Following the Lions\u2019 narrow 23-22 triumph over the Lions in their United Rugby Championship (URC) derby at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday, Planet Rugby picks out five takeaways from the thrilling action.<\/p>\n
The top line<\/p>\n
Both sides deserve credit for staying true to their attacking roots throughout and this match was in the balance until it\u2019s closing stages.<\/p>\n
The Lions<\/a> were fastest out of the blocks and after opening their account via a Chris Smith penalty as early as the fourth minute, they extended their lead when Etienne Oosthuizen crossed for their first try shortly afterwards.<\/p>\n The visitors continued to dominate as the match progressed and were rewarded with another try scored by their captain, Francke Horn, in the 10th minute which meant they had their tails up with the score 15-0 in their favour at that stage.<\/p>\n To their credit, the Sharks<\/a> did not panic and tries from Emmanuel Tshituka and Siya Kolisi<\/a> meant the Lions held a 15-12 lead by the 26th minute.<\/p>\n Smith slotted another penalty in the 32nd minute before Ruan Venter received a yellow card \u2013 which was later upgraded to red \u2013 for foul play just before half-time and the hosts capitalised on that as Jason Jenkins went over for a converted try which meant the Lions held a slender 18-17 lead at the break.<\/p>\n The second half was a much tighter affair and despite having a numerical advantage, the Sharks had to wait until the 58th minute before Edwill van der Merwe went over for his side\u2019s fourth five-pointer.<\/p>\n That meant the Sharks held a 22-18 lead but although the Lions were trailing on the scoreboard, they did not surrender, and they eventually clinched their victory in extra time when replacement scrum-half Haashim Pead crossed for the match-winning try.<\/p>\n Siya Kolisi still committed to the Sharks cause<\/p>\n Just before Christmas, it was confirmed that Kolisi\u2019s second stint at the Sharks is set to come to an end at the end of the current campaign as he is set to return to the Stormers next season.<\/p>\n Today\u2019s encounter was the Springboks captain\u2019s first appearance since that announcement, but despite his impending departure from the Durban-based outfit at the end of the season, Kolisi came to the fore with a big shift as he was prominent either side of the ball.<\/p>\n The 34-year-old was in the thick of the action from the outset as he came to the fore with several powerful carries on attack and put his body on the line with some big hits on defence.<\/p>\n Kolisi\u2019s efforts with ball in hand were rewarded in the 25th minute when he barged off a lineout drive deep inside Lions territory before bursting through a tackle from Angelo Davids to score a deserved try.<\/p>\n The experienced loose forward continued to shine as the match progressed and although he was replaced in the 63rd minute, he showed that he is still committed to the Sharks\u2019 cause.<\/p>\n Lions impress despite Ruan Venter\u2019s dismissal<\/p>\n After making that bright start, the Lions suffered a major setback just before half-time when star back-row Ruan Venter received his marching orders for a dangerous hit on Sharks full-back Aphelele Fassi.<\/p>\n This, after Fassi had gone up to collect an up-and-under and although the Springboks number 15 did not gather the high ball, Venter caught him with a head-high tackle as he hit the ground.<\/p>\n Sharks player ratings: Springbok powerhouse \u2018uncharacteristically error-ridden\u2019 as Ox Nche barely misses a beat in defeat<\/a><\/p>\n Although referee Chris Allison was not initially aware of the one-Test Springboks back-row\u2019s indiscretion, the TMO, Egon Seconds, pointed it out and after watching television replays, Allison issued a yellow card to Venter which was to be reviewed by the Foul Player Review Bunker.<\/p>\n And early in the second half it was confirmed that the yellow card was upgraded to red which was a massive blow for the Lions as Venter was a key player for them who impressed on attack and defence before his dismissal.<\/p>\n However, despite only playing with seven forwards until midway into the second half, the Lions\u2019 pack stood up well in the tight exchanges and only conceded that try from Van der Merwe while they had 14 players on the field.<\/p>\n Haashim Pead shows his class with moment of magic<\/p>\n Much has been said and written about Pead in 2025, after he was one of South Africa\u2019s star players during their victorious campaign at the U20 World Championship in Italy last year.<\/p>\n The youngster\u2019s name was on everybody\u2019s lips when he arrived back in South Africa but despite shining at that tournament, he has received little opportunities to play for the Lions with rising Springboks star Morne van den Berg and Nico Steyn ahead of him in the scrum-half pecking order at the Johannesburg-based outfit.<\/p>\n Pead seldom made the Lions\u2019 matchday squad for URC<\/a> matches and when his services were required, it was restricted mostly to cameos off the replacements bench.<\/p>\n It was a similar story against the Sharks in this fixture as Pead came on to replace Van den Berg in the 66th minute with the Lions needing some magic from him as they were desperately chasing the game at that stage.<\/p>\n He certainly provided that magic as in the 81st minute, he made a sniping break around a ruck deep inside the home side\u2019s 22 and crossed for the match-winning try.<\/p>\n Sharks\u2019 Springboks contingent fail to shine<\/p>\n Although the likes of Kolisi, Grant Williams and Springboks loosehead prop Ox Nche \u2013 who made a superb comeback to action after more than a month on the sidelines due to a leg injury \u2013 can be happy with their performances, the same cannot be said of most of their fellow internationals.<\/p>\n The Durban-based outfit had 12 Springboks in their starting line-up, but most of them did not reach their usual high standards and eventually paid the price with the end result.<\/p>\n Amongst the backs, fly-half Jordan Hendrikse had a forgetful game as he missed three conversions, which proved costly in the grander scheme of things, while he also failed to unleash his outside backs despite crisp service from Williams.<\/p>\n The Boks midfield duo of Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker came off second best in their direct duel with Lions centres Bronson Mills and Erich Cronje while experienced flyer Makazole Mapimpi failed to impress before leaving the field early in the second half due to injury.<\/p>\n Up front, Bongi Mbonambi only lasted 53 minutes before he was replaced and although Vincent Tshituka was a powerful ball carrier, he was kept in check by the visitors\u2019 defence.<\/p>\n Questions will also be asked of captain Esterhuizen\u2019s decision not to take a shot at goal from in front of the Lions\u2019 posts in the game\u2019s closing stages when the Sharks were awarded a penalty with the score 22-18 in their favour.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n