Lions maul outgunned Ospreys

The Emirates Lions roared loudly into the Johannesburg sky as they scored their third straight home win in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship to down the Ospreys 45-15 at Emirates Airline Park on Friday night.

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The Lions were a totally different side to the one that struggled earlier this season and took the confidence of their two previous home wins into the game against the top side in Wales. But it was clear early on the visitors were going to struggle with the home side’s pace.

Seven tries to two tells a clear story of dominance as the Lions roared loudly and the Ospreys wilted in reply.

On the back of another inspired performance by captain Burger Odendaal, the Lions marched forward with renewed vigour and a willingness to take the game to the Welsh side.

The big difference from some of their previous games was how the Lions backed their defence, and simply refused to have the same gaps that plagued them earlier in the season.

Up front, even without Carlu Sadie, their scrum was solid and got on top as the game went on, while the Tshituka brothers - Vincent and especially Emmanuel on the night - were hard-running and determined, so much so that the Welsh forwards had little reply.

On the evidence of the night it is hard to see this being the best side that Wales have in the competition, and an even bigger travesty if the conference system gives them a pass into the playoffs and Champions Cup ahead of sides that finish ahead of them.

The Ospreys are currently ninth, out of qualification, but will qualify by virtue of winning the Welsh shield.

Still, there are still a few weeks to run and the Lions will be looking to a top-10 finish, and on this form it wouldn’t be a bad bet to see them finish above all the Welsh sides in the competition.

Morne van den Berg’s exuberance was again noticeable and the supporting lines he ran gave him two tries. Wandisile Simelane and Edwill van der Merwe revelled in all the ball they got and it showed on the scoreboard.

It started off with a break by Odendaal, rounding a forward on attack before finding Van den Berg who slung the ball out to Rabs Maxwane on the wing, and the speedster only had eyes for the line.

Minutes later a turnover ball found Odendaal again, and again he ran through virtually untouched, this time passing inside to Van den Berg for a perfect try under the posts.

The Lions were leading comfortably by halftime, but the second half they stepped it up, and from another turnover ball some beautiful interplay by forwards and backs eventually saw Francke Horn go over from close range.

Rhys Webb managed to get his side into double figures with a snipe close to the line that flummoxed the defence, but it was mostly one-way traffic for the rest of the half.

Edwill van der Merwe took on his opposite number one on one and stepped on the jet burners to beat Keelan Giles on the outside for a stunning try before Andre Warner finished matters off with a late try.

The only second-half blemish came from an intercept to Michael Collins, with the midfielder getting Ospreys’ second try.

But there was little else to celebrate for the Welsh side, who will move to Cape Town next week and seriously mull over whether to fly in British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones for their game against the DHL Stormers.

On a night where they were mauled out wide, it is debatable how much difference he would have made if he was in Jozi.

This was a night for the Lions to roar proudly. And proudly they did.

Scorers

Emirates Lions - tries: Rabs Maxwane, Morne van den Berg (2), Francke Horn, Mannie Rass, Edwill van der Merwe, Andre Warner. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (5).

Ospreys - tries: Rhys Webb, Michael Collins. Conversion: Josh Thomas. Penalty: Thomas.