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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert
Follow on@herman_mostert or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com
16:55 - PICTURE
Stefan Watermeyer on the charge... (Gallo Images)
16:49 - MAN-OF-THE-MATCH
Lions captain Warren Whiteley received the best player award.
16:49 - A great win for the Lions who managed to hold on for dear life at the end. They were dominant at scrum time and took all their chances. Defence is still a worry though but they'll take their first win over the Blues since 2006!
The visitors will likely be upset about the decision to award Coenie van Wyk a try, but the Blues just gave away too many penalties, slipped too many tackles and were simply out-muscled in the scrums!
In next week's action, the Lions host the Reds, while the Blues host the Cheetahs.
Join us next for the Sharks v Reds game in Durban!
CLICK HERE for a link to that game.
16:48 - TWEET
Massive result for Lions. Marnitz Boshoff again the difference with some great goal-kicking - Jon Cardinelli
FINAL SCORE: Lions 39-36.
16:46 - Blues trying to run from their own goal-line...
They fail and are forced over their own dead-ball line.
The Lions have held on!
16:44 - TRY! Fullback Benji Marshall breaks through and scores next to the posts. Hickey takes a quick drop to give his side one more chance...
Lions 39-36 Blues with time up... But one more kick-off coming...
16:43 - Blues attacking close to the Lions 22m area with less than a minute left...
16:42 - PENALTY converted by Boshoff to seal the game!
Lions 39-29 Blues after 77 minutes.
16:41 - Another penalty at scrum time for the Lions. And Boshoff will AGAIN line up...35 metres out.
16:39 - PENALTY by Boshoff.
Lions 36-29 Blues after 74 minutes.
16:38 - This game is punch and counter punch!
Another penalty in front for the Lions who look to hit right back...
They could have scored but Ruan Combrinck dropped a cross-kick with the tryline begging.
But the referee calls them back for a penalty...
16:36 - Hickey CONVERTS from about 15m from the touchline.
Lions 33-29 Blues after 72 minutes.
That was also the bonus-point try for the Blues.
16:35 - TRY! George Moala easily beats Courtnall Skosan to put the Blues right back in it.
16:34 - DID YOU KNOW?
The Lions last beat the Blues in 2006 (34-33 at Ellis Park).
16:33 - But this game is not over yet. The Blues have an attacking scrum five metres out...
16:31 - Boshoff kicks the PENALTY.
Lions 33-22 Blues after 68 minutes.
16:30 - But Lions get a chance to extend their lead right away when the Blues go off-side in their own 22m area...
16:29 - CONVERSION by Noakes.
Lions 30-22 Blues after 66 minutes.
Noakes is now replaced by Simon Hickey.
16:29 - TRY! The Blues counter from their own 22m area and hit back via Frank Halai who bumps off a Lions defender (Boshoff) with ease...
16:26 - TWEET
@SuperRugby Probably witnessed THE worst referee and TMO decision in the history of the tournament!...#blindsports #LionsBlues - Jacques Burger
16:24 - How referee Stuart Barry and TMO Johan Greeff could think that ball was not also knocked on is beyond me...
"That is not how the laws of the game of rugby union work," says commentator Joel Stransky.
I fully agree Joel!
16:23 - CONVERSION by Boshoff.
Lions 30-15 Blues after 60 minutes.
16:22 - TRY! Unbelievably the try is awarded to Coenie van Wyk. I must say that was a rubbish call by both TMO and referee.
Van Rensburg clearly knocked that ball on!
16:19 - The Lions almost hit right back but Deon van Rensburg loses the ball just as he was about to score... Try-saving tackle by Charles Piutau.
Wait, hang on... referee Berry wants to check if the ball was knocked out of Van Rensburg's hands which would mean a try as the Lions then dotted it down first...
16:18 - A whole host of replacements from both sides seems to have made the difference.
16:18 - CONVERSION by Noakes and the Blues are right back in it.
Lions 23-15 Blues after 58 minutes.
16:16 - TRY! The Blues run it from inside their own 22m area and replacement back Bryn Hall scores in the corner. His first touch!
16:15 - Noakes misses the conversion to the left of the uprights.
Lions 23-8 Blues after 56 minutes.
16:14 - TRY! Blues left wing Charles Piutau scores in the corner after a concerted period of attack by the visitors. Great long pass by Noakes, skipping three men!
16:12 - Boshoff has now converted 24 out of 26 kicks at goal this Super Rugby season...
Perhaps we'll see a new Springbok flyhalf?
16:12 - PICTURE
Marnitz Boshoff tormenting the Blues... (Gallo Images)
16:11 - PENALTY converted by Boshoff.
Lions 23-3 Blues after 52 minutes.
16:10 - Another scrum and the Blues are pushed back again. This time the penalty goes to the dominant team. Boshoff lines up from 30m out...
16:09 - Another Blues scrum demolished. But somehow they win a penalty. Lions not going straight, referee Stuart Berry says...
Replays show that perhaps he was right.
16:06 - LIONS SUBSTITUTION
Prop Julian Redelinghuys is replaced by Ruan Dreyer.
16:05 - PENALTY by Noakes.
Lions 20-3 Blues after 45 minutes.
16:04 - Chance now for the Blues to get on the board via a penalty. Noakes lines up from about 40m out...
16:02 - FOUL PLAY
Blues lock Tom Donnelly is sent to the SIN BIN for twice dangerously entering a ruck, using only his shoulders.
16:01 - TWEET
That Boshoff is a kicking metronome - Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher
16:00 - Blues trying to hit right back and attack close to the Lions tryline... But the Lions win a turnover!
15:59 - DROP GOAL! What a start to the second half for the hosts. They steal another Blues ball and Boshoff slots another drop.
Lions 20-0 Blues after 41 minutes.
15:58 - Charlie Faumuina is back on after his yellow card.
All 17 of the Lions' points were scored while he was off...
15:58 - Boshoff starts the second half.
15:56 - STATS
The Lions have made 69 tackles compared to the Blues' 28.
The Lions have missed 10 while the Blues have missed 6.
15:53 - TWEET
Blues have conceded 8 penalties. 5 more than the Lions. Each prop conceding 3 for Blues - Lions Rugby
15:51 - QUOTE
"The Lions front row is incredibly impressive," says Nick Mallett.
15:46 - HALF-TIME: Lions 17-0 Blues
An action packed half with the home side looking dominant.
It's hard to believe that John Kirwan and Graham Henry are in charge of such a disorganised Blues outfit...
The hosts should target a bonus point win now.
15:50 - TWEET
Love Johan Ackerman's celebration after every point!! There is really great passion!! - Johan Barnard
15:45 - Boshoff CONVERTS an easy kick.
15:44 - TRY! Wing Courtnall Skosan scores his first Super Rugby try.
The Lions took a quick tap after getting a penalty after the hooter had sounded when Chris Noakes was caught in no-man's land holding onto the ball inside his own 22m area...
15:42 - DROP GOAL! Out of nowhere, Marnitz Boshoff kicks over a drop from just inside his own half!
Lions 10-0 Blues after 39 minutes.
15:41 - Lions find space on the outside and wing JW Jonker puts a clever chip through but he trips over as he chases it.
The referee asks his assistant if there was a deliberate trip, but he says no... so no penalty...
15:39 - LIONS REPLACEMENT
Willie Wepener is on for the injured Robbie Coetzee.
15:38 - Boshoff CONVERTS from close to the touchline.
Lions 7-0 Blues after 35 minutes.
15:37 - TRY! After a dominant Lions scrum, No 9 Faf de Klerk dummies and scores!
15:35 - Lions set up another driving maul but is held up legally this time...
15:33 - A dominant driving maul by the Lions and Jaco Kriel barges over...!
But it's no try. He was held on the ground before getting up...
However, Blues prop Charlie Faumuina illegally collapsed the maul and is sent to the SIN BIN for 10 minutes...
15:32 - The Lions get a penalty close to the touchline when a few Blues players enter the ruck at the wrong side... They opt for an attacking lineout.
15:30 - QUOTE
"Not often you can say the score is 0-0 and it's been a really entertaining game," says commentator Joel Stransky.
15:29 - Another pass gone astray when the Blues surge into the Lions 22. Boshoff clears down-field and the Lions win heaps of field when centre Pita Ahki badly shanks a kick...
15:26 - TWEET
Whoever is fittest will win Ellis Park clash; they're already shattered! - Jacques van der Westhuyzen
15:24 - No score so far but no shortage of action it must be said...
15:23 - The Blues get scrummed off their own ball inside the Lions 22m area and De Klerk brings relief for the hosts.
Still no score after 22 minutes.
15:20 - Lions centre Stefan Watermeyer so nearly intercepts a ball inside his own 22m area which could have seen him sprint in for a try... unfortunately his hands let him down.
15:17 - Helter-skelter early on with both teams looking to run from everywhere... Some defensive lapses on both sides but no sign of tries yet... Both teams giving possession away too easily...
15:15 - That was only Boshoff's second miss of the Super Rugby season!
15:13 - However, Boshoff surprisingly misses the penalty attempt about 15m in-field from the touchline...
15:13 - Lions win a scrum penalty! Boshoff to line up...
15:12 - Lions scrumhalf Faf de Klerk pounces on a loose lineout ball the Blues fail to control. He sprints up-field but knocks it on in a tackle just before the tryline...
15:09 - FRONT ROW WEIGHTS
Lions 337kg
Blues 354kg
15:09 - The next scrum also goes down and this time the Blues win a penalty to get out of jail.
15:08 - The Blues make a mess of a Lions kick up-field and the home side nearly score only to knock on five metres from the tryline...
15:05 - Surprise, surprise. The first scrum goes down and referee Stuart Berry calls for a re-set. Scrums are a complete mess in modern day rugby!
The Lions then win a penalty after the re-set to get out of their own 22m area...
15:04 - Blues dominating territory and possession early on, but handling errors are costing them...
15:02 - Lions steal the first Blues lineout! The Kiwis have been very poor in this department in the last while...Whiteley was the one who stole it to make amends for his earlier error.
15:01 - Lions captain Warren Whiteley concedes the first penalty after being caught off-side on the half-way line. The Blues set up an attacking lineout...
15:00 - Blues flyhalf Chris Noakes gets the game underway...
14:58 - The Blues run out in their predominantly white away kit.
14:57 - As usual, not a great crowd in at Ellis Park...
14:52 - Good to see Marnitz Boshoff back at flyhalf in place of Elton Jantjies.
Jantjies struggled against the Sharks last week and was deservedly dropped.
Boshoff (70 points) is also the leading point scorer so far in this year's competition.
14:43 - In-studio SuperSport pundit Nick Mallett says the Lions should target the defence of Blues flyhalf Chris Noakes, who has developed a bit of a reputation for being a weak defender...
14:40 - VIDEO
Watch myself and our chief writer Rob Houwing give our weekend predictions.
We both went Blues by a whisker...
CLICK HERE to watch the video.
14:38 - CONDITIONS
Dry conditions for a change on the Highveld! 24 Degrees Celsius.
The Blues will like this though, considering they are always full of running...
14:32 - PICTURE
Wing Frank Halai gets his ankle strapped in preparation for today's game against the Lions- The Blues
CHECK OUR SPORT24'S WEEKEND PREDICTIONS
Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing expects the Lions to lose...
Click HERE to see by how many...
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OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Christie du Preez (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
RECENT RESULTS
2012: Blues won 25-3, Auckland
2011: Blues won 41-32, Johannesburg
2010: Blues won 56-14, Johannesburg
2009: Blues won 36-12, Auckland
2008: Blues won 55-10, Johannesburg
2007: Blues won 41-14, Auckland
TEAMS:
Lions
15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Willie Britz, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Warwick Tecklenburg, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Elton Jantjies, 23 Ruan Combrinck
Blues
15 Benji Marshall, 14 Frank Halai, 13 George Moala, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Piri Weepu , 8 Steven Luatua, 7 Luke Braid (captain), 6 Brendon O'Connor, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 James Parsons, 1 Tony Woodcock
Substitutes: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Sam Prattley, 18, Angus Ta'avao, 19 Liaki Moli, 20 Jordan Manihera, 21 Bryn Hall, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Jackson Willison
Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Lions and Blues from Ellis Park in Johannesburg!
