Challenge Cup result: 14-man Lions thump Racing 92

An absolutely brilliant performance from a 14-man Lions team saw them claim a thumping 51-28 (halftime 27-14) win over French giants Racing 92 in their Challenge Cup clash at Ellis Park on Saturday night.

It was a full on try fest with the hosts dotting down seven times, while the visitors crossed the whitewash four times, but it was the fantastic performance from the hosts after losing flank Emmanuel Tshituka to a red card in the 18^th minute that impressed the most.

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The loose forward was perhaps unlucky to receive the red after a poor tackle attempt from Racing fullback Louis Dupichot saw him upright and in a bad position when Tshituka tried to bump him off, but with his arm away from his body and connecting with the players neck the ref decided to send him off.

It was a barnstorming start to the match from the Lions as inside centre Marius Louw intercepted and ran in the opening score, followed by a counter-attack releasing wing Edwill van der Merwe down the touch to dive over.

Scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba slotted the first conversion but missed the second leaving the home side 12-0 up after seven minutes.

Racing soon responded as they attacked into the Lions 22m, getting onto their line where prop Thomas Moukoro was able to crash over from close range for their opening score, with scrumhalf Nolan La Garrec slotting the conversion to make it 12-7 after 12 minutes.

A 17^th minute penalty from the boot of Nohamba was then followed by the big decision a minute later, as Tshituka received his marching orders for a high fend.

Despite being down a man the home side continued playing positively and were rewarded in the 22^nd minute as hooker PJ Botha made a half break, put flyhalf Gianni Lombard into a gap and he drew the final defender and sent wing Rabz Maxwane away for a try in the corner and 20-7 lead.

Racing again responded in the 28^th minute with Moukoro forcing his way over for a converted score from close range, bringing them back to within six points.

But the Lions ended the half on top as they attacked from a lineout in the visitors half, with flank Ruan Venter showing immense strength to bump off and power through a number of Racing defenders to score a brilliant try, converted by Nohamba to give them a good lead at the break.

Fast start

Racing came out of the blocks fastest in the second half, setting up a lineout deep in the Lions 22m, getting close and then swinging the ball to flyhalf Ben Volavola to step over under the posts for a converted score to reduce the deficit to 27-21.

 The Lions however were in the mood to attack and responded with two quick tries, as Louw looped around and went over for his second, followed by a brilliant attack seeing the ball go from Lombard, to Maxwane, to Nohamba and back to Lombard to finish.

Nohamba nailed both conversions to give the home side a 41-21 lead after 55 minutes.

The try fest continued as Racing were in five minutes later, attacking into the Lions 22m where wing Donovan Taofifenua stepped a few players and went over for the score, with replacement scrumhalf Max Spring adding the extras.

The back and forth nature of the second half continued with the Lions in next, as lock Willem Alberts made the crucial break, offloaded to Louw who then found Nohamba to go over, with his conversion putting them back into a 20 point lead at 48-28 with 13 minutes remaining.

It was a relatively quiet finish to the match after what had come before, but Nohamba added the cherry to the cake with a penalty on the full time hooter to put them over the 50 point mark for a massive win.

Scorers

Lions: Tries – Marius Louw (2), Edwill van der Merwe, Rabz Maxwane, Ruan Venter, Gianni Lombard, Sanele Nohamba; Conversions – Nohamba (5); Penalties – Nohamba (2)

Racing 92: Tries – Thomas Moukoro (2), Ben Volavola, Donovan Taofifenua; Conversions – Nolann Le Garrec (3), Max Spring