Listless Lions lose composure as unbeaten Leinster dish out lesson

Leinster front-row forward Vakhtang Abdaladze

At Ellis Park, Johannesburg

The Lions coughed up a 26-14 half-time lead to lose 39-36 to United Rugby Championship log-leaders Leinster on Saturday, a result that all but ended whatever play-off hopes the Johannesburg had.

The Lions went into the game in 11th place on 38 points and having secured a bonus point win, they would have moved to ninth place, putting the Cardiff Blues under severe pressure for their later kickoff.

As it happened | URC - Lions v Leinster

However, the Lions showed the biggest trait of a badly coached team: a lack of composure, something that allowed Leo Cullen's well-drilled side to play through a 10-minute period with 13 men where they trailed 36-26 to snatch their 16th win of the season and keep their unbeaten streak alive.

That they also fielded a weakened side in their first Highveld outing and came away with five points spoke volumes about their character and quality in depth, but also, the sorry state of the Lions.

It may have been an indictment to the balance of probabilities that the Lions, who have been beset by off-field problems, to be in the play-off, but there were periods where they certainly looked the part of a play-off bound side.

They also showed another trait of a badly coached team: tactical naivety as they simply couldn't play themselves of the tight spots they were put in by the visitors, who will be acquiring the services of Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber at the end of the World Cup.

The Lions certainly didn't have the greatest of starts when they let front-row forward Vakhtang Abdaladze cruise in for the game's first try in the second minute.

What that try did was to wake them up into a spell of constructive rugby that was much appreciated by the small crowd that took to the game far better than the earlier one for the Bulls game.

They were treated to four excellent finishes by the hosts, who ran straighter than normal, but also had the fortune of passes going to hand when it truly mattered.

The tries from Edwill van der Merwe (14th), Gianni Lombard (25th), Marius Louw (32nd) and Francke Horn (36th) were all things of beauty.

However, a quarter of rugby isn't complete without a defensive soft moment from the Lions, one of which allowed Liam Turner to score in the 29th minute.

There was another one early in the second half that saw a missed tackle on Leinster pivot Sam Prendergast lead to Michael Milne's 45th-minute try.

It was such moments that served as a reminder as to why the Lions have spent the better part of the season in the lower half of the table.

The Lions, especially for better stretches of the second half, also showed their potential that will undoubtedly come through in the event the powers that be look for a better coach.

That said, the Lions' unusual accuracy and patience on attack saw them being rewarded at the end of the third quarter where they not only received a penalty try in the 59th minute, but had Leinster reduced to 13 men.

Leinster had scrumhalf Nick McCarthy (57th) and fullback Chris Cosgrave yellow-carded for cynical offences in the 22m that denied the hosts clear try-scoring opportunities.

Yet, the Leinster-men didn't go away despite their numerical disadvantage and continued to pose questions for the hosts.

In fact, for the better part of the 10 minutes, they controlled possession to a point where they got a penalty through Sam Prendergast and a 70th-minute try through replacement back Rob Russell.

The visitors continued to ask tactical questions the hosts didn't always have answers to and when Cosgrave cut a wonderful line to score in the 74th minute, the teams were tied at 36-36.

The Lions lost their nerve and crucially, the tactical kicking battle that saw them pinned deep in their own half in the dying minutes of the game.

They conceded a 50:22 from Prendergast's wonderful boot, something that allowed the visitors to apply sustain pressure on the Lions' tryline.

They didn't get a try, but Prendergast's 80th-minute penalty ensured Leinster kept their unbeaten streak while ending the Lions' slim quarterfinal hopes.

Scorers

Lions: 36 (26)

Tries: Edwill van der Merwe, Gianni Lombard, Marius Louw, Francke Horn, penalty try

Conversions: Sanele Nohamba (3)

Penalty: Nohamba

Leinster: 39 (14)

Tries: Vakhtang Abdaladze, Liam Turner, Michael Milne, Rob Russell, Chris Cosgrave

Conversions: Sam Prendergast (4)

Penalties: Prendergast (2)