Lions beat all the odds

THE Emirates Lions beat all the odds and clinched a spot in the finals of the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby. The Johannesburg outfit played up to all expectations and beat the Highlanders at home and will now face the Hurricanes in the finals.

Emirates Lions defeated the Highlanders with a gross total of 42-30 on Saturday, July 30, at Emirates Airlines Park.

In doing so the Lions also rewrote the franchise history books to become the first side to make it through to the finals of the gruelling series. They will play the Hurricanes on Saturday, August 6, at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. The kick-off time is 09:35 South African time.

The Lions have, over the past four years, had a long journey to this point in time where they eventually made it through to the finals of the this highly rated competition. Unlucky to have been kicked out of the competition four years ago to hand an opportunity for the Southern Kings to show their finesse in the Super Rugby, only to return the following year after a promotion/relegation match against the Kings.

“In this week (July 27 to August 4), three years ago, the Lions had to play a promotion/relegation match and today we have won the semi-finals against the Highlanders,” said Head coach Johan Ackermann after the match, ”This is a very special moment for us and this is also a very special team and management supporting us all the way. We also salute the crowd, our fans who always stood behind us and gave their support. We always wanted to make it difficult for any team to beat us at home. ”

“This is a very proud moment for me and I am very proud of all the players who are playing this brand of rugby which we wanted to create for the spectators.”

“We will travel to New Zealand and do our best. We will not change anything and will have to reset once we have landed and can start to train again.”

The Lions will now face the third New Zealand side in as many weeks and whether they bring back the 2016 Vodacom Super Rugby trophy they have throughout the season beat all the odds.

The Emirates Lions came into the encounter on the back of eight wins from ten home matches this season, and while it was a fantastic team effort that ultimately clinched them a famous victory, they were led superbly by Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and Bok flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

Man of the Match Jantjies scored his team’s first try and he dictated play impressively behind his industrious pack, with scrumhalf de Klerk also in equally sparkling form.

Playing in perfect weather conditions and at home in front of a 50 000 strong crowd, the Emirates Lions outscored the defending champions from New Zealand by five tries.

Earlier on Saturday morning (SA time), the Hurricanes beat the Chiefs 25-9 in Wellington in the first semi-final, delivering an outstanding defensive effort and out-scoring the visitors three tries to nil.

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