Emirates Lions scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba scored 24 points as his side caused a major upset, beating the Vodacom Bulls 29-25 in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
Nohamba scored a try, kicked two conversions and five penalties as his side exploited some poor discipline by the home side to cause celebrations as if they had won a playoff match.
The Bulls outscored them four tries to two, but Nohamba’s boot was the ultimate difference between the two sides and continued to heighten the concern about the Bulls' form.
WHAT A GAME! ??
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 4, 2023
It was a close affair but the win belongs to the @LionsRugbyCo ?? @Vodacom #URC | #BULvLIO pic.twitter.com/gMNwzJR34l
While the home side did have a try disallowed, the 12 penalties they gave away was costly while their own attacking ability has been lacking for more than one game now as they slumped to their third straight loss in the URC and fourth in the last five games.
On this form they won’t trouble the big guns in the competition and with big games against Leinster, Ulster and a Heineken Cup fixture against Toulouse waiting, the warning signs are starting to flash at Loftus.
And it isn’t as if they weren’t creating chances. Like many games before this, the Bulls were good in creating opportunities, but didn’t convert as many chances.
But it was their inability to get to grips with the whistle of Jaco Peyper that in the end cost them the match. The Lions were clear in their quest for points and with Nohamba on song, any chance was converted.
CAUGHT THE BULLS NAPPING
It meant that the Bulls were forever playing catch-up, thanks to a soft moment which gifted the Lions scrumhalf a try in the first half.
And it was the 17-point lead they allowed the Lions to rack up in the first half that was too much to haul in.
It was the Bulls who would be expected to dominate on their home ground, but it was the visitors that made the early impressions.
For once the Bulls looked jaded despite going ahead early on through the boot of Morne Steyn.
Nohamba’s penalty equalled matters before a one-two by the Lions floored the Bulls early on and left the home team 10 points behind.
First it was a massive hit by Rabz Maxwane that dislodged the ball and caused a turnover, with the ball being spread wide and Quan Horn putting Edwill van der Merwe away down the touchline to outstrip Embrose Papier for the first try.
It's the @LionsRugbyCo that strike first! ?? @Vodacom #URC | #BULvLIO pic.twitter.com/8RlRzjCWxT
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 4, 2023
Then Nohamba caught the Bulls totally napping as he took a quick penalty tap and found an open line to the tryline, scoring under the posts while the Bulls looked on in disbelief.
While they were waiting for a whistle, Nohamba had stolen the metres that mattered while they dithered, and seven more points were on the board.
MASSIVE 15-MAN MAUL DEFENDED
It seemed to spur the Bulls into action, at least temporarily, as they hit up three times down the middle before changing sides and watching as Cornal Hendricks put Wandisile Simelane away for his first try.
At 23-13, the Lions had deserved their halftime lead, but you could feel the momentum slowly changing just after the break as the Bulls kept the Lions pinned in their own half of the field.
A bit of fortune and skill brought the Bulls closer as Simelane put a grubber through and Van der Merwe tried to shield it into touch. But out of nowhere Sibongile Novuka’s boot appeared in the air and toed it forward, just enough that Simelane on the inside could pounce for his second try.
How has he done that! ??@Vodacom #URC | #BULvLIO pic.twitter.com/sJLw9Gazio
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) March 4, 2023
The Bulls took the lead shortly afterwards as they rumbled over at the back of a maul as Johan Grobbelaar went over to level the scores and Morne Steyn put them ahead at 25-23 with less than 20 minutes to go.
When the Bulls needed to convert and put the Lions away, they fluffed two chances on the line, and then gave away two easy penalties for Nohamba to get the Lions ahead and then push them further out.
The game ended on a massive 15-man maul, which was defended with every bone in every Lion's body, and eventually stopped less than a metre before the tryline.
The Bulls looked defeated, the Lions celebrated. And while it was redemption for a Joburg team under pressure, it was also a massive body blow for the Pretoria side’s hopes.
Things only get tougher from here on out for the Bulls. And in this form, their season faces an early conclusion.
The Emirates Lions conquer Loftus with some monumental defense! ?? pic.twitter.com/ecS2IObaXd
— SuperSport ?? (@SuperSportTV) March 4, 2023
Man of the Match, Sanele Nohamba gives us his thoughts after a sublime individual performance.#LionsPride ?? pic.twitter.com/3bESYoSWmY
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) March 4, 2023
Scorers
Vodacom Bulls - tries: Wandisile Simelane (2), S’bu Nkosi, Johan Grobbelaar. Conversion: Morne Steyn. Penalty: Steyn.
Emirates Lions - tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Sanele Nohamba. Conversions: Nohamba (2). Penalties: Nohamba (5).