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Commentary by Sport24's Herman Mostert
Follow on @herman_mostert or send suggestions to: herman.mostert@sa.24.com
19:02 - Thanks for tuning in.
The Reds were penalised 16 times, compared to the Lions' 4 . That was key in the game...
In next weekend's action, the Lions have a bye while the Reds host the Stormers.
Be sure to also follow our next game between the Bulls and the Sharks from Loftus Versfeld...
CLICK HERE for a link to that game.
19:01 - FULL-TIME: Lions 23-20 Reds.
19:01 - However, referee Berry stops the game when he calls for a Lions turnover and that's it...
18:59 - Desperate Reds launch one last attack inside the Lions 22m area...
18:58 - CONVERSION by Boshoff. Lions 23-20 Reds after 78 minutes.
18:57 - TRY! The TMO rules that the ball was grounded on the line. Looked like he got some part of the ball on the line... Although it doesn't seem clear-cut!
18:55 - Try time? Courtnall Skosan looks to have scored, but the TMO must decide.
This will be tough call... Maybe a home town call will be given?
18:54 - TWEET
Lions fans should be blushing after some of these calls - Zelim Nel
18:54 - Another penalty. Berry is being quite harsh here...
This time the Lions opt for a lineout.
18:52 - METRES RUN is now 415 to 215 in favour of the Lions.
18:51 - ANOTHER penalty! They opt to scrum again. Five minutes left.
18:49 - The Lions, on the Reds tryline, opt for a scrum. Surely they have to score here with a two-man advantage.
18:47 - YELLOW CARD NO 2
Reds down to 13 men with No 8 Jake Schatz also off to the sin-bin.
Just too many penalties conceded by the men from Queensland.
18:45 - LIONS REPLACEMENT
Ross Cronjé replaces Faf de Klerk at scrumhalf.
18:45 - This game is there for the taking for the Lions. Altitude catching up with the Reds?
18:43 - YELLOW CARD
Replacement Albert Anae is sent off for 10 minutes after using his hands in a ruck.
Referee Berry has had enough of all the penalties conceded by the Reds.
18:41 - Reds now have a rare chance of attack inside the Lions 22m area...
But Cooper gives possession away when he over-cooks a cross kick for wing Rod Davies to chase.
18:40 - PICTURE
Franco Mostert takes a hit... (Gallo Images)
18:38 - CONVERSION by Boshoff. Lions 16-20 Reds after 66 minutes.
Only one team on the park at the moment...
18:37 - TRY! Lionel Mapoe powers his way over after a concerted period of attack. Pure strength from the centre there!
18:35 - Another scrum penalty for the Lions. Again they kick for touch.
Where's the promised yellow card Mr Ref?
18:32 - Half-way through the second half and the Lions are now dominating in the METRES RUN category, 312m to 195m...
18:30 - LIONS REPLACEMENTS
Mark Pretorius replaces hooker Willie Wepener.
Ruan Combrinck replaces fulback Coenie van Wyk.
Stephan de Wit on for flank Jaco Kriel.
18:28 - Again, the hosts opt for a lineout instead of taking the three points.
And they mess it by conceding a penalty when scrumhalf De Klerk holds on for too long on the ground...
18:27 - Another penalty in kickable range for the Lions as the Reds go off-side. Referee Barry gives an official warning...
18:25 - Another penalty brings another attacking lineout. But this time the Reds steal the lineout ball...
Crucially, the Lions have now lost four lineouts!
18:24 - This time they opt for an attacking lineout.
18:23 - A brilliant break from scrumhalf Faf de Klerk puts the Lions right back on attack. They win another penalty when Reds centre Mike Harris goes off side.
18:22 - PENALTY by Boshoff. Lions 9-20 Reds after 52 minutes.
18:21 - Lions win a very kickable penalty after the Reds fail to roll away at a ruck. Boshoff will line up from about 30m out, almost in front.
18:20 - So far the Lions have had 59% possession in the second half...
18:19 - Reds steal another lineout and kick up-field to relieve pressure...
18:18 - A promising driving maul after a lineout puts the Lions into strike zone in the Reds 22m area, but they lose possession and the Reds clear via wing Lachie Turner.
18:15 - Out of nowhere, Boshoff opts for a drop-goal just inside his own half, but misses...
18:14 - LIONS REPLACEMENTS
Lionel Mapoe on for centre Deon van Rensburg.
Corné Fourie on at prop for Schalk van der Merwe.
18:12 - Coenie van Wyk's kick in the in-goal area is charged down but luckily for him it goes into touch.
18:11 - An outstanding rolling kick from Cooper puts the Reds right on the Lions line... Lions throw though...
18:10 - Reds starting well, playing the game in the right side of the field.
18:09 - Welcome back. Boshoff gets the second half started...
18:07 - QUOTE
"We must show a bit better composure," says Lions coach Johan Ackermann.
18:05 - PICTURE
Reds skipper James Horwill wins a lineout ball (Gallo Images).
18:03 - METRES RUN
Lions 161
Reds 140
This shows the visitors have made more use of the chances they've got.
18:02 - TACKLE STATS
The Lions have made 49 tackles, 13 more then the Reds.
They have missed nine, which is three more then the Red.
17:56 - HALF-TIME: Lions 6-20 Reds
Join us in about 10 minutes for the second half...
17:56 - Boshoff kicks the PENALTY. That's 100 Super Rugby points for him this season so far!
17:55 - Now the Lions decide to kick for goal. Wrong call in my book. Should have gone for another scrum. Reds were on the verge of getting a yellow card there!
17:54 - Official warning now for the Reds who are not binding correctly at scrum time...
17:52 - Another Lions penalty at scrum time. They opt against kicking for goal. Another scrum!
17:51 - But the hosts get a free kick from the ensuing scrum. One more attacking chance just before the break!
17:50 - Brilliant defence from the Reds sees them turn over possession...
17:49 - Another scrum penalty from the Lions sees Boshoff kick it way up-field to give the Lions an attacking lineout on the Reds 22m line.
17:48 - Reds now looking to turn it on. Lions seem to be just hanging on here... A Reds forward pass gives the Lions some reprieve in their own half.
17:45 - CONVERSION by Cooper. Lions 3-20 Reds after 33 minutes.
17:44 - TRY! Cooper dummies beautifully and runs in between the two Lions centres to score under the posts, rounding off after a concerted period of attack by the visitors.
17:42 - PENALTIES CONCEDED THUS FAR
Lions 3
Reds 3
17:42 - TWEET
Refs' talk about policing off-sides is just that - TALK. Reds backs constantly ahead of hindmost foot - outside guys way ahead - Dan Retief
17:40 - Cooper guilty of not finding touch but then Watermeyer makes the mistake of kicking directly into touch...
17:40 - Boshoff creates space and puts Van Rensburg away with the latter sprinting inside the Reds half only to concede a penalty for holding on when tackle...
17:39 - But a better Reds scrum gives Genia the chance to clear up-field and put the pressure back on the home side.
17:37 - But the chance goes begging as Watermeyer knocks it on out wide. Reds scrum coming up.
However, the Lions have done well at scrums so far, so will fancy themselves still here...
17:36 - The Lions get a rare attacking opportunity close to the Reds 22m line...
17:33 - Reds have had 60% of territory so far this match.
The Lions have made 27 tackles compared to the Reds' 18.
17:27 - PENALTY converted by Cooper from in front. Lions 3-13 Reds after 16 minutes.
17:23 - TRY! Shipperley scores with his first touch. However, the referee (Berry) wants to look for a possible earlier knock on by Horwill.
The TMO and referee rule that Horwill had knocked the ball on in contact. Interesting, as replays show the Lions player had knocked the ball out of Horwill's hands but the Reds skipper also then knocked it on...
NO TRY!, but Berry goes back for a penalty as he said the Lions contested illegally at the ruck.
17:22 - REDS REPLACEMENT
Dom Shipperley on for fullback Aidan Toua.
17:21 - Boshoff coolly slots the PENALTY. Lions 3-10 Reds after 14 minutes.
17:20 - Referee Stuart Berry penalises the Reds scrum for going down. Boshoff will line up from close to the touchline, midway into the Reds half...
17:17 - Franco van der Merwe, meanwhile, has left he field after that ankle injury. Luvuyiso Lusaseni is on.
17:17 - PACK WEIGHTS
Lions 885kg
Reds 883kg
17:15 - Reds back on the attack inside the Lions 22m area but fullback Aidan Toua knocks it on after a good tackle from Courtnall Skosan.
Toua receives some attention to the chest area as well...
17:13 - Cooper CONVERTS about 20m from touch. Lions 0-10 Reds after 7 minutes.
17:12 - TRY! Cooper scores for the Reds after they pounce on a loose ball. Lions wing JW Jonker fumbled the ball inside his own 22m area...
17:10 - Lions lock Franco van der Merwe is down. Looks like an ankle injury.
17:09 - PENALTY by Cooper.
Lions 0-3 Reds after 3 minutes.
17:08 - Lions prop Schalk van der Merwe caught off-side. Cooper lines up from almost in front, just outside the Lions 22m area...
17:07 - An early penalty advantage for the Reds as they attack on the the Lions 22m area...
17:06 - Quade Cooper gets the game underway...
17:04 - Lions flyhalf Marnitz Boshof needs six points to be the first person to reach 100 points in this season's Super Rugby competition.
17:03 - James Horwill lead the Reds, clad in all-white, on to the pitch.
17:01 - Again, not a big crowd at Ellis Park. The Lions deserve more than this after the start they've had this season!
17:00 - CONDITIONS
Lovely weather for rugby. No rain, no real strong breeze. 22 Degree Celsius.
16:54 - QUOTE
"The Reds might take it. They've just got a little bit more experience," says in-studio SuperSport commentator Nick Mallett.
16:51 - TWEET
Marnitz Boshoff could be key for Lions if Reds continue trend of conceding the most penalties, free kicks per match (an average of 14.5) - South African Rugby
16:48 - The Reds have been given a 3 point win by bookies - and that's also what I've gone for.
On paper, this Reds team laden with Wallabies should be too strong, but I've got a few Lions games wrong this season already...
17:00 - Q&A WITH ANDRE WATSON
Former international referee and current General Manager of Referees at SARU, André Watson talks illegalities at ruck time, new innovations and how referees are held accountable...
Click HERE for the full Q&A...
17:00 - SPORT24 'EXPERT' PICKS
Sport24's self-proclaimed experts - Editor Garrin Lambley and Chief Writer Rob Houwing - give you their thoughts on today's match.
Click HERE to here their thoughts...
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OFFICIALS
Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Francois de Bruin (South Africa)
TMO: Johan Greeff (South Africa)
RECENT RESULTS
2012: Reds won 34-20, Brisbane
2011: Reds won 30-25, Johannesburg
2010: Reds won 41-26, Johannesburg
2009: Lions won 31-20, Brisbane
2008: Lions and Reds drew 24-24, Johannesburg
2007: Lions won 26-20, Brisbane
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 Willie Wepener, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Substitutes: 16 Mark Pretorius, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 20 Stephan de Wit, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Ruan Combrinck.
Reds
15 Aidan Toua, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Lachie Turner, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Jake Schatz, 7 Liam Gill, 6 Eddie Quirk, 5 James Horwill (captain), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Saia Fainga'a, 1 James Slipper
Substitutes: 16 James Hanson, 17 Albert Anae, 18 Jono Owen, 19 Ed O'Donoghue, 20 Beau Robinson, 21 Nick Frisby, 22 Anthony Fainga'a, 23 Dom Shipperley
Welcome to Sport24's LIVE scoring and interactive commentary on today's Super Rugby match between the Lions and Reds at Ellis Park in Johannesburg!
