The Lions were triumphant in the battle of the big cats on Saturday with a 38-21 bonus point win against the Toyota Cheetahs in the Currie Cup in Bloemfontein.

The Lions outclassed the ill-disciplined Cheetahs, especially in the first half to race to a 28-0 lead within the first 32 minutes of the game at the Toyota Stadium.

The Lions opened the scoring in the 7th minute of the game through the young and exciting flanker Renzo du Plessis, who became famous for his 103 m try against the Griquas in Bloemfontein during the 2019 Craven Week.

Kade Wolhuter. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs were shell-shocked in the opening exchanges and minutes later RF Schoeman doubled the lead for the visitors with a converted try of his own. The Lions captain Jaco Visagie then scored another converted try for the team from the Highveld to put them in firm command of the game.

With some eight minutes left in the first half the former Cheetahs winger Rabz Maxwane scored the bonus point try for the Lions, and the flyhalf Kade Wolhuter, who had an outstanding game as the backline marshal landed a fourth conversion.

Crucially, on the stroke of half-time the Cheetahs hooker, Corné Fourie, managed to score a converted try to get the defending champions on the board.

Daniel Kasende. Photo: Morgan Piek

The Cheetahs were the first to score in the second stanza with the Ospreys-bound Daniel Kasende going over for a try to get them back in the contest. The join was however short-lived with Du Plessis catching the Cheetahs’ defence off-guard to go in for his second try.

The replacement hooker Vernon Paulo managed to go in for the Cheetahs’ third try and give them a sniff with about 23 minutes left to play. The Cheetahs created chances for a bonus point try and to make it a three-point ball game, but they couldn’t convert the pressure and opportunity into points.

Growing pains

Wolhuter had the final say for the Lions with a try with four minutes left on the clock to put the game out of reach of the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs Director of Rugby, Frans Steyn, told OFM Sport that there are growing pains with what they are trying to achieve, but he cannot fault the team’s second-half effort.

“There are growing pains at the moment – it’s one of those things,” said Steyn.

“From my side to the players, in the second half, you cannot fault the effort of the players. The guys tried until the end. This last try at the end where Reinhardt chipped the ball, I don’t have a problem with that, at least they are trying something.

“It is not nice, it is going to be a tough week. We are going to the Griquas and it’s going to be tough, but that’s rugby.”

The Cheetahs are still in for a shout to make the semi-finals of the Currie Cup, but the reality is that they will in all likelihood have to play away in the knockout matches. The Bulls and the Lions are the strong contenders to play home semifinals this season after their strong performances on the weekend.

On Friday the Cheetahs will travel to Kimberley for a central derby against the Suzuki Griquas.

Scorers:

Cheetahs: Tries – Corné Fourie, Daniel Kasende, Vernon Paulo Conv. – Ethan Wentzel 2, Reinhardt Fortuin

Lions: Tries – Renzo du Plessis 2, RF Schoeman, Jaco Visagie, Rabz Maxwane, Kade Wolhuter Conv. – Kade Wolhuter 4

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek mvh