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Siya Nzuzo is stretchered away. (Gallo images)
The rugby spread across the Elephants of the eastern province Y Lions in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) was apparently the exact reason why SA Rugby has called the current national action a “preparation series”.
The youth-laden visitors to Mzwiwakhe Nkosi finally walked away with a 54-24 win at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, but they won’t be particularly happy with their performance in a match overshadowed by a series of scorecards and a serious neck injury at the local mainstay. Siya Nzuzo.
Interestingly, the elephants, despite some brilliant moments in the attack, imploded, conceding two red cards to make their already uphill battle much steeper.
Lock Arnold Kleyn received his marching orders while off the field for a head injury evaluation after replays of his head clash with Lions center Manny Rass revealed that he actually met the criteria for a severe high tackle.
It was due to poor technique more than anything else, but there could be no objections to referee AJ Jacobs following the letter of the law.
In the second half, openider CJ Velleman, one of the few pedigree players from the EP, was sent off for receiving a second yellow card.
He initially went to the sin bin for a professional foul on a Lions deck, before a rush of blood on the defense sealed his fate.
Kleyn’s absence meant that elephants were monsters in scrums on numerous occasions, which frustratingly also led to Nzuzo having to be removed on a stretcher after a set piece.
The Lions, however, were not covered in glory on the discipline front, either.
Scrumhalf Dillon Smit threw an opening try for center James Mollentze after hitting an opponent’s arm to try to free possession, while wing Mark Snyman was punished following a warning from the team for repeated offside infractions.
As a result, the game lacked rhythm, as the Lions also made life difficult with poor handling, shady decision-making and a surprisingly porous defense.
Their superior numbers and a powerful performance from the forwards were finally enough to give them enough cushioning, with two attempts from close range and two penalty attempts.
But it was the elephants who were arguably the most enterprising when they had their opportunities to attack.
Wing Christopher Hollis cut beautifully at full speed to make the most of a quick serve, while the clever kick from captain and fullback Courtney Winnaar to the right corner was finally worked on the line for No. 8 Zingisa April to complete with a nifty step. lateral.
They also received two attempts through two wild passes from the Lions, one of them when Winnaar intercepted a telegraphed pass from his counterpart Divan Rossouw.
That score brought the deficit to 33-24 before Ellis Park’s men inflated the score with three late attempts, all from a late, incisive attacking game.
Points:
Elephants EP – 24 (12)
Attempts: Christopher Hollis, Zingisa April, Robin Stevens, Courtney Winnaar
Conversion: Karlo Aspeling (2)
Lions – 54 (21)
Attempts: Penalty attempts (2), Dameon Venter, Luke Rossouw, Nathan McBeth, Sibusiso Sangweni, Banele Mthenjane, Ngia Selengbe
Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (2), Jaden Hendrikse (3)
