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Spencer shines for lacklustre Lions

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:22

Shining light: Carlos Spencer provided a rare spark

All Black superstar Carlos Spencer started to repay the Lions management for the huge investment they made in him, when he turned out to be the one bright spark in an otherwise dull performance in their final Super 14 pre-season outing in Witbank on Friday.

The Lions completed their build-up to the season - which gets underway when they face the Stormers next Saturday, February 13 - as the men from Johannesburg team the Leopards (38-30) and Pumas (24-17) in two games in a wet Witbank.

Although the Lions' Director of Coaching Dick Muir emphasised that Friday's teams were not strictly selected on merit, there is little doubt that the Red combination - which played the Pumas in the late match - was the better of the two and getting close to what he has in mind for the Super 14 campaign.

Muir, who has been careful to avoid building up expectation after a complete overhaul of the coaching structures in the union in the past eight months - including the Bok backline coach, Muir, taking over as chief-in-charge - earlier predicted that the clinical finishing would not necessarily be there yet.

However, some areas of the team's performance gave him much to ponder.

The outstanding ray in a rather dull performance was the All Black flyhalf, Spencer.

He showed in no uncertain manner that the move to lure him to Gauteng was a good one.

Spencer kept the Pumas on the back foot with cross kicks and was sharp in his distribution. His quick thinking launched an attack for the Lions' young wing Wandile Mjekevu, who crossed the tryline in the 12th minute.

Despite King Carlos's inspiring performance, the rest of the Lions couldn't finish on countless opportunities created in the main match - with inside centre Doppies le Grange one of the few other players to produce a solid performance.

The Pumas, newly promoted to the Currie Cup Premier Division this year, will feel proud of what they achieved against a Super 14 franchise. 

The game could have swung either way, and the Pumas were close to causing an upset.

The Pumas lock, Marius Coetzer, was very good in the line-outs and made life difficult for his provincial captain from last year, hooker Hannes Franklin, with his excellent jumping. Franklin struggled to find his Lions teammates.

The Lions led 12-10 at the break - and when Muir then brought on a few substitutes, they at least provided some spark.

Earl Rose had a solid display with Tonderai Chavanga, back from a long-term injury, also looking good on attack.

While Rose was solid under the high ball, a blunder on his try line gifted an easy try to Pumas flyhalf Elgar Watts.

With about 10 minutes to go the two teams were tied on 17-all, but the Lions pulled it out of the fire when substitute hooker Charles Enslie scored a pushover try to ensure a 24-17 victory.

The Lions will have to sort out their line-outs in particular and also improve on their handling before next week's opening round.

* In the early game rain prevented the Lions and the Leopards from playing an expansive game.

Leopards nevertheless gave the Lions a good physical contest, and lost only 30-38.

Although the conditions made it difficult for the Lions players to stake a claim for a first team place, a few players seemed to make much of an effort.

Flank Johan van Deventer was awarded with two tries for an industrious performance, and scrumhalf Alex Kock also scored two first-half tries.

One player who caught the eye when he came on as a substitute was centre Justin St Jerry, who hurt the Leopards with a few big hits.

The Leopards gave good account of themselves and No.8 Riaan Swanepoel shone for the men from the North West.

Scorers and teams:

Lions Black v Leopards:

For the Leopards: 
Tries: Nel, Scholtz, Van Zyl
Cons: Durand 2, Van Zyl
Pens: Durand 3

For the Lions (Black team):
Tries: Mentz, Kock 2, Van Deventer 2, Lewis
Cons: Kruger 2, Boshoff 2

Teams:

Leopards: 15 Jan van Zyl, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Dumisane Matyeshana, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Gharfoer Luckan, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Jean Tiedt, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6 Christo van Niekerk, 5 Antonie Gronum, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: Not available.

Lions (Black team): 15 Earl Lewis, 14 Marius Delport, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Alex Koch, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Johan van Deventer, 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 George Earle, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hanyani Shimange, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements - from: Hans van Dyk, Gert Muller, David Bulbring, Robert Kruger, Ruan Boshoff, Jannie Boshoff, Justin St Jerry, Pieter Engelbrecht, Henno Mentz, Shandre Frolick, Rouan Cloete

Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Stefan Breytenbach, local

Lions Red v Pumas:

For the Pumas:
Tries: Uys, Watts
Cons: Pretorius 2
Pen: Pretorius

Lions (Red team):
Tries: Mjekevu, Mokuena, Van Rensburg, Enslie
Cons: Jonck, Francis

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Carl Bezuidenhout, 14 Braam Pretorius, 13 Tiaan Marx, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Nicky Kritzinger, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Doppies le Roux, 7 Corné Steenkamp, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Luan Velthuizen, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Brett Nel, 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Dawie Steyn, 17 Dee-Jay Terblanche, 18 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 19 Andries Kruger, 20 Tiaan Meyer, 21 Ashwin Scott, 22 Allister Ketteldas.

Lions (Red team): 15 Michael Killian, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Nico Luus, 4 Jannes Labuschagne, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements - from: Charles Enslie, Lawrence Sephaka, Jacques Lombaard, Derrick Minnie, JP Joubert, Burton Francis, Wigan Pekeur, Tonderai Chavhanga, Earl Rose, Danie Crous

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete, Stefan Breytenbach

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