FULL TIME: LIONS 61-19 ZEBRE:
The Lions still canter away with things even if Zebre improved in the second half. The home side should be thrilled with the effort and might hope that it draws a bigger crowd for their next home outing. Morne van den Berg is named the player of the match.
CONVERSION, LIONS, ALBERTS, 61-19:
Big Willem Alberts, 'The Bone Collector', slots a conversion to end an incredible match.
TRY, LIONS, TSHITUKA, 59-19:
Tshituka powers over from close range with some good footwork.
The Lions have another penalty and no reason to kick to goal so they set up a lineout about ten out from the Zebre line.
Zebre have a player down but the Lions have the penalty and Hendrikse find a touch close to the Zebre 22.
The Lions get penalised on attack for losing their feet at the breakdown and a breathless Zebre can clear up to halfway.
Another Zebre attack meets a tame end as a loose pass just rolls into touch and the Lions have the lineout feed close to their own 22.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 54-19:
Nohamba converts and the lead goes out to 35 points.
TRY, LIONS, VAN DER MERWE, 52-19:
Van der Merwe ghosts through a huge hole in the Zebre defence to score right off the setpiece.
Zebre have to take the ball back into their own in-goal and Van der Merwe scrags Garcia to earn the Lions the five-metre scrum.
Nohamba has to drop on a loose ball and takes a shot for his troubles but the Lions have the penalty as a result and kick up to the Zebre 22.
Pretorius gets over the ball to deny Zebre and win the Lions a penalty five from their own line. They smash that kick up towards halfway. In fact over halfway and they secure the lineout ball as well.
The lineout needs to be redone as the referee spots problems on both sides.
Zebre get a penalty after a neckroll at the breakdown and put the ball down into the Lions 22. Zebre could secure a four-try bonus point at least if they can score again.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 47-19:
Nohamba converts the try.
TRY, LIONS, VAN DEN BERG, 45-19:
Van den Berg is over after a great attack from the Lions as Horn finds a gap and Van Der Merwe with a pass and as the winger went down he offloaded to van den Berg.
Zebre's exit is into touch but only on their own ten where the Lions feed a lineout and launch another attack.
Zebre cannot convert the try and the Lions lead is cut to 21.
TRY, ZEBRE, TRULLA, 40-19:
Trulla gets in as Zebre get their offload game going at last.
Zebre get a scrum penalty and set up a lineout inside the Lions half and maul. They can attack with advantage after their maul is brought down.
Quite a lot going on off the ball but the Lions spill it as they carry towards the Zebre 22. Zebre have the scrum in their own half.
Van den Berg kicks well from the first breakdown after the restart and Zebre have a lineout feed close to halfway on the Lions side.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 40-14:
Nohamba converts and the Lions lead is out to 26 points.
TRY, LIONS, VAN WYK, 38-14:
Van Wyk finds a hole as he fends off Gregory and then sells a dummy to go in to score.
Evans isn't happy with the Zebre scrum and though they get the ball out the Lions get the penalty after the call from the AR. The Lions fond touch on the Zebre 22 and look to maul.
The Lions are marching forward on attack but then Horn throws a wild forward pass into touch. Zebre have the scrum feed just inside their ten-metre line
CONVERSION, ZEBRE, MONTEMAURI, 33-14:
Zebre get the conversion.
TRY, ZEBRE, GESI, 33-12:
Gesi gets onto a grubber in a flash with no Lions anywhere near him as he dives over.
The Lions get adventurous but a forward pass leaves them facing a Zebre scrum feed. The scrum is on the Lions 22.
Zebre's lineout has functioned well and their maul has been effective but their kicking isn't testing the Lions. They surrender the ball and the Lions find touch on halfway. Here we go again.
Horn restarts long but Zebre send it back with interest and Nohamba kicks to touch from his 22. Zebre can attack from halfway off the lineout.
HALF TIME: LIONS 33-7 ZEBRE
The Lions have been ruthless on attack and have feasted on a Zebre defence that left a lot to be desired. Zebre have shown innovation in attack but haven't made enough of the ball they had. Aimless kicking early on from Zebre cost them any hope they had of putting the Lions under pressure.
The Lions bash over but the TMO will have to try and spot the grounding if there was one.
The Lions bash over but the TMO will have to try and spot the grounding if there was one.
The Lions get another penalty and put the ball out in the Zebre 22 as the hooter sounds. They want to punish the visitors again.
Zebre are overeager at the restart and they are penalised. The Lions kick up into the Zebre half where they set another lineout.
CONVERSION, LIONS,NOHAMBA, 33-7:
Nohamba converts and the Lions will want to maintain their focus to close the half out now.
TRY, LIONS, VAN WYK, 31-7:
Van Wyk snaps up the ball after Kriel is taken out off it and scores.
Van der Merwe makes the yards off his wing in slightly ropey looking move but the kick ahead creates pandamonium for Zebre.
CONVERSION, ZEBRE, MONTEMAURI, 26-7:
A heavily bandaged Montemauri converts the try.
TRY, ZEBRE, GESI, 26-5:
Gesi has acres of space and steps inside and goes over.
The Lions get done for taking the legs of the lifter at the lineout and Zebre go back to the corner with another penalty.
The Lions switch off and don't secure the breakdown ball and Zebre can set up an attacking lineout deep in the Lions 22.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 26-0:
Nohamba makes good on the conversion.
TRY, LIONS, HORN, 24-0:
Horn steps and gets in to score to end a multiphase attack from the Lions that just wouldn't be denied. That might be the best attacking phase by any South African team in the URC this season.
Direct running from the Lions batters the Zebre defence and they are backpedalling into their 22 at some pace.
Kriel just can't gather a cross-kick from Nohambaand Zebre can drop out from their 22.
The Lions force Zebre into touch and get a generous call on their lineout feed. The Lions get moving in attack and get the advantage. They reject a shot at goal and Nohamba dabs it out inside the Zebre 22.
Louw spills the ball as he tries to crash into the Zebre 22 and the Italians bang it long and into touch on the Lions 10 metre line. The Lions force an offload and knock-on on the halfway line and Zebre have the scrum feed.
A water break is called and the Zebre players are using to to apply ice and wet towels as they struggle in the Joburg summer heat.
Zebre break away from the maul and drive over but the Lions hold them up and have the goal-line drop out. Horn kicks long and Zebre come back at them but a grubber is easily gathered and Horne turns the Zebre players and sends a kick rolling into the in-goal area and Zebre opt to kick to touch. The Lions have the lineout feed on the Zebre 22.
The Lions are still content to kick to touch on their own ten metre line where Zebre have started several failed attacks. This time they get to attack with advantage though. They can't use that but will kick into the Lions 22.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 19-0:
Nohamba converts the try to add more woe for Zebre.
TRY, LIONS, HORNE, 17-0:
The Lions make the most of a spilled ball in midfield and Horne is after the hack ahead. He dribbles it over the line and dots down.
Zebre look to test Kriel but he passes with flying colours as he marks and the bangs a kick into touch inside the Zebre half. Not the result Zebre wanted from their tester. They immediately kick long and Kriel marks the kick again. This time he shifts it inside to Horn who kicks long but not out. Zebre bomb it back and Horn makes sure this time and finds touch on his ten metre line where Zebre have another lineout.
Horn now calms things down with the kick to touch which goes out ten inside the Lions half where Zebre will have the lineout feed.
Nohamba is irritated that his clearance finds a short touch that will allow Zebre to attack if they can secure their lineout ball. The Lions steal it though and kick long but not out this time.
Nohamba cannot convert but the Lions lead by 12 with ten minutes in the book.
TRY, LIONS, VAN DER MERWE, 12-0:
Horne comes out with a left-footed grubber and van der Merwe is onto it to score the try off a quick attack from the scrum.
The Lions halt what was a promising attack for Zebre as their loose forwards hold up LIcata and win the scrum ten from halfway.
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA, 7-0:
Nohamba converts the try.
TRY, LIONS, KRIEL, 5-0:
The Lions pull a stunning move off the lineout and Kriel is unstoppable, coming off the blindside wing into the hole behind the lineout with the inside ball off an overthrown lineout feed.
The Lions attack with advantage but things go pear-shaped when Van den Berg has to get involved in a ruck. The Lions kick the penalty to touch close to the Zebre 22.
Van den Berg gets another big boot to ball to clear the danger again after Zebre drive them back with a tactical kick. Zebre test the Lions with a hoist. They do well and get onto the front foot carrying into the Zebre half.
KICK-OFF: Zebre bomb it deep and the Lions tap it back into their own 22. They carry once and get stopped inside the 22 allowing them to kick to touch close to halfway but Zebre have a platform to attack from the lineout.
The United Rugby Championship match officials for the fixture are:
Referee: Craig Evans (Wales)
Assistant referees: Morné Ferreira (South Africa) ; AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
Zebre: 15 Lorenzo Pani, 14 Scott Gregory, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Franco Smith Jr, 11 Simone Gesi, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovanni Licata (captain), 7 Iacopo Bianchi, 6 Giacomo Ferrari, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Leonard Krumov, 3 Juan Pitinari, 2 Marco Manfredi, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Replacements: 16 Giampietro Ribaldi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Matteo Nocera, 19 Guido Volpi, 20 Taina Fox-Matamua, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Jacopo Trulla.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, Henco van Wyk, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Emmanuel Tshituka, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Delport, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Hanru Sirgel, 21 JC Pretorius, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Rabz Maxwane
It's Saturday and we have round six action from the United Rugby Championship coming up, welcome to our coverage of Lions vs Zebre Parma from Ellis Park, Johannesburg.
