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Irish Times
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Connacht suffer worst away defeat of season to Lions in South Africa
URC: Emirates Lions 26 Connacht 7 Connacht suffered their worst away defeat of the season, losing to a struggling South African outfit Emirates Lions in this URC basement battle in Johannesburg. 'We did not show the best side of ourselves,' said captain Cian Prendergast. 'Not smart with the ball, not smart with our energy management in the Highveld. The tour sums our season.' The home side, having dictated the opening half, were first to score after 13 minutes. Dominating the early exchanges, it was their pack, as expected, which led the charge through their set piece, giving them sufficient front-foot ball. On an advantage, the home side recycled the ball and eventually flanker Renzo du Plessis slipped through a porous cover to score. READ MORE Connacht, with few opportunities to attack, were unable to make a dent on the scoreline as they struggled on an unusually heavy pitch in the Highveld. Connacht did well to stymie another possible Lions try just before the break with solid defence of a rolling maul, but a penalty from outhalf Kade Wolhuter kept the home side in the driving seat, adding a second penalty from the scrum with Wolhuter stretching the lead to 11. Connacht turned around in the second half and immediately took some control, winning a penalty with Lions' flanker Du Plessis yellow carded. And when Dylan Tierney Martin touched down from driving maul, Connacht looked to have turned the corner, but the try was denied by a technical infringement in the preceding maul. By the 60th minute and Connacht still scoreless, the Lions struck again through leftwing Edwill van der Merwe, but it was also struck out due a previous high tackle on David Hawkshaw by centre Henco Van Wyk. It made little difference for Connacht, who continued to struggle with both physicality of their opponents and the environment, leaking a second try when number eight Jarod Cairns delivered to flanker JC Pretorious who stretched the lead to 19-0. There was no coming back for Connacht when they leaked a third, scored by Van Der Merwe, their late try by Eoin de Buitlear of little consolation. Shayne Bolton of Connacht makes a run. Photograph: Christiaan Kotze/Steve Haag Sports/Inpho 'A big blow to hopes,' says coach Cullie Tucker. 'We were aiming to get four or five points, still technically in the hunt. Lineout, ruck and attack – those three areas were not as good and it affected our ability to build pressure. Giving away too many penalties in the first half. 'Frustrated with the result and performance, not the group. Altitude was a factor, but we could have managed it a bit better.' Emirates Lions: Q Horn, R Kriel, H Van Wyk, B Mills, E Van Der Merwe, K Wolhuter, M Van Den Berg; M Naude, J Visagie, A Ntlabakanye, R Schoeman, R Delport, JC Pretorius, R Du Plessis, J Cairns. Replacements: PJ Botha, for Visagie and RF Schoeman for Ntlabakanye (both 67 mins), D Landsberg, I Esterhuizen, N Steyn for Van Den Berg (56 mins), R Jonker for Van Wyk (63 mins), L Dobela for P Jonker. Yellow card: R Du Plessis (49 mins). Connacht: P O'Conor, S Bolton, D Hawkshaw, C Forde, S Jennings, J Carty, M Devine, P Dooley, D Tierney-Martin, J Aungier, J Murphy, J Joyce, C Prendergast (capt), C Oliver, S Jansen. Replacements: P Boyle for Jansen (14 mins), S Cordero for O'Conor (HT), H Gavin for Carty (46 mins), O Dowling for Joyce and S Illo for Aungier (52 mins), E de Buitlear for Tierney-Martin and Duggan for Dooley (61 mins), C Reilly for Forde (66 mins). Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland).
TimesLIVE
26-04-2025
- Sport
- TimesLIVE
Lions maul Connacht at Ellis Park to refresh faint URC quarterfinal hopes
This match was as drab as the autumn cloak that clung to Ellis Park like a needy octopus. There was no escaping the collective dread that things were not going to get better in this United Rugby Championship clash and though the hosts, clearly the better of the two teams, created scoring opportunities in the second half they were hamstrung by their hamfistedness. At final whistle, 26-7 up under leaden skies, the Lions held on to what they perceive to be a silver lining in their effectively doomed quest for a top eight spot. The Lions came into the game on the cusp of elimination and though they secured victory they remain very long shots for a quarterfinal spot. They will be energised by some workmanlike performances, especially from their pack. Props Morgan Naude and Asenathi Ntlabakanye hustled and bustled until they were replaced, while flank Renzo du Plessis proved a bundle of energy in a man of the match performance. At the back, Morne van den Berg directed operations with aplomb from behind the pack, while left wing Edwill van der Merwe brought his familiar verve and vigour. 𝗙𝗨𝗟𝗟 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘 | Emirates Lions 26 – 07 Connacht #LIOvCON #ForOurCity @Vodacom #URC | #HitsDifferent #LionsPride 🦁 — Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) April 26, 2025 Debutant Bronson Mills had a busy afternoon, though not always in a productive way. On the whole however, this clash was no where near the realm of spectacle. It had the look and feel of protagonists operating in a parallel universe to the teams who already find themselves among the top eight. The match didn't just lack quality, but the vibrancy and urgency more regularly on show higher up the points table. Connacht failed to get the foothold in the game they got a week ago. There were times they looked jaded. Their approach was measured, perhaps in anticipation of the challenge Johannesburg's thin air might present them in the second half. Connacht's lassitude lingered in the second half. Though the Lions had the better of the exchanges in the opening half hour, neither side could settle into a discernible pattern or rhythm. The hosts fashioned a splendid team try in the 13th minute after they were handed good field position from a touch finding penalty. The interplay between backs and forwards was as slick as that between Naude and Ntlabakanye. Probing wide the Lions found reward when Du Plessis barged over but somehow Kade Wolhuter failed to convert from 'gimme' location. Wolhuter did raise the flags with an 18th minute penalty before doubling his contribution off the tee with another earned from a powerful scrum a few minutes out from the break. It was a first half that produced precious little to shout about. The Lions played well enough to deserve a double digit lead but they would have gone into the break with the nagging feeling their opponents had not yet fired a shot. There was no need to fret. Wolhuter added a third penalty shortly after the restart. A yellow card to Du Plessis in the 49th minute opened the door for the visitors and though they got over the tryline via a maul their modus operandi did not stand up to the full scrutiny of the law. The Lions too drew a blank when Van der Merwe's fine dash and questionable dive was chalked off due to an earlier infraction by Henco van Wyk. Van der Merwe scored at the death but it did little to lift the pall over Ellis Park. Scorers Lions (11) 26 - Tries: Renzo du Plessis, JC Pretorius, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversion: Lubabalo Dobela. Penalties: Kade Wolhuter (3).
Irish Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Stakes high for both sides as Connacht look to turn over Lions in Johannesburg
URC: Emirates Lions v Connacht, Emirates Airline Park, Saturday, 3.0 – Live on TG4 and Premier Sports The battle for the BKT URC top eight intensifies in South Africa with a must-win game for both Emirates Lions and Connacht in Johannesburg. There is little between these two protagonists who both need the victory to give them hope of making the quarter-finals. Connacht do have the upper hand in that regard. In 12th position, they are currently four points ahead of the South African outfit, but still five points from the top eight. And although they are still to host Edinburgh at Dexcom Stadium, Connacht also face another away trip to Italy for their final fixture. The Lions' run-in is preferable with home games against Welsh outfits Scarlets and Ospreys. Thus, this fixture has all the hallmarks of do-or-die, and while the Lions are on a run of four losses, Connacht have suffered three on the trot. READ MORE The Irish province, however, showed considerable resilience in their joust with South Africa's Stormers last weekend, and although losing 34-29 after a final try was denied by the TMO, they picked up two valuable bonus points to maintain their hopes. However, coach Cullie Tucker accepts this test will be incredibly tough in high-altitude territory. 'We are in the land of physicality,' Tucker says. 'The Lions are another very physical team, with a strong set-piece, and they have some fantastic individual rugby players. 'They'll come out smarting no doubt after losing last week at home. They will stretch us, and they will test us. Then you've got the altitude on top of that. It will be another incredibly tough test, but the boys are in good spirits.' Tucker says last weekend's nail-biter against the Stormers was a test of character which his players passed. 'We weren't given much chance by the media over here, but the boys put in a great shift. We have got some very good characters who announced themselves and told people who they are. To score a try at the end to win the game and to have it chalked off is pretty frustrating.' Tucker admits he is now in 'game-by-game, minute by minute' territory. 'We're just making sure we are best prepared for the Lions this weekend, and hopefully we get good a result that keeps us alive,' he says. Tucker has made six changes from last weekend's side. South African Shayne Bolton, having recovered from injury, starts on the right wing. There is also added experience and beef in the pack with hooker Dave Heffernan, locks Joe Joyce and Josh Murphy, and number eight Sean Jansen starting, while Matthew Devine takes over at scrumhalf. Hugh Gavin and Eoin de Buitlear, both having recovered from injuries, are named on the bench. LIONS: Q Horn; R Kriel, H Van Wyk, B Mills, E Van Der Merwe; K Wolhuter, M Van Den Berg; M Naude, J Visagie, A Ntlabakanye; R Schoeman, R Delport; JC Pretorius, R Du Plessis, J Cairns. Replacements: PJ Botha, SJ Kotze, RF Shoeman, D Landsberg, I Esterhuizen, N Steyn, L Dobela, P Jonker. CONNACHT: P O'Conor; S Bolton, D Hawkshaw, C Forde, S Jennings; J Carty, M Devine; P Dooley, D Heffernan, F Bealham; J Murphy, J Joyce; C Prendergast (capt), C Oliver, S Jansen. Replacements: E de Buitlear, J Duggan, S Illo, O Dowling, P Boyle, C Reilly, H Gavin, S Cordero. Referee: H Davidson (Sco).
