Wandisile Simelane shines as Lions return to play
There must have been a collective sigh of relief at Ellis Park from the Emirates Lions contingent when the Tafel Larger Griquas flyhalf George Whitehead kicked off the game, as they came back from their Coivd-19 enforced hiatus.
What must have been more pleasing was the victory 61-31 the home side secured, a first win of the Super Rugby Unlocked, easing the pressure that has been on head coach Ivan ‘Cash’ van Rooyen.
It was a dominate display from the Johannesburg side, being all over their opponents from the onset. The tone of the game was set when Stefan Willemse got a yellow card in the opening minute of the game, from there on it was advantage Lions. The away side allowed the Lions to make use of their advantage when they decided scrum in their half, scrumming against seven men the Lions overpowered the Griquas pack and won the scrum.
From that won scrum, the Lions scored the opening try as winger Courtnall Skosan, dotted over the line; the build to the try was the best combination play from the Lions backs so far in the running, Elton Jantjies moving the ball to Wandisile Simelane who beat a few men and shifted it to Gianni Lombard who with soft hands graced the ball on the inside to Skosan, who went on to dot down for his first of his brace.
The two men key in the build-up to the try, Wandisile Simelane and Gianni Lombard justified their inclusion, the and many calls to play them.
Simelane ran the show, defensively and offensively, he provided three assists, setting Courtnall Skosan for his second, Dan Kriel and Stean Pienaar, and also getting his very own try; earning himself the man of the match accolade.
They were also plenty of positives for the forward pack, they were aggressive at the start of the match and kept that intensity throughout, they also got two tries from the maul when MJ Pelser and Jaco Visage drove over. That’s a welcomed improvement as they have been not effective when mauling from the corner.
Skipper Elton Jantjies had a good day at the office, successfully kicking in eight conversions, he also kicked in a beautiful cross-field kick which was wonderfully anticipated by Griquas fullback James Verity-Ann; who catches the ball and raced over the white line.
The Griquas fought in the second half as they scored 28 points.
The Lions will hope to kick on from this performance, next week they face the Vodacom Bulls in what will be a tough match, but for now, Cash’s boy came through for him.
Scorers
Lions
Try: Courtnall Skosan (3), Dan Kriel, Stean Pienaar, MJ Pelser, Jaco Visage , Reinhard Nothnagel
Con: Elton Jantjies (8)
Pen:
Griquas
Try: Zak Burger, HJ Luus, James Verity-Ann, Tinus de Beer
Con: George Whitehead (4)
Pen: George Whitehead (1)
The teams:
Emirates Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard; 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan; 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Morné van den Berg; 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 MJ Pelser, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 PJ Botha, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.
Tafel Lager Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Harlon Klaasen, 12 André Swarts, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Zak Burger, 8 Carl Els, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Adré Smith, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 HJ Luus, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Johan Momsen, 20 Ewan Coetzee, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Tinus de Beer, 23 Masixole Banda, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 CJ Velleman, 26 Johnathan Francke.
