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Tiaan Swanepoel and Wandisile Simelane combined for the decisive attempt by the Lions. (Gallo images)
- The Lions’ win over the Sharks at the weekend was notable for the way they capitalized on limited scoring opportunities.
- Fullback Tiaan Swanepoel’s attempt was indicative of this, illustrating that the Lions’ focus on making sure they identify the defining moments of the game is paying off.
- Coach Ivan van Rooyen and skipper Elton Jantjies praised the team for its incisiveness and versatility.
While the Lions were certainly in control during their outstanding 27-12 win over the Sharks at the weekend, fullback Tiaan Swanepoel’s closing attempt stood out for a specific reason.
In preparation for the game, Captain Elton Jantjies mentioned how the team’s shorter and more intense training sessions on a Thursday before a game are designed to translate into a greater awareness of making the most of opportunities when there is pressure.
“Sometimes you have a chance and you have to use it, because you don’t get many during a game,” he said at the time.
In the 73rd minute, after three dubious phases, replacement scrum-half Morne van den Berg quickly recycled Jantjies, who threw a brilliant cutting pass to Wandisile Simelane.
Bursting into the talented outer center was Springbok winger S’bu Nkosi, who had been rampant on defense all night.
But Simelane dodged brilliantly and then got inside Sharks fullback Manie Libbok and Captain Lukhanyo Am to flee in the race that saw Swanepoel cross the lime.
Given the nature of the game, where the chances of scoring attempts were relatively remote and few, that incisive pace of the game exemplified the Lions’ focus on decisive moments in the game as alluded to by Jantjies.
No wonder he was excited afterwards.
“It’s good to see the things we’ve been working on turn out,” Jantjies said.
“Cash (head coach Ivan van Rooyen) probably made us do 50 reps in a simple attempt. That that comes out just shows how the guys are implementing the things that we are planning.
“The guys are really working hard on offense and defense. It’s not easy. If you want to be championship teams, you have to be willing to work harder than the opposition and take your chances.”
Perhaps even more satisfying for the Lions was the overall way in which this victory was achieved.
The sumptuous attacking rugby was limited to Simelane’s moment of brilliance as Ellis Park’s men showed a tougher side to their game by keeping things tighter.
It was partly due to the consummate opposition they were facing, but it is also a good sign for a future in Europe in PRO16.
“To be honest, it’s really tough to play a big, expansive game against a team like the Sharks,” Van Rooyen said.
“They have exceptional outside backs that do good reads and put you under a lot of pressure. I can’t say it’s the DNA going forward, but they really handled the pressure well in attack.
“If you look at the Sharks defense across the board, they are not going to concede many tries. I was so happy with the patience we showed.”
He agreed with the Jantjies opinion that his pupils are detecting vital moments and taking advantage of them.
“We really executed well the one or two chances we had to put the Sharks under pressure,” Van Rooyen said.
“Defensively I was also very proud of the guys. They really raised their hands.”
