FULL-TIME, LIONS 34-13 CARDIFF! A quite triumphant display from the Lions - Cardiff didn't make it easy and attacked with gusto at times, but the home side hit back strong at the end to ensure the win in quite brilliant fashion. Hope you enjoyed following the action with us, and enjoy the rest of your sporting weekend!
CONVERSION, LIONS, LOMBARD! 34-13; Lovely conversion from Lombard from the right wing… superb kick.
TRY, LIONS, TSHITUKA! 32-13; Lions drive forward but are blown for a foul. Cardiff run the ball but the Lions reclaim possession with a big hit from Jordan Hendrikse, the ball finds its was to Erich Cronje who drives down the right then as a tackle comes in on him he lobs it into the path of Tshituka, who collects and sprints 10 metres before diving over in magnificent fashion for the five-pointer!
GREAT BREAK from Tshituka, leaving two tacklers behind he drives forwards but is brought down eventually by the faster backs.
CONVERSION, LIONS, LOMBARD! 27-13; Good conversion… this should see the Lions home… now they will want the fourth try bonus point.
TRY, LION, TSHITUKA! 25-13; The pack drives over the line and Emmanuel Tshituka falls on the ball to claim the five-pointer. Great power and determination from the Lions.
Cardiff penalised and Lions kick to touch 9m short of the Cardiff line… the win the ball, drive forward, there's a grubber to chase on, but the Cardiff defence get there first… but the ref calls play back for an infringement in the line… Lions throw in again and try to drive to the line…
Beetham attacking a penalty kick from about 55m… but it slips under the crossbar. Excellent attempt.
Lions win the ball and run it down the right, then switch left and pass the halfway line… but are blown for obstruction.
Lions win the lineout and drive, then Van der Berg kicks it downfield with a good kick to their 10m line.
Lions keep driving it forward, past the Cardiff 10m… Cardiff reclaim the ball and Van der Berg kick it way downfield, a magnificent kick that bounces into touch well inside the Lions 22.
Lions win the lineout, rugby it right and they try to power through the Cardiff line, but the ball is knocked forward. De Beer clears for Cardiff to the halfway line. Lions penalised again with a free kick… De Beer hoists it, but Cardiff knock on and its a Lions advantage now… they run it right then left…
Cardiff penalised and the Lions kick to touch from just in front of the halfway line and have the lineout 10m from the Cardiff line…
PENALTY, CARDIFF, DE BEER! 20-13; De Beers slots the penalty without a problem and there's just seven points in it now…
Penalty against the Lions scrum… they're going to take the points from the boot of De Beer…
Cardiff feed the scrum in front of the Lions poles and inside their 22…
Cardiff desperately trying to breakthrough but the Lions defence is powerful and will organised. Two Cardiff players are down now getting treatment.
Lions win the lineout and drive forward but are penalised for holding… Cardiff kick for a lineout and then drive forward at the Lions into their 22… out to the wing… driving forward almost at the 5m…
De Beer clears upfield… Lions drive back but are blown for knock-on… De Beers kicks to 8m pasty the Lions 10m line and Cardiff have an attacking throw.
Lions drive up and have a lineout 8m short of the Cardiff line… but they are blown for knock-on in the lineout. Wasted opportunity. Cardiff to feed the scrum.
CONVERSION, CARDIFF, DE BEER! 20-10; De Beer slots a good conversion from the right touchline, about 8m in from touch. We are getting a game on here…
TRY, CARDIFF, DOMACHOWSKI! 20-8; The Lions unable to hold the visitors back and they power over for the try.
Cardiff run down to the right touchline when they win a penalty… kick for 5m lineout… win the ball and drive for the line, the Lions holding them back…
Cardiff with a good run up the left, the player brought down, then they sling it out to the right, Ben Thomas with a driving run… and they win a a penalty in front of poles, 8m short of the Lions line. They choose to scrum.
PENALTY, LIONS, NOHAMBA! 20-3; He slots his kick from a few feet in front of the halfway line and directly in front of poles… the kick is confident and have more than enough distance. Great effort.
Cardiff win a penalty from the kick-off, but shortly after they go off-side chasing a high ball on the halfway line.
KICK-OFF! The second half is underway…
HALF-TIME, LIONS 17-3 CARDIFF. Lions have controlled play well, showing some great attacking intent. Cardiff have struggled to assert themselves but have shown a willingness to attack and the ability to defend. Second half to follow shortly.
Lions drive across field to in line with the poles near the 5m… but they are blown up and Cardiff clear to the left touchline for a lineout, then kick the lineout ball into touch and the half-time break..
Cardiff kick to the Lions, Nohamba rises high to claim it, then slips a pass back to Van den Berg who clears upfield with a great kick.
Cardiff run from the scrum down to the right wing, but the Lions steal possession and swing passes down the left but Cardiff take the ball from them and counter.
Lions with the knock-on from a high ball, Cardiff win a scrum on the 10m.
Cardiff break from the scrum and drive hard at the Lions, but the home side manage to close the danger down.
Cardiff defending hard as the Lions press up against them down the left wing.
Cardiff press back hard but the Lions are strong on defence.
PENALTY, LIONS, NOHAMBA! 17-3;
PENALTY, CARDIFF, DE BEER! 14-3; Third time lucky.
Lions blown again in the scrum on their own feed… De Beer is hoping it will be third time lucky…
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA! 14-0; Smashed through from inn front of the poles.
TRY, LIONS, HORN! 12-0; Lions win a penalty, they take it quick and it's booted upfield, Horn chasing after it… it bounces just right and he has to keep running flat out to outsprint two forwards to dot down under the poles.
Cardiff counter attack with some great running from the backline, first up the right, then across field and to the left… then back right… the Lions working hard to keep their guests at bay…
IT'S HIT THE RIGHT UPRIGHT… Lions leap on the ball and press upfield then kick…
The teams scrum now on the halfway line and the Lions are penalised for low binding… Cardiff get a penalty and SA-born De Beer will have a crack from three metres inside the Lions half.
Lions go blindside and a pack of Cardiff forwards are caught offsides, Lions to clear with a kick downfield and will have a lineout a foot short of the halfway line…
Cardiff drive up into the Lions 22… Lions to feed the scrum 8m short of their line…
CONVERSION, LIONS, NOHAMBA! 7-0; Kick from almost under the poles. No problem.
TRY, LIONS, VENTER! 5-0; Lions drive up to the 5m… penalty awarded and they tap and go but Cardiff hold them up. They peel off and drive through a second time, forcing the ball over for the try.
Lions run the ball beautifully inside the Cardiff 22, running it down to the touchline… superb running but some great Cardiff defence in a dangerous position.
Lions throw the ball around a bit too loose… then made a good decision and drive up the left wing, a couple of good passes and make great distance. Excellent from the Lions.
MISSED! De Beer pulls his kick slightly to the right.
Lions and Cardiff contest a high ball, Lions knock it forward and Dreyer takes it in an off-side position and Cardiff have a penalty in a very kickable position on the right.
KICK-OFF! The first half gets underway…
Our referee tonight is Eoghan Cross from Ireland, and he will be assisted by Aimee Barrett-Theron and Cwengile Jadezweni (both from South Africa). Our TMO is Frank Murphy from Ireland.
Cardiff: 15 Cam Winnett, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Theo Cabango, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Mackenzie Martin, 7 James Botham, 6 Ben Donnell, 5 Rory Thornton, 4 Seb Davies, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Evan Lloyd, 1 Rhys Carre. Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Rhys Litterick, 19 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 20 Alun Lawrence, 21 Ellis Bevan, 22 Jacob Beetham, 23 Max Clark.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Richard Kriel, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Ruan Dreyer. Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 JP Smith, 18 Conraad van Vuren, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Hanru Sirgel, 22 Jordan Hendrikse, 23 Gianni Lombard.
Neither side has a chance of making the playoffs.
Cardiff are one point behind the Lions in 12th place, with just three wins and a draw from their 15 matches. They have a points difference of minus-22.
The Lions are 11th on the table, winning seven of their 15 games, picking up 39 points. They have a points difference of plus-89.
Cardiff have had a nightmare run, losing all five of their last five matches.
The Lions have won just two of their last five games.
The Lions have won the last three matches between the two sides.
Good afternoon, and welcome to our live coverage of the Lions vs Cardiff Round of 16 clash in the United Rugby Championship live from Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
