Mike Greenaway
The Lions have said they want to be taken seriously as United Rugby Championship (URC) contenders and while that remains a touch ambitious, how they beat the Dragons yesterday suggests they could get there.
The Lions yesterday won their tour opener 23-19 and showed a maturity in their game that was absent last season. Simply put, the Lions team of the previous URC campaign would have lost this game but yesterday they had the composure to close out a very tight game.
The Lions have now beaten Ulster 35-22, Edinburgh 55-21 and the Dragons. They will travel to Zebre this week high on confidence, before travelling to tough asks at Leinster and Munster. The impressive thing about the Lions is that they tackled this first overseas game with the same ambition that has rewarded them so profitably on the fast pitch that is Ellis Park.
Morne van den Berg was a constant menace at scrumhalf. He missed nothing from the base of the rucks and repeatedly slipped through gaps to launch attacks.
The Lions’ opening try was a beauty. Van den Berg (inevitably) sparked an attack and the ball went slickly through the phases until Nico Steyn threaded a long pass out to Quan Horn, and the fullback went over untouched.
Unfortunately for Steyn, his next attempt at a long pass was well read by flank Harri Keddie on his 22m line and he intercepted and galloped to the Lions posts.
It was the softest of seven-pointers and the Dragons were further lifted when Franco Marais was dubiously yellow-carded for an alleged indiscretion at a ruck. It was a pity because he has been playing well since returning to South Africa from Gloucester.
Marais had barely sat down in the naughty chair when the Dragons pack mauled over, with No 8 Taine Basham scoring. A Steyn penalty pulled the score back to 12-10 and a post-hooter penalty gave the visitors a 13-12 half-time lead.
The lead did not last long. The Lions were sluggish out of the blocks after half-time and pressure in their 22 culminated in Bashan bashing over for his second try. 19-13
The conversion had just sailed over when coach Ivan van Rooyen brought on Sanele Nohamba for Steyn, in the 43rd minute. His impact was immediate, with a well-taken shot at goal narrowing the Dragons’ lead to 19-16.
Within two minutes, Nohamba was lining up another shot at goal, this time a conversion of a try spectacularly taken by Jarod Cairns. The powerfully built flank was too strong for a host of defenders who bounced off him or were left flailing on the ground.
The last quarter of the game was well controlled by Nohamba at flyhalf and the Lions showed growth in their game in how they successfully closed out the game. Perhaps the horror of the Currie Cup final is still fresh in their minds and in this match, they protected their lead and controlled possession and territory to ensure they won.
Scorers
Lions — Tries: Quan Horn, Jarod Cairns; Conversions: Nico Steyn (2); Penalties: Steyn, Nohamba (2)
Dragons — Tries: Harri Keddie, Taine Basham (2); Conversions: Lloyd Evans (2)