Lions show their teeth against Scarlets

The Lions secured consecutive home victories and entrenched themselves in the top five of the United Rugby Championship (URC) with a 32-15 win over the Scarlets at Ellis Park.

On a sweltering day, the Lions were full of fire and brimstone. After seeing off the Dragons — from Wales too — last Sunday for their maiden home win of the season, the Lions made it a clean sweep of victories for the SA franchises this weekend, with the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers also doing the business.

The Scarlets, who came into the clash second-bottom on the standings with one win from eight matches, hardly fired a shot in the first half and were undone by penalties, with a misfiring set-piece and ineffective kicking game.

The Lions signalled their attacking intent early on and five minutes after flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse slotted the opening penalty, winger Rabz Maxwane scored a scintillating try in the 11th minute after leaving three defenders standing with an inside-outside step and a devastating turn of pace, having being set up by Marius Louw with a deft pass.

A notable returnee was former Springbok flank Jaco Kriel, who bolstered the Lions’ back row. Kriel made his first URC appearance of the season after a long injury layoff. He dovetailed well with Emmanuel Tshituka, who has emerged from his brother Vincent’s shadow. Tshituka scored the Lions’ second try off the back of a scrum.

The Scarlets replied with a try from Dan Davis, who broke off a well-set driving maul after sustained attack in the red zone but the home team took an 18-5 halftime lead.

Both teams started with 14 men in the second stanza, after yellow cards for Sango Xamlashe and Sam Costellow. In what was a more cagey affair in the second 40, the Lions notched their third try courtesy of Kriel from a well-executed line-out move, only for the Scarlets to hit back through winger Tom Rogers, who took advantage of an overlap.

In the last 10 minutes, Hendrikse was yellow-carded for cynically slapping the ball away. However, the Lions kept their cool, with Man of the Match Tshituka registering a brace of tries.

A last minute five-pointer from Sam Lousi couldn’t take the gloss off a bonus-point win.

The Lions next play the Dragons on Saturday in their first EPCR Challenge Cup fixture.

Scorers

Lions — Tries: Rabz Maxwane, Emmanuel Tshituka (2), Jaco Kriel. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (2), Zander du Plessis. Penalties: Hendrikse (2)

Scarlets — Tries: Dan Davies, Tom Rogers, Sam Lousi.​