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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert
Follow on @herman_mostert or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com
18:59 - Thanks for joining us. Be sure to follow our next game between the Stormers and Waratahs at Newlands.
CLICK HERE for a link to that game.
18:55 - STATS
Metres run: Lions 291-321 Crusaders
Carries 74-51 Crusaders
Defenders beaten: Lions 12-13 Crusaders
Clean Breaks: Lions 4-6 Crusaders
Tackles made: Lions 47-95 Crusaders
Tackles missed: Lions 13-13 Crusaders
Turnovers won: Lions 7-12 Crusaders
Kicks in play: Lions 23-37 Crusaders
Lineouts won 16-8 Crusaders
Lineouts lost: Lions 6-1 Crusaders
Scrums won: Lions 5-11 Crusaders
Scrums lost: Lions 0-2 Crusaders
18:53 - FULL-TIME: Lions 7-28 Crusaders
Great win for the Crusaders, who fought off a strong Lions fightback in the second half to eventually run out comfortable winners.
The altitude in the end did not catch them out and for this coach Todd Blackadder has to be credited for making some important substitutions at key moments.
In next week's action, the Lions host the Sharks, while the Crusaders tackle the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
18:52 - The conversion is missed.
Lions 7-28 Crusaders with one move left in the game...
18:51 - TRY! Kieron Fonotia scores in the corner after claiming a clever chip through by Dagg.
18:50 - The Lions are fighting hard, but turnover after turnover from the visitors stops them in their tracks.
10 turnovers won now by the 'Saders!
18:48 - Ross Cronjé now on at scrumhalf for the Lions, in place off Faf de Klerk.
18:47 - The best the Lions can now hope for is to get a losing bonus point. But for that they have to score twice in the last five minutes.
18:46 - Willi Heinz has now replaced the try-scorer Ellis at scrumhalf.
18:45 - CONVERSION by Tyler Bleyendaal.
Lions 7-23 Crusaders after 73 minutes.
18:45 - TRY! All was good and Elllis is credited with the try.
18:44 - A sniping Andy Ellis darts through the Lions defence to score next to the posts, but the referee wants to check if the grounding was legal...He also wants to check if the Crusaders had earlier won the ball legally.
Looks like a try to me!
18:42 - PICTURE
Crusaders and All Black fullback Israel Dagg. (Gallo Images)
18:41 - Super Rugby debutant Malcolm Marx has replaced Willie Wepener at hooker for the Lions. He starts by throwing in skew at his first lineout.
18:39 - PENALTY converted by Dagg.
Lions 7-16 Crusaders after 69 minutes.
18:37 - After the ensuing five-metre scrum, the Crusaders win a penalty under the posts...
Dagg will kick for goal because a bloodied Slade has to leave the field... Looks like blood coming out of Slade's ear there!
18:37 - Elton Jantjies has also replaced Andries Coetzee for the Lions, Boshoff goes to fullback...
18:35 - TRY CANCELLED!
Incredible work from Warren Whiteley and Jaco Kriel! Somehow they have managed to hold Crotty up, as replays show!
18:34 - Oh wait, hang on, the referee wants to check the grounding of the try now...
18:33 - TRY! Crotty scores his second try. Completely against the run of play after Marnitz Boshoff - trying to run out his 22 - throws a wild pass in a tackle.
18:29 - Only one team on the park at the moment. These Crusaders seem to think they can defend this slender lead...13-7 after 63 minutes.
Prop Corné Fourie and lock Luvuyiso Lusaseni now also on for the Lions...
18:28 - Good Crusaders defence keeps the Lions at bay and Nemani Nadolo kicks up-field as they win a turn-over...
18:26 - Huge pressure on the Crusaders scrum and Slade can hardly kick it out far... Attacking lineout for the Lions.
18:24 - The Lions oh-so-close after a dominant driving maul from a lineout, but unfortunately Boshoff knocks on just before the line. Good tackle from Israel Dagg though...
18:24 - TWEET
Lions matching the Crusaders on all the stats. More carries as well. What they need now is execution. #SSRugby - Brenden Nel
18:23 - JW Jonker is now on permanently for left wing Courtnall Skosan.
18:19 - Willie Wepener guilty of a few skew lineout throws tonight... Despite this, the Lions are full of running now. More energy from them.
Altitude catching up with the visitors - they respond by making three substitutions up front. Corey Flynn, Nepo Laulala and Jordan Taufua all on.
18:17 - Boshoff CONVERTS from the corner.
Lions 7-13 Crusaders after 53 minutes.
18:16 - TRY! Lionel Mapoe scores in the corner for the Lions. It was set up by a strong run from Willie Britz from inside his own half. Remarkable power displayed by the flank.
18:15 - PICTURE
Good to see the fans back at Ellis Park... (Gallo Images)
18:13 - Silence at Ellis Park as Boshoff misses it to the left. Only his third miss of the season.
18:12 - First kickable chance for Boshoff after the Crusaders collapse a driving maul from the hosts... He lines up from close to the touchline...
18:11 - CONVERSION by Slade.
Lions 0-13 Crusaders after 46 minutes.
18:10 - TRY! Ryan Crotty scores after stepping through the Lions defence. A late ankle tap from Faf de Klerk is not enough...
18:07 - The Lions get out of trouble when they win a scrum penalty right on their own line... There seems to be a penalty at almost every scrum today...
18:06 - LIONS BLOOD BIN
JW Jonker temporarily on for left wing Courtnall Skosan.
18:06 - Johnny McNicholl competes brilliantly in the air and almost runs through to score in the corner, but great defence from Warren Whiteley saves the Lions!
18:04 - Welcome back for the second half. The Lions are actually dominating most of the stats. They must just cut out those knock-ons and silly penalties and the altitude may just catch up with the Crusaders...
Slade gets play started...
17:53 - HALF-TIME STATS
Metres run: Lions 156-132 Crusaders
Carries: Lions 40-31 Crusaders
Defenders beaten: Lions 6-5 Crusaders
Clean breaks: Lions 2-1 Crusaders
Tackles made: Lions 32-47 Crusaders
Tackles missed: Lions 5-6 Crusaders
Turnovers won: Lions 6-4 Crusaders
Kick in play: Lions 13-18 Crusaders
Linouts won: Lions 7-5 Crusaders
Lineouts lost: Lions 4-1 Crusaders
Scrums won: Lions 3-5 Crusaders
17:52 - HALF-TIME: Lions 0-6 Crusaders
17:50 - The Lions dodge a huge bullet with some great defence - eventually a knock on by big winger Nemani Nadolo ends a promising period of play for the visitors.
Crusaders definitely not as potent on attack as the Chiefs!
17:48 - Great defence from the Lions keeping the Kiwis at bay!
17:47 - Slade hits the left hand upright, but the 'Saders keep on attacking...
17:46 - Technical penalty against Willie Britz who is caught in an off-side position after the ball spills out of a ruck, but it's in range...
17:45 - So many promising attacking moves by the Lions, but just as many knock-ons...
17:43 - TWEET
Lions starting to fire up a bit now ... Especially via Du Plessis, Britz and Kriel ... But passes not going to hand ... 0-6 - Front Row Grunt
17:42 - The Lions get the ball back after the visitors knock it on.
Jaco Kriel then breaks brilliantly down the touchline, but unfortunately a charging Willie Wepener drops it!
17:40 - Another penalty conceded by the Lions at scrum time! Slade kicks it into Lions territory...
17:39 - No 8 Luke Whitelock is off for the Crusaders, Jimmy Tupou on.
Three of the Whitelock brothers playing today.
17:38 - PICTURE
Lock Samuel Whitelock on the charge... (Gallo Images)
17:35 - 5 penalties already conceded by the Lions, 26 minutes gone.
17:34 - A lost Crusaders lineout sees the Lions counter, and they surge into the 'Saders 22m area - only to concede a penalty at ruck time. Andries Coetzee penalised for holding on too long...
17:32 - Another scrum, anther penalty - this time Julian Redelinghuys is penalised for an incorrect bind. It gives the 'Saders a chance to get out their own half...
17:32 - KICKS IN PLAY AFTER 23 MINUTES
Lions 9
Crusaders 9
17:30 - The crowd roars as Boshoff lines up a drop kick from 40m out, but he just misses...
17:30 - Boshoff kicks a MASSIVE one down-field...
17:29 - A Lions scrum penalty sees them able to get out of their 22m area. Wyatt Crockett was the culprit who dropped his bind at the scrum...
17:27 - PENALTIES CONCEDED AFTER 20 MINUTES
Lions 3
Crusaders 1
Crucially though, the Crusaders were able to convert it into points.
17:25 - The tactical kicking from the Lions halfbacks is not very good so far. Giving Israel Dagg way too much time at the back, and putting no pressure on him. #kickingtoodeep
17:20 - PENALTY converted by Slade from about 40m out.
Lions 0-6 Crusaders after 13 minutes.
17:19 - Another kickable penalty for the Crusaders.
Poor old Andries Coetzee received a hospital pass which put him and his team under immense pressure... Franco Mostert was then pinged for going off his feet.
17:17 - PENALTY converted by Slade. Much better strike by him!
Lions 0-3 Crusaders after 10 minutes.
17:16 - Lions skipper Warren Whiteley penalised for going off his feet at the breakdown and also playing Crusaders No 9 Andy Ellis without the ball.
Slade to line up from about 40m out...
17:14 - But wing Johnny McNicholl throws a wayward pass to no-one and the Lions get a lineout.
17:13 - Crusaders camping near the Lions 22m line early in this game.
17:11 - Lions off the hook as Colin Slade misses the penalty to the right of the uprights...
17:10 - After three scrum collapses, the Lions are penalised.
17:09 - No surprise as the first scrum goes down... I hate scrums!
17:08 - The Lions lose their first lineout as Wepener throws in skew. First scrum coming up, inside the Lions half...
17:07 - The Lions have a new sponsor on their shirts, but according to the union #VoxTelecom will only appear on the jersey for today's match with an optional extension.
17:06 - Marnitz Boshoff gets play under way.
17:05 - South Africa's Marius van der Westhuizen is the referee today - his first Super Rugby game!
17:03 - Still no Kieran Read, so Ryan Crotty leads out the 'Saders, sporting a black/greyish jersey, with red shorts.
17:02 - Welcome to coverage of the game at Ellis Park. Lets hope we can see a game similar to what we just saw down in Bloemfontein!
16:00 - Afternoon Sport24 Facebook sports fans!
Massive day of Super Rugby - FIVE matches in total!
All today's matches:
Hurricanes 25-20 Bulls - MATCH REPORT
Reds 29-32 Force - MATCH REPORT
Cheetahs 43-43 Chiefs - MATCH REPORT
Lions 7-28 Crusaders - MATCH REPORT
Stormers 11-22 Waratahs - MATCH REPORT
16:00 - SPORT24 'EXPERT' PICKS
Sport24's self-proclaimed expert - Editor Garrin Lambley - gives you his thoughts on today's match.
Click HERE for Garrin's prediction...
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OFFICIALS
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
RECENT RESULTS
2012: Crusaders won 23-13, Johannesburg
2010: Crusaders won 46-19, Christchurch
2009: Crusaders won 32-20, Johannesburg
2008: Crusaders won 31-6, Christchurch
2007: Lions won 9-3, Johannesburg
2006: Crusaders won 43-15, Christchurch
TEAMS
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Willie Britz, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Ross Cronjé, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 JW Jonker.
Crusaders
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Ryan Crotty (captain), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Matt Todd, 6 George Whitelock, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Ben Funnell, 1 Wyatt Crockett
Substitutes:16 Corey Flynn, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Nepo Laulala, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Jordan Taufua, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Tyler Bleyendaal, 23 Tom Taylor
Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Lions and Crusaders in Johannesburg!
