtime in the first half, and it was a powerful maul that led to the first try by Delport, even though it needed a few phases to get him over the line.
BONUS POINT FOR LIONS
Conraad van Vuuren, or “Beertjie” as he is affectionately known, was next to get over the line from the back of a second driving maul, one which wasn’t stopped by the Bulls forwards as the Lions went 14-0 up.
The Lions forwards were in control when Morne Venter went over after a series of phases and pick-and-gos to take the Lions further ahead and the home side claimed their bonus point.
A breakout by Rynhardt Jonker almost caught the Bulls flat-footed, but the attempt at a turnover, illegally by Sintu Manjezi, was enough to give him his marching orders for 10 minutes on the sidelines for cynical play.
With the Bulls down to 14, the Lions forwards took over, and it wasn’t long before Mahle Sithole went over from close range to claim the bonus point.
The second half was more damage control for the Bulls, especially as Dyland Sjoblom burst through a hole early on to score the fifth try for the home side.
The Bulls pulled two tries back - most notably by newcomer Kebotile Maake, the Junior Springbok flanker who looks to be a fine prospect for the future, and then through veteran Devon Williams, but it was never going to be enough.
Lions recruit Asad Moos could turn out to be one of the buys of the season, as he sniped in for his side to seal the game and take the full points on offer.
Riyaad Bam scored a late try for the Bulls, but it was academic as the Lions were celebrating by this stage.
SCORERS
Fidelity ADT Lions - tries: Ruan Delport, Conraad van Vuuren, Morne Venter, Maahle Sithole, Dylan Sjoblom, Asad Moos. Conversions: Sam Francis (6)
Vodacom Bulls XV - tries: Kebotile Maake, Devon Williams, Riyaad Bam. Conversions: Keagan Johannes (2)