Lions vs Dragons | EPCR Challenge Cup

Lions

Dragons

Saturday 18 Jan 2025

Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg

Lions

Dragons

Tries

Manuel Rass 80'

Ruan Venter 66'; 22'

Jaco Visagie 61'

Gianni Lombard 56'

Francke Horn 48'; 8'

Tapiwa Mafura 26'

Sam Francis 15'

Paula Latu 53'

Conversions

Gianni Lombard 81'; 66'

Sam Francis 27'; 23'; 16'; 9'

Will Reed 54'

Penalties

Sam Francis 3'

Will Reed 7'

05:00

Emirates Lions v Dragons | Match Highlights | European Rugby Challenge Cup

First-half blitz sends Lions sailing into knockouts

rugby2 months ago

Timeline

End of Second Half

81'

Gianni Lombard

Conversion

81'

Manuel Rass

Try

80'

Darrien-Lane Landsberg

Out: Ruan Venter

67'

Lloyd Evans

Out: Will Reed

67'

Gianni Lombard

Conversion

66'

Ruan Venter

Try

66'

Nico Steyn

Out: Morne van den Berg

63'

Manuel Rass

Out: Henco van Wyk

63'

George Young

Out: Taine Basham

62'

Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths

Out: Rodrigo Martinez

62'

Jaco Visagie

Try

61'

Harri Ackerman

Out: Joe Westwood

58'

Gianni Lombard

Try

56'

Jarod Cairns

Out: Darrien-Lane Landsberg

55'

Will Reed

Conversion

54'

Paula Latu

Try

53'

SJ Kotze

Out: Juan Schoeman

50'

RF Schoeman

Out: Asenathi Ntlabakanye

50'

Jaco Visagie

Out: PJ Botha

50'

Paula Latu

Out: Chris Coleman

49'

Francke Horn

Try

48'

Barny Langton

Out: Joseph Davies

46'

Ruan Delport

Out: Etienne Oosthuizen

42'

Gianni Lombard

Out: Sam Francis

42'

Brodie Coghlan

Out: Elliot Dee

40'

Morgan Lloyd

Out: Che Hope

40'

Start of Second Half

40'

End of First Half

39'

Sam Francis

Conversion

27'

Tapiwa Mafura

Try

26'

Sam Francis

Conversion

23'

Ruan Venter

Try

22'

Sam Francis

Conversion

16'

Sam Francis

Try

15'

Sam Francis

Conversion

Francke Horn

Try

Will Reed

Penalty

Sam Francis

Penalty

Start of First Half

Top Stats

Tries

Conversions

Penalties

See Full Stats

Current Standings

POS

Team

Pts

Lions

Dragons

-55

See Full Table

Top Performers

Ball Carries

R. Venter

Ball Carries: 14

Tackles

W. Reed

Tackles: 12

Points

S. Francis

Points: 16

Insights

EPCR Challenge Cup

Points per match

3015

Tries per match

Penalties Conceded per match

911

Match Information

Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg

EPCR Challenge Cup

Saturday 18 Jan 2025

Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg

Lions

Dragons

Tries

Manuel Rass 80'

Ruan Venter 66'; 22'

Jaco Visagie 61'

Gianni Lombard 56'

Francke Horn 48'; 8'

Tapiwa Mafura 26'

Sam Francis 15'

Paula Latu 53'

Conversions

Gianni Lombard 81'; 66'

Sam Francis 27'; 23'; 16'; 9'

Will Reed 54'

Penalties

Sam Francis 3'

Will Reed 7'

Timeline

End of Second Half

81'

Gianni Lombard

Conversion

81'

Manuel Rass

Try

80'

Darrien-Lane Landsberg

Out: Ruan Venter

67'

Lloyd Evans

Out: Will Reed

67'

Gianni Lombard

Conversion

66'

Ruan Venter

Try

66'

Nico Steyn

Out: Morne van den Berg

63'

Manuel Rass

Out: Henco van Wyk

63'

George Young

Out: Taine Basham

62'

Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths

Out: Rodrigo Martinez

62'

Jaco Visagie

Try

61'

Harri Ackerman

Out: Joe Westwood

58'

Gianni Lombard

Try

56'

Jarod Cairns

Out: Darrien-Lane Landsberg

55'

Will Reed

Conversion

54'

Paula Latu

Try

53'

SJ Kotze

Out: Juan Schoeman

50'

RF Schoeman

Out: Asenathi Ntlabakanye

50'

Jaco Visagie

Out: PJ Botha

50'

Paula Latu

Out: Chris Coleman

49'

Francke Horn

Try

48'

Barny Langton

Out: Joseph Davies

46'

Ruan Delport

Out: Etienne Oosthuizen

42'

Gianni Lombard

Out: Sam Francis

42'

Brodie Coghlan

Out: Elliot Dee

40'

Morgan Lloyd

Out: Che Hope

40'

Start of Second Half

40'

End of First Half

39'

Sam Francis

Conversion

27'

Tapiwa Mafura

Try

26'

Sam Francis

Conversion

23'

Ruan Venter

Try

22'

Sam Francis

Conversion

16'

Sam Francis

Try

15'

Sam Francis

Conversion

Francke Horn

Try

Will Reed

Penalty

Sam Francis

Penalty

Start of First Half

Top Stats

9Tries1

Conversions

Penalties

Drop Goals

Scrums

Lineouts

Possession

Territory

Handling Errors

Passes

177

100

Offload

Metres Gained

521

236

Clean Breaks

Kicks From Hand

Tackles

129

Missed Tackles

Mauls

Yellow Cards

Red Cards

Penalties Conceded

Form Guide

Last 5 matches

Lions

Montpellier Herault 28 - 5 Lions

11 Jan 2025 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Stormers 29 - 10 Lions

21 Dec 2024 • United Rugby Championship

Section Paloise 43 - 35 Lions

14 Dec 2024 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Ospreys 30 - 14 Lions

8 Dec 2024 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Munster 17 - 10 Lions

30 Nov 2024 • United Rugby Championship

Dragons

Section Paloise 15 - 24 Dragons

12 Jan 2025 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Llanelli Scarlets 32 - 15 Dragons

1 Jan 2025 • United Rugby Championship

Cardiff Rugby 22 - 24 Dragons

26 Dec 2024 • United Rugby Championship

Newcastle Falcons 14 - 22 Dragons

15 Dec 2024 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Montpellier Herault 14 - 18 Dragons

6 Dec 2024 • EPCR Challenge Cup

Form Guide

Last 5 matches

Line Up

Juan Schoeman

PJ Botha

Asenathi Ntlabakanye

Etienne Oostuizen

Darrien-Lane Landsberg

JC Pretorius

Ruan Venter

Francke Horn

Morne van den Berg

Sam Francis

Edwill van der Merwe

Rynhardt Jonker

Henco van Wyk

Tapiwa Mafura

Quan Horn

Rodrigo Martinez

Elliot Dee

Chris Coleman

Joseph Davies

George Nott

Ryan Woodman

Shane Lewis-Hughes

Taine Basham

Che Hope

Will Reed

Ewan Rosser

Aneurin Owen

Joe Westwood

Rio Dyer

Huw Anderson

Substitutes

Jaco Visagie

SJ Kotze

RF Schoeman

Ruan Delport

Jarod Cairns

Nico Steyn

Gianni Lombard

Manuel Rass

Brodie Coghlan

Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths

Paula Latu

Barny Langton

George Young

Morgan Lloyd

Lloyd Evans

Harri Ackerman

Match Videos

05:00

Emirates Lions v Dragons | Match Highlights | European Rugby Challenge Cup

First-half blitz sends Lions sailing into knockouts

rugby2 months ago

Commentary

81’

End of second half

It's all over! The referee has blown their whistle to end the game.

81’

Conversion

Gianni Lombard converts the try.

80’

Try

Manuel Rass gathers the kick to score the try for Lions.

80’

Try assist

Nico Steyn sets up the try.

67’

Substitution on

Lions make a substitution with Darrien-Lane Landsberg coming on.

67’

Substitution off

Lions make a substitution with Ruan Venter coming off.

67’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Lloyd Evans coming on.

67’

Substitution off

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Will Reed coming off.

66’

Conversion

The Lions supporters go wild as Gianni Lombard successfully kicks the conversion.

66’

Try

Lions are only a few metres out, surely they must score! And they do with Ruan Venter touching down.

66’

Clean break

The defensive line has been broken as Ruan Venter goes through the gap.

66’

Try assist

Nico Steyn sets up the try.

63’

Substitution on

Lions sub Nico Steyn comes onto the field.

63’

Substitution off

Morne van den Berg departs for Lions.

63’

Substitution on

Lions sub Manuel Rass comes onto the field.

63’

Substitution off

Henco van Wyk departs for Lions.

62’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC sub George Young comes onto the field.

62’

Substitution off

Taine Basham departs for Dragons RFC.

62’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC sub Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths comes onto the field.

62’

Substitution off

Rodrigo Martinez departs for Dragons RFC.

62’

Conversion

Gianni Lombard hits the right post with the conversion, failing to add the two points.

61’

Try

The Lions pack has powered over for Jaco Visagie to score the try.

58’

Substitution on

Harri Ackerman comes on for Dragons RFC.

58’

Substitution off

Joe Westwood leaves the field.

57’

Conversion

Gianni Lombard has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.

56’

Try

A penetrating move by Lions results in a try for Gianni Lombard.

56’

Clean break

What a run here by Gianni Lombard as they get over the gainline!

56’

Try assist

Quan Horn played a key part in that try.

55’

Substitution on

Jarod Cairns comes on for Lions.

55’

Substitution off

Darrien-Lane Landsberg leaves the field.

54’

Conversion

The touch judges raise their flags as Will Reed kicks the conversion.

53’

Try

Nothing was going to stop Paula Latu from scoring as they record the try for Dragons RFC.

51’

Clean break

What a run here by Rio Dyer as they get over the gainline!

50’

Substitution on

SJ Kotze comes on.

50’

Substitution off

Juan Schoeman comes off.

50’

Substitution on

RF Schoeman comes on.

50’

Substitution off

Asenathi Ntlabakanye comes off.

50’

Substitution on

Jaco Visagie comes on.

50’

Substitution off

PJ Botha comes off.

49’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC decide to make a substitution, with Paula Latu getting some game time.

49’

Substitution off

Dragons RFC decide to make a substitution, with Chris Coleman being replaced.

49’

Conversion

Gianni Lombard has hooked the conversion to the right of the posts.

48’

Try

Nobody was going to stop Francke Horn from scoring that try!

48’

Clean break

Francke Horn makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

48’

Try assist

Edwill van der Merwe sets up the try.

46’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC decide to make a substitution, with Barny Langton getting some game time.

46’

Substitution off

Dragons RFC decide to make a substitution, with Joseph Davies being replaced.

45’

Clean break

Quan Horn makes the break as the defence re-enacts the parting of the red sea.

42’

Substitution on

Lions make a substitution with Ruan Delport coming on.

42’

Substitution off

Lions make a substitution with Etienne Oosthuizen coming off.

42’

Substitution on

Lions make a substitution with Gianni Lombard coming on.

42’

Substitution off

Lions make a substitution with Sam Francis coming off.

41’

Clean break

Fabulous play by Dragons RFC has led to Huw Anderson being able to wriggle through a gap.

40’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Brodie Coghlan coming on.

40’

Substitution off

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Elliot Dee coming off.

40’

Substitution on

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Morgan Lloyd coming on.

40’

Substitution off

Dragons RFC make a substitution with Che Hope coming off.

40’

Start of second half

The second half kicks off.

39’

End of first half

The half-time whistle blows and both teams head for the dressing rooms.

28’

Clean break

Trouble here as Huw Anderson breaches the defence.

27’

Conversion

Sam Francis makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

26’

Try

Silky skills by Lions ends with a try for Tapiwa Mafura.

26’

Clean break

Trouble here as Tapiwa Mafura breaches the defence.

26’

Try assist

Rynhardt Jonker played a key part in that try.

26’

Clean break

Trouble here as Morne van den Berg breaches the defence.

23’

Conversion

Sam Francis makes no mistake with that conversion attempt.

22’

Try

Ruan Venter goes on their own for a try.

22’

Clean break

This is dangerous for the defence as Ruan Venter bursts through to advance the Lions attack.

22’

Try assist

That's a great try assist by Rynhardt Jonker.

16’

Conversion

Sam Francis converts the try.

15’

Try

Sam Francis scores the try from close range.

15’

Try assist

Spellbinding play by Morne van den Berg is finished off with a try.

9’

Conversion

Sam Francis has kicked a conversion.

8’

Try

A series of passes by Lions results in a try for Francke Horn

8’

Clean break

A gap opened in the defence and Francke Horn took full advantage.

8’

Try assist

Quan Horn played a key part in that try.

7’

Penalty Goal - Kicked

Will Reed kicks the penalty.

5’

Penalty Goal - Hit Right Post

Will Reed was unlucky to have missed the penalty after the ball hit the right post.

4’

Clean break

The defensive line has been broken as Aneurin Owen goes through the gap.

3’

Penalty Goal - Kicked

Sam Francis has kicked a penalty goal.

0’

Clean break

The defensive line has been broken as Etienne Oosthuizen goes through the gap.

0’

Start of first half

We are underway as the referee blows their whistle.

See All

Current Standings

POS

Team

Pts

Lions

Dragons

-55

See Full Table

Top Performers

Ball Carries

R. Venter

Ball Carries: 14

Tackles

W. Reed

Tackles: 12

Points

S. Francis

Points: 16

Insights

EPCR Challenge Cup

Points per match

3015

Tries per match

Penalties Conceded per match

911

Match Information

Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg

EPCR Challenge Cup