Lions stunned by Crusaders
Golden Lions were beaten 25-17 by Crusaders in the Vodacom Super Rugby final on Saturday.
The Crusaders broke a nine-year drought to beat a 14-man Emirates Lions and lift their first Vodacom Super Rugby trophy since 2008 with an enthralling and dramatic victory.
In a game that was overshadowed by the red card to Lions flanker Kwagga Smith, the New Zealand side produced a complete performance to overcome altitude, a partisan home crowd and the travel factor to record only the second victory in a final away from home and break a 14-game home unbeaten record for the Lions.
The victory saw the Crusaders claim their eighth Super Rugby title and end a dream finale for Lions coach Johan Ackermann, who will now leave South Africa having lost a final as a player, and two as a coach as he heads to Gloucester for the new challenge in the English Premiership.
On a day of drama and high emotions, it was Smith's red card that infuriated home fans, as he collided with Crusaders winger David Havili in the air with the Crusaders fullback falling badly and leaving referee Jaco Peyper no choice just before halftime but to flash red and reduce the Lions to 14 men.
Despite the emotion around the red card, the decision was both fair and just and, while unfortunate, came at a time where the Lions were hardly winning the contact battle and were struggling at 12-3 behind.
While it would be easy to blame the red card for the loss, the reality is that the Lions struggled to impose themselves until late in the second half, and even then lost all the big moments of the game as the Crusaders were both tactically and physically superior for most of the game.
The biggest fear for the Lions was that they would suffer the same bad start as they did against the Hurricanes in the semi-final, and their worst fears were realised when they started as badly as they did a week before.
If Lions fans were honest, they will realise they never won any of the big moments in the game, and that included three big lineout's in the second half on attack when they had a chance to perfect a great comeback.
Still, it would be unfair not to pay tribute to the revolution that Ackermann has brought to South African rugby and the joy that the Lions have brought over the past few years with their positivity and enterprising play.
While sport may be a theatre of great moments, it remains a tragedy that Ackermann hasn't been rewarded for the change he has brought to South African rugby.
The match may have started on a high as the atmosphere radiated expectation, but the early exchanges saw the Lions looking jittery and do much of the play in their own half.
True to form the Crusaders enjoyed the suffocation game, and much like their semi-final win over the Chiefs, they scored off their opposition mistakes, and then came up with some big plays when it mattered, with Captain Sam Whitelock standing out with a lineout domination that truly was immense.
The Lions left it all on the park, but were outmanoeuvred and out-thought on a night that belonged to the South Islanders.
The Crusaders had it all against them, altitude, the crowd and the travel and they overcame it all through smart play and tactical genius. They are worthy champions.
SUPERSPORT
In a game that was overshadowed by the red card to Lions flanker Kwagga Smith, the New Zealand side produced a complete performance to overcome altitude, a partisan home crowd and the travel factor to record only the second victory in a final away from home and break a 14-game home unbeaten record for the Lions.
The victory saw the Crusaders claim their eighth Super Rugby title and end a dream finale for Lions coach Johan Ackermann, who will now leave South Africa having lost a final as a player, and two as a coach as he heads to Gloucester for the new challenge in the English Premiership.
On a day of drama and high emotions, it was Smith's red card that infuriated home fans, as he collided with Crusaders winger David Havili in the air with the Crusaders fullback falling badly and leaving referee Jaco Peyper no choice just before halftime but to flash red and reduce the Lions to 14 men.
Despite the emotion around the red card, the decision was both fair and just and, while unfortunate, came at a time where the Lions were hardly winning the contact battle and were struggling at 12-3 behind.
While it would be easy to blame the red card for the loss, the reality is that the Lions struggled to impose themselves until late in the second half, and even then lost all the big moments of the game as the Crusaders were both tactically and physically superior for most of the game.
The biggest fear for the Lions was that they would suffer the same bad start as they did against the Hurricanes in the semi-final, and their worst fears were realised when they started as badly as they did a week before.
If Lions fans were honest, they will realise they never won any of the big moments in the game, and that included three big lineout's in the second half on attack when they had a chance to perfect a great comeback.
Still, it would be unfair not to pay tribute to the revolution that Ackermann has brought to South African rugby and the joy that the Lions have brought over the past few years with their positivity and enterprising play.
While sport may be a theatre of great moments, it remains a tragedy that Ackermann hasn't been rewarded for the change he has brought to South African rugby.
The match may have started on a high as the atmosphere radiated expectation, but the early exchanges saw the Lions looking jittery and do much of the play in their own half.
True to form the Crusaders enjoyed the suffocation game, and much like their semi-final win over the Chiefs, they scored off their opposition mistakes, and then came up with some big plays when it mattered, with Captain Sam Whitelock standing out with a lineout domination that truly was immense.
The Lions left it all on the park, but were outmanoeuvred and out-thought on a night that belonged to the South Islanders.
The Crusaders had it all against them, altitude, the crowd and the travel and they overcame it all through smart play and tactical genius. They are worthy champions.
SUPERSPORT
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