Match Reports

The BNZ Crusaders made it two from two on their South African tour, defeating the Lions 43-37 at Emirates Airlines Park in Johannesburg on Saturday morning.

Ryan Crotty set the tone for a high-scoring match, crossing the chalk within the first minute of play, for one of what would be a hat-trick of tries scored by the second five-eighth. The hosts proved equal to the task of playing fast-paced footy though, taking the lead soon after when their winger Ruan Combrinck sliced through a gap in the midfield, finding Lionel Mapoe in support. Elton Jantjies slotted the conversion to make it 7-5 after just five minutes of play.

BNZ Crusaders’ winger Johnny McNicholl then hit back with a great individual try, intercepting a floating pass from the Lions’ halfback and sprinting the better part of 70 metres to score on the right wing. Richie Mo’unga converted to restore the lead 12-7.  A penalty to Jantjies kept the Lions in touch, but the visitors continued to ask questions of their defence. Strong carries in the centre of the park from Kieran Read and Scott Barrett had the forwards in the try-scoring action as well, the two setting up prop Wyatt Crockett, and Mo’unga adding the extras with ease.

Trailing 19-10 the Lions kept coming at the opposition, an injection of pace by Jantjies from the breakdown closing the gap, as he sailed over in the corner. Jantjies converted his own try from the touchline and the teams traded penalties late in the half, but it was the away side who went to the break ahead by a slim 22-20 margin.

The visitors appeared to put the foot down early in the second half, Ryan Crotty scoring two tries in quick succession to stretch the lead to 16 points. The first five-pointer came off the back of strong line-out ball in Lions’ territory, resulting in a mid-field break from Crotty who bust through several tackles to score next to the posts. A solid team try followed, which started with a brilliant take from McNicholl under the high ball, and culminated in a powerful counter-attack from Nadolo, who offloaded for Crotty to record his third of the match.

With both sides keen to shift the ball throughout, defence was always going to be key in containing the opposition in the second half. The BNZ Crusaders let in two tries to Lions’ reserve hooker Akker van der Merwe, but a try in between to replacement halfback Mitchell Drummond maintained a nine point deficit. The Lions continued to fight late in the piece, but the BNZ Crusaders held their nerve, and their defensive line, until the final whistle.

Richie Mo’unga put on a much-improved kicking display, slotting five from six conversion attempts and a penalty goal in the match. Opposing first-five Elton Jantjies had the final say in the game when his side was awarded a late penalty, but the BNZ Crusaders claimed victory 43-37 and depart Johannesburg with the win points after round six.

The side have one final stopover in Perth where they face the Force on Friday 8^th April at 11:00pm (NZ time).

Scorers: Lions 37 (Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Akker van der Merwe 2 tries; Jantjies 4 con, 3 pen) Crusaders 43 (Ryan Crotty 3, Johnny McNicholl, Wyatt Crockett, Mitchell Drummond tries; Richie Mo'unga 5 con, pen). HT: 20-22

By Chantelle Te Haara