Cash gets his 80 minutes performance
When Tiaan Swanepoel converted the winning kick for the Xerox Lions to give them a 22-19 victory over the DHL Western Province, the whole Lions bench ran on to the field and there were many jubilations from the Lions contingency too.
What also steamed from the thrill of Saturday’s win was a sense of trusting the process, and for the Lions, it seemed as if the process was coming to full circle. This was the Lions first win over one of the top four franchises, they were the whipping boys of the big boys.
Before the game during the warm-ups, the head coach Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen was casual and having conversations with his staff and Lions general staff. The conversation that was more telling and carried weight was the one he had with the CEO of the Lions Rugby Company Rudolf Straeuli; those conversations Cash had won the game before the game.
The body language from that moment during the warmups was an indication of how Cash had the backing and belief from his players, staff and management. That support is something found internally, externally there’s none of that Cash. In the public eye and media, he has had stones thrown at him ever since he replaced one of South Africa’s favourite rugby man Swys de Bruin. His lack of coaching experience being discussed every time the Lions fell short in the big derbies.
In all his post-match pressers after the narrow losses to the Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls, and Stormers this season, he always cut a dejected figure with a low tone carrying disappointment along with optimism. He always echoed these words “we were always in the game; we are one game away from an 80 minutes performance.”
Against John Dobson’s Western Province, Cash got his perfect 80 minutes performance, his side showed up and delivered, they were up for the task of squaring up with the big physical pack of Province. The Lions pack did well when you consider the world-class pack the side from Cape Town. They won a few lineouts and scrums, and they struggled with the scrumming to be honest. The Lions unsettled the Province pack, they knocked them the fuck out; Siya Kolisi, Salmaan Moerat, Juarno Augustus, Frans Malherbe, Bongi Mbonambi all went down with injuries during the match.
The pack did their part, they also allowed the backline to have combination plays, the halfback combination of Ross Cronje and Elton Jantjies was key, the duo was always in constant conversation, as expected as they are part of the leadership structures. The midfield partnership between Burger Odendaal and Wandisile Simelane is looking like a match made in heaven, like a perfect couple they compliment each other so well. Odendaal being the one who takes the hits and dishes them out, while Simelane provides the attacking flair. They were able to help create chances and play the wingers, Stean Pienaar and Courtnall Skosan. Pienaar who scored the Lions sole try had a brilliant game, he capped it off with a wonderful solo try, wiggling himself through the Province defence line.
The fullback, Tiaan Swanepoel, was the star of the game. He set eyes alight when he back himself to score a 61-meter kick. It was perfect, it had the distance, flight and direction. He would further kick in four more penalties, to have a tally of 15 points. Credit should also be given to Elton Jantjies, for he relieved himself of the kicking duties, understanding that Swanepoel had the boots to secure the points in what was a test match like game. What Jantjies did, showed how he has grown as a captain, especially his decision making.
This was a vintage Lions performance, it was epitomised by the final ten minutes, the ran at Province, the side from Cape Town struggled for breath in the highveld although they had the game in the end. The Lions showed more character and will to win the game.
“To be honest I’m very relieved, proud of the guy’s character. Was truly a 23- man effort. That last ten minutes the guys dug deep; proud of character like I said. We were desperate to get a result, it’s a nice reward for the guys, they have been working hard and putting the long hours,”
This win is one that could prove to be a turning point for the Lions, giving them a push as the try to secure a playoff place in the Currie Cup; but it also means the project rebuild at the Lions gains momentum, hopefully, it would be complete by the time the Pro 16 starts.
HT Xerox Lions 6 – DHL Western Province 9
FT Xerox Lions 22 – DHL Western Province 19
Scorers
Xerox Lions
Try: Stean Pienaar
Con: Elton Jjantjies
Pen: Tiaan Swanepoel (5)
DHL Western Province
Try: Sabelo Senatla
Con: Tim Swiel
Pen: Tim Swiel (4)
Xerox Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Roelof Smit, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Dan Kriel.
DHL Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Jaco Coetzee, 25 Kade Wolhuter, 26 Rikus Pretorius.
