Super Rugby

Lions butcher bumbling Brumbies

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The Lions romped to a 42-24 victory over the Brumbies, ending a four-game losing streak, at Ellis Park, Johannesburg.

The Brumbies, at different stages of the contest, led four times, but they could never pull away from the Lions, who stayed in the hunt.

Swys de Bruin’s chargers scored six converted tries while the visitors crossed three times, with Tom Banks grabbing a brace.

A masterclass in the art of the driving maul was on show for all to see at the famous ground, with the Lions scoring three times from the set-piece.

The defeat is the fifth on the bounce for the bumbling Brumbies, their longest losing streak since 2011.

Crazy start to the game.

Tom Banks raced through a huge hole in the Lions defence to give his team a perfect start.

Rohan Janse Van Rensburg barged his way through to level the scores before the Brumbies, once again, took the lead.

After several phases of pick and drives inside the home team’s 22, the away side went wide and Tevita Kuridrani bashed his way over the try-line.

The Lions levelled when they powered over after a driving maul. Robbie Coetzee got up from the melee with the ball.

Rory Arnold was sent to the naughty step for multiple infringements before Coetzee’s score.

Christian Lealiifano kicked a penalty, making it 14-17 before the break, but the Lions found time for another assault on the Brumbies line.

With time running out, they went to another driving maul.

The Brumbies pack had no answer to the red juggernaut and Ruan Dreyer flopped over for an easy fiver – and the lead.

Lions pull away in the second-half.

Banks was at his best, scoring a smart try after taking Lealiifano’s inside ball.

The fullback gathered, slipped a tackle and made a beeline for the posts, beating all and sundry.

Arnold was sent off at the start of the third quarter, with his side leading by three, for a high tackle on Elton Jantjies, who was playing in his 100th Super Rugby match.

The lock had been yellow carded in the first-half but he received a straight red for his dangerous and reckless challenge.

He had to be called back out of the tunnel to receive his marching orders.

Sam Carter, two minutes’ later, was also sent to the sin-bin and the Lions mauled their way into the lead for the second and final time.

This time it was Marnus Schoeman who dotted down over the whitewash, breaking the backbone of the Lopponentsonants.

The floodgates opened with the Lions scoring twice more in the final six minutes, leaving the Brumbies to lick their wounds.

Shaun Reynolds crossed after 10 phases and Lourens Erasmus also got in on the act after some magic from Jantjies.

The flyhalf put in a little dink-kick which Ruan Combrinck gathered and offloaded to the supporting lock, who supplied the dagger.

Lions versus Brumbies video highlights.

Final score: Lions 42 (21) Brumbies 24 (17)

Scorers

Lions
Tries – Janse van Rensburg, R. Coetzee, Dreyer, Schoeman, Reynolds, Erasmus
Pen –
Con – Jantjies (6)
Drop –
Cards –

Brumbies
Tries – Banks (2), Kuridrani
Pen – Lealiifano
Con – Lealiifano (3)
Drop –
Cards – Arnold (Yellow, 30′; Red, 60′), Carter (Yellow, 62′)

Match Officials
Referee: Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 1: Quinton Immelman
Assistant Ref 2: Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Marius Jonker

Teams

Lions

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Rohan Janse Van Rensburg, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Madosh Michael Tambwe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nicholas Groom, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Francois Mostert (captain), 6 Albertus Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Lourens Erasmus, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Len Massyn, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Ruan Combrinck.

Brumbies

15 Tom Banks, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kyle Godwin, 11 Andrew Muirhead, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Joe Powell, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.

Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Nick Mayhew, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 Blake Enever, 20 Lachlan Mccaffrey, 21 Tom Cusack, 22 Matt Lucas, 23 Andrew Smith.

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