Lions target complete display in Currie Cup final after second-half slip in Cavaliers rout

While the Lions were purring as they booked a home Currie Cup final against the Griquas with a 67-19 mauling of the Boland Cavaliers, coach Mziwakhe Nkosi is slightly concerned about the dip in their level of play in the second half.

The dominant Lions led 41-5 at half-time, and while there was no danger of being overhauled, the error count from the home side was high in the second stanza.

“It was probably not our most accurate second half but as the game got scrappier, we got scrappier. But we take it,” Nkosi said, in his post-match media briefing. “In the first half I thought our set piece was good, I thought we scrummed well, while they tried to have one or two mauls that we stopped. 

“Our maul functioned. When we did get direct, when we did get over the gain line we were good. When we tightened up, (flank Ruan) Venter and those guys coming through the middle, they were good.”

While speedster Angelo Davids hogged the headlines after scoring four tries, veteran flyhalf Chris Smith once again dictated play for the Lions. His acquisition continues to look like a smart piece of business for the Joburg side.   

“When you’ve got front-foot ball it allows Chris to get front-foot ball and it became a whole lot easier for Angelo (Davids) and them on the outside,” Nkosi admitted.

He also felt that they did well to press home the altitude advantage at Ellis Park. 

“I think for Boland it probably would have been their first game at altitude. I think they played all the three franchises down at the coast and played the Pumas in the lowveld,” he said. 

“Altitude does make a difference. We tried to sort of make it count from a tempo point of view. We got it right in the first half and perhaps, like I said, were inaccurate in the second half. Again we take it.

“It wasn’t our best second half but we did what we needed to, and that’s just to win the semifinal. Then you can fight with everything you can to win the trophy next week.”

The Lions were pipped to the title by the Sharks in last year’s final. They are the form side in the competition at the moment, having finished the league season at the top of the table to secure a home semifinal and final. 

in Saturday evening’s decider they will face a nuggety Griquas, team who saw off the Cheetahs with a 24-5 win in the second semi-final in Kimberley. 

“It’s good for the franchise to get into two Currie Cup finals. I can’t remember the last time that’s happened. That’s something to write home about for the Lions. Hopefully we can tell a different story next week,” Nkosi concluded.