Photo Credit: Speedshots.co.za
The Vodacom Bulls hosted their neighbours, the Xerox Lions, in Pretoria in the first semi-final of the Carling Currie Cup and booked a home final, their first since 2009 after a 26-21 win.
The Lions can only blame themselves for this well below par display today. Ill discipline and shocking decision making made it easy for the home team. Credit must, however, be given to the Bulls who played the correct gameplan, made the right decisions and defended like Trojans.
The first ten minutes of the game the Xerox Lions were looking to spread the ball at all costs while the Vodacom Bulls were a lot more patient in their attack.
10:01 Stravino Jacob scored the Bulls first try after a clever corner kick outsmarted the Lions defence. (00-05)
With 20 minutes played in the first half, the momentum is with the Bulls. Surprisingly they are attacking out wide creating a one-man over at almost every opportunity they spread the ball. The Lions were often guilty of being not precise on the attack and defence.
28:46 Morne Steyn converted an easy penalty after the third scrummaging penalty against Jannie du Plessis. (08-00)
Jannie du Plessis was replaced immediately after the penalty kick. More worrying for the Lions at that stage was the number of penalties they are conceding.
40:00 Morne Steyn converted his second penalty. (11-00)
The Xerox Lions mistakes are those of primary schoolboys while the Bulls are using every opportunity given to them by a hapless Lions side.
41:54 A third penalty converted by Morne Steyn. Elton Jantjies horrible decision making put the Lions under unnecessary pressure. (14-00)
43:43 Willem Alberts stormed over the Bulls tryline to open the Lions account. (14-07)
46:22 Wandisile Simelane rounded off a long-distance effort from the kick-off by the Lions to level the scores. (14-14)
56:10 Johan Grobbelaar scored the Bulls second try to retake the lead. (21-14)
The Lions mistakes are not only costing them momentum and possession but after six penalties within 10 minutes a yellow card to Marvin Orie ended the Lions' hope for a final.
A second yellow card to Lions saw Willem Albers leave the field. The Lions' discipline costing them the game.
62:04 Stravino scored his second try after the Lions with 13 men on the field unable to plug all the holes. (26:14)
80:00 Burger Odendaal score a consolation try for the Lions. (26-21)
Scorers:
Vodacom Bulls: Try: Stravino Jacobs (2), Johan Grobbelaar. Conversion: Morne Steyn. Penalty: Morne Steyn (3)
Xerox Lions: Tries: Willem Alberts, Wandisile Simelane, Burger Odendaal. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3)
Teams:
Vodacom Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuuren, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jan Uys, 20 Arno Botha, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Xerox Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements (from): 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Francke Horn, 24 Nathan McBeth, 25 EW Viljoen, 26 Ross Cronjé.