Currie Cup: Ford Pumas - Golden Lions (02-09-2011, 19:10 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (02-09-2011, 19:10 GMT)

The MTN Golden Lions needed a late try to beat the Ford Pumas in the opening Absa Currie Cup fixture this season and John Mitchell's men will travel to the Mbombela Stadium knowing they can't underestimate the team from Mpumalanga.

A few weeks ago, the Vodacom Blue Bulls had to work very hard to beat the Pumas in Nelspruit, while GWK Griquas also found the going tough in the Mbombela Stadium in July.

Jimmy Stonehouse, coach of the Ford Pumas, said it's good to be welcoming back experienced players like their flank and captain, Corné Steenkamp, prop Dawie Steyn and scrumhalf Shaun Venter, who have all been out injured.

"We've been struggling with injuries, but these players are basically all fit again and it's great to have them back, as they form an experienced core for us. But even with them back, it won't be easy," said Stonehouse.

"The Golden Lions top the log and even though they've had their fair share of luck, but have been on the winning side in six of their matches, which brings confidence. That will only increase the pressure on us."

As Stonehouse points out, the Ford Pumas' season turned around in the second round in 2010, when they beat the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions, and they will be hoping for more of the same this season.

"If we can limit our mistakes and play with confidence, we can do it again. We only just lost to the Lions in the first round and with the injured players back, we'll be ready for them in Nelspruit this weekend," said Stonehouse.

Ford Pumas vs MTN Golden Lions
Date: Friday, 2 September
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Last three meetings in Absa Currie Cup:
• 20 August 2010: MTN Golden Lions won 33-30 in Witbank
• 8 October 2010: Ford Pumas won 34-27 in Johannesburg
• 15 July 2011: MTN Golden Lions won 31-27 in Johannesburg

Pumas: 15. MJ Mentz, 14. Wilhelm Hendrik Loock, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Tian Carel Meyer, 11. Deon Scholtz, 10. Coenie van Wyk, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Rudi Mathee, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Dawie Steyn

Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. De-Jay Terblanche, 18. Willem Serfontein, 19. JP Mostert, 20. Martin Sithole, 21. Tiaan Marx, 22. Johan Jackson

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley/Joshua Strauss, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Warren Whiteley/Joshua Strauss, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis.


*Vbookie odds supplied by BWIN*

 

[Seaton]

Wholesale changes by the Pumas, they are really struggling with injuries, even more than WP. They will put up a good fight, but I doubt the Lions will get anything less than 5 points here.

I can't tell whether or not the Pumas are happy with their performance against the Bulls, they would be happy because they put in a good shift, but would be disappointed as the Bulls were there for the taking.

Pumas

Team: 15. MJ Mentz, 14. Wilhelm Hendrik Loock, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Tian Carel Meyer, 11. Deon Scholtz, 10. Coenie van Wyk, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Rudi Mathee, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Dawie Steyn

Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. De-Jay Terblanche, 18. Willem Serfontein, 19. JP Mostert, 20. Martin Sithole, 21. Tiaan Marx, 22. Johan Jackson

Lions

Team: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar (Captain), 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg

Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Jacobie Adriaanse, 18. Johan (Joe) Snyman, 19. Joshua Strauss, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Doppies la Grange, 22. Burton Francis


The Game: A little error ridden, but good enough start.
Lions being a little cocky though, Pumas putting huge pressure on them by quickly pushing up on defence, Lions trying to run everything doesn't help

Ooooof, Lionel Mapoe with a dislocated shoulder, ouch...

 

[Draggs]

Lions up 17-6, anyone else think the pass for the second try was forward? I didn't catch a replay though.

 

[Seaton]

Yip, IMO definite forward pass, but of course my favourite refereee, Mr Jason Jafta, didn't pick it up.

He shouldn't be a ref, he is so short even if he stood on his toes he wouldn't be able to see over a decent sized ruck.

Misses forward passes galore, and to make up for it spots ones that never were...

HT 27-6

Pumas just starting to unwravell, playing as individuals now and have lost cohesiveness on defence.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I am surprised at the massive improvement the Lions made... John Mitchell and Carlos Spencer are doing a fantastic job in Jo'burg.

 

[Draggs]

Currie Cup refs seem to be as dire as Pro12 refs. We should send James Jones down to you!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Hold on! We do have some quality referees, it's just that they are at the World Cup

Craig Joubert, Jonathan Kaplan, Marius Jonker, Chris Pollock, Mark Lawrence and Jaco Peyper are all referees who will do perfectly fine in Europe. It's tossers like Bryce Lawrence, Steve Walsh, Stu Dickinson, Jason Jaftha and Pro Legoete that give me a headache

 

[Seaton]

What a tackle by Jantjies!

Literally all he did was stand up, and the Pumas player flipped over him :lol:

After the Leopards match in Durban, you can add Lourens van de Merwe to your list Ezequiel

 

[Draggs]

Walsh gives me a headache as well...
6-27, 44 minutes in.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

What a tackle by Jantjies!

Literally all he did was stand up, and the Pumas player flipped over him :lol:

After the Leopards match in Durban, you can add Lourens van de Merwe to your list Ezequiel

Why?

 

[Seaton]

I hate it when refs blow their whistle for extra long, especially when the offence is something simple, non-hostile/ dangerous and easily heard.
Sometimes you would swear they are trying to summon the police/ help to prevent a robbery/ rape

We need to make a "Referee bashing thread" for the World Cup, a little section for the Kiwi's to vent their anger.

Pumas so close to scoring there, Lions defending wellish


Lourens van de Merwe gave one of the most pathetic examples of refereeing I have ever seen, I'll re-post part of my mini rant

The game will be summed up in one sentence. Charl McLeod looked like a wee demi-god, as he stood out as a beacon of unshitiness that was the proverbial toilet of Kings Park.

As for the ref. Add 'Lourens van de Merwe' to you scrapbook as one of the worst refs to 'grace' the game. One point sums he up. So fustrated were we (Sharks and Leopards supporters) with his dealings in the scrum, I took the liberty to time all of the scrum engagements and resets in the second half, and guess what it came to? 18 MINUTES.


I have since learned from newspapers that the total scrum-time for the match was 34 minutes, and replays showed the Leopards props constantly binding on the Sharks players arms, engaging early, bouring (sp.) inwards, etc...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

What do you mean by adding Lourens van der Merwe to my list?

 

[Seaton]

Hold on! We do have some quality referees, it's just that they are at the World Cup

Craig Joubert, Jonathan Kaplan, Marius Jonker, Chris Pollock, Mark Lawrence and Jaco Peyper are all referees who will do perfectly fine in Europe. It's tossers like Bryce Lawrence, Steve Walsh, Stu Dickinson, Jason Jaftha and Pro Legoete that give me a headache

That list

Yaaas, Pumas try!

Must say I have been impressed by captain Corne Steenkamp this season, has lead from the front and fully deserved this try

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Hahaha. Okay then

 

[Seaton]

Still hope yet for the Pumas, MJ Mentz with the try that is... converted!

7 points behind now, 3 minutes left, you can do eeeeet!

Lions being dominated this half

Of course Jafta would penalize a player for a high tackle, that at the tackled players full height is around his waist :angry:

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

I will always think of this when the name Jason Jaftha pops up