Lions wing Angelo Davids celebrates a moment of dominance during their URC win over Connacht.
Image: Backpagepix
The Lions’ historic march to the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals continued at Ellis Park on Saturday afternoon when they emphatically ended Connacht’s six-match unbeaten run in the tournament, winning 33-21.
The Lions have never made it to the quarter-finals of the URC, but on the evidence of their own six-match winning streak, they are not only guaranteed a quarter-final spot, but smart money will back them to go deep into the playoffs.
The Lions have the best momentum you can get in rugby — the kind manufactured by old-fashioned hard work.
Their opening try was a beauty. Flyhalf Chris Smith wonderfully threaded prop SJ Kotze through the defensive line, and then Smith quickly worked the ball out wide for winger Angelo Davids to finish in the corner. Not for nothing is Smith the leading points scorer in the URC — he nailed the conversion from the touchline.
The Lions were impressive in how they varied their play, including Morne van den Berg winning territory each time he snuck round on the blindside when the opposition thought he would go wide.
Connacht tried to grind their way into the game, and they kept the Lions’ attacking game at bay, but on the 20-minute mark, Henco van Wyk smashed through the defence and raced 40m while handing off tacklers to score a superb solo try.
The Lions’ defence was also stout, with the Irishmen being held up over the line several times in the first half. They were also good at the breakdown, where the Connacht players were repeatedly penalised for holding on in the tackle.
Again Connacht fought back, and again their efforts came to nought, and once more the Lions took the ball upfield and scored, this time there was excellent finishing by flank Siba Mahashe.
At 21-0 at halftime, the Lions were over the hills and far away.
And it was 28-0 early in the second half when captain Francke Horn created a try from nothing — he dummied a defender and once in a half gap, snapped a pass to centre Erich Cronje on the touchline, who finished neatly.
A yellow card for Kotze, because of a high tackle, gave Connacht an opportunity for a comeback. They immediately scored via Matthew Devine.
A deft 50-22 by fullback Quan Horn at the three-quarter mark laid the platform for Horn to create a second try for Van Wyk.
Connacht replacement fullback Shayne Bolton scored a consolation try for the Irishmen.
Scorers
Lions — Tries: Angelo Davids, Henco van Wyk (2), Siba Mahashe, Erich Cronje. Conversions: Chris Smith (4). Penalty: Smith.
Connacht — Tries: Matthew Devine, Shayne Bolton. Conversions: Hugh Gavin (2).