FLYHALF Elton Jantjies took his game to a higher place as he led the Lions to their first Super Rugby final when they evicted the defending champions, the Highlanders, 42-30 in a thrill-a-minute clash at Ellis Park.
The best two teams remain and the Lions will meet the Hurricanes in next weekend’s final. No matter what happens in Wellington, the Lions can take great joy in that they reached the best version of themselves, the best version this franchise has ever seen, in whatever shape, size or form.
In a game like this players that wanted to take the pressure head on were needed. Fullback Andries Coetzee took the line a lot more and broke a crucial tackle in the build up to the first try. Every Lions player wanted their hands on the ball and they did not run from the action areas.
It was apt, then, that the final pass in their 12th minute move went to Jantjies, from his co-conspirator Faf de Klerk. Jantjies ran as straight as an arrow and scored the opening try of what was promising to be an open semifinal.
It was the kind of game where you dare not make a mistake. A knock on from their own line out cost the Lions almost 60 metres in territory when the Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa and Matt Faddes combo broke the visitors out of defence. The Lions scrambled their way out of trouble.
When the Highlanders made a mistake, it cost them seven points as Rohan Janse van Rensburg picked up a loose pass and ran like a man possessed down the right-hand touchline.
Speedster Faddes got to him but getting hands on Janse van Rensburg was not enough, so the centre freed himself up and had enough gas to skin Sopoaga and to score under the poles.
You could feel the country’s eyes focusing on Janse van Rensburg, 21, as the answer to the season-long Springbok No 12 question. No further questions Mr Allister Coetzee, this former Waterkloof High School old boy has shown he’s ready for the Rugby Championship big boys.
The Highlanders, who trailed 17-6 at the break, would have felt they left a couple of tries behind in the first half for Paddy Osborne and Elliot Dixon. Dixon’s spill over the goal line, after a Fekitoa offload put him through, contributed to the visitors’ demise.
The contest reached dizzying levels of excitement in the second half as the Highlanders chased the game and the Lions retorted with some of their own attacking play. The Lions fired the first shot when Jantjies broke from deep in his half set winger Courtnall Skosan loose to score their third try.
But the home side exited poorly and two minutes later Faddes struck in the corner for the men from Dunedin. Despite the taste of tension, it was a game one didn’t want to end. Jantjies took charge of it as his halfback partner De Klerk outdid the world’s best scrumhalf Aaron Smith. De Klerk was quicker, sharper and, simply, better.
The 55th minute cross kick for Jaco Kriel's try confirmed that Jantjies is the closest South Africa are ever going to get to a game manager of Dan Carter's calibre. He had everything in this game and upped his game as the minutes went.
His man-of-the-match award was as obvious as the sky was blue. You'll have to page back to Carter's performance in last year's World Cup or Johnny Wilkinson's 2003 World Cup-winning performance to see a flyhalf dominate a knockout game better than Jantjies did. He went home with 22 points from the match and the affections of all who witnessed Saturday’s game. They’ll talk about what he did at Ellis Park for years to come.
Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo and Joe Wheeler added scores late on but the contest was as good as done by the time Jantjies chipped over the top for substitute lock Lourens Erasmus’s touchdown.
The final against the Hurricanes away will be an infinitely tougher prospect but at least the Lions have given themselves the best chance of bagging the trophy, by getting there.
Scorers
Lions – 42
Tries: Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel, Lourens Erasmus.
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4)
Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3)
Highlanders – 30
Tries: Matt Faddes, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Joe Wheeler.
Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (2)
Penalties: Lima Sopoaga (2)
Elton Jantjies. Picture: GALLO IMAGES/CARL FOURIE
FLYHALF Elton Jantjies took his game to a higher place as he led the Lions to their first Super Rugby final when they evicted the defending champions, the Highlanders, 42-30 in a thrill-a-minute clash at Ellis Park.
The best two teams remain and the Lions will meet the Hurricanes in next weekend’s final. No matter what happens in Wellington, the Lions can take great joy in that they reached the best version of themselves, the best version this franchise has ever seen, in whatever shape, size or form.
In a game like this players that wanted to take the pressure head on were needed. Fullback Andries Coetzee took the line a lot more and broke a crucial tackle in the build up to the first try. Every Lions player wanted their hands on the ball and they did not run from the action areas.
It was apt, then, that the final pass in their 12th minute move went to Jantjies, from his co-conspirator Faf de Klerk. Jantjies ran as straight as an arrow and scored the opening try of what was promising to be an open semifinal.
It was the kind of game where you dare not make a mistake. A knock on from their own line out cost the Lions almost 60 metres in territory when the Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa and Matt Faddes combo broke the visitors out of defence. The Lions scrambled their way out of trouble.
When the Highlanders made a mistake, it cost them seven points as Rohan Janse van Rensburg picked up a loose pass and ran like a man possessed down the right-hand touchline.
Speedster Faddes got to him but getting hands on Janse van Rensburg was not enough, so the centre freed himself up and had enough gas to skin Sopoaga and to score under the poles.
You could feel the country’s eyes focusing on Janse van Rensburg, 21, as the answer to the season-long Springbok No 12 question. No further questions Mr Allister Coetzee, this former Waterkloof High School old boy has shown he’s ready for the Rugby Championship big boys.
The Highlanders, who trailed 17-6 at the break, would have felt they left a couple of tries behind in the first half for Paddy Osborne and Elliot Dixon. Dixon’s spill over the goal line, after a Fekitoa offload put him through, contributed to the visitors’ demise.
The contest reached dizzying levels of excitement in the second half as the Highlanders chased the game and the Lions retorted with some of their own attacking play. The Lions fired the first shot when Jantjies broke from deep in his half set winger Courtnall Skosan loose to score their third try.
But the home side exited poorly and two minutes later Faddes struck in the corner for the men from Dunedin. Despite the taste of tension, it was a game one didn’t want to end. Jantjies took charge of it as his halfback partner De Klerk outdid the world’s best scrumhalf Aaron Smith. De Klerk was quicker, sharper and, simply, better.
The 55th minute cross kick for Jaco Kriel's try confirmed that Jantjies is the closest South Africa are ever going to get to a game manager of Dan Carter's calibre. He had everything in this game and upped his game as the minutes went.
His man-of-the-match award was as obvious as the sky was blue. You'll have to page back to Carter's performance in last year's World Cup or Johnny Wilkinson's 2003 World Cup-winning performance to see a flyhalf dominate a knockout game better than Jantjies did. He went home with 22 points from the match and the affections of all who witnessed Saturday’s game. They’ll talk about what he did at Ellis Park for years to come.
Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo and Joe Wheeler added scores late on but the contest was as good as done by the time Jantjies chipped over the top for substitute lock Lourens Erasmus’s touchdown.
The final against the Hurricanes away will be an infinitely tougher prospect but at least the Lions have given themselves the best chance of bagging the trophy, by getting there.
Scorers
Lions – 42
Tries: Elton Jantjies, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Courtnall Skosan, Jaco Kriel, Lourens Erasmus.
Conversions: Elton Jantjies (4)
Penalties: Elton Jantjies (3)
Highlanders – 30
Tries: Matt Faddes, Lima Sopoaga, Waisake Naholo, Joe Wheeler.
Conversions: Lima Sopoaga (2)
Penalties: Lima Sopoaga (2)
