Lions roar, but big test looms against Province

The Golden Lions gave the most serious indication of their title credentials by grinding out a 17-10 win over the Free State Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Saturday night to remain the only unbeaten team in the Currie Cup.

Coach John Mitchell has certainly given the Joburg boys some backbone, while his faith in picking youngsters is paying off handsomely in a tournament missing nearly 30 top Boks.

Fullback Jaco Taute was superb against the Cheetahs and appears to be continuing the impressive development he showed in the Super 15. Flyhalf Elton Jantjies is on the same path and looks the most dangerous pivot in the competition. Both players have test rugby in their futures.

But it's the hard edge of the pack that has been the Lions' most impressive improvement. The unsung tight five, with former Bok flank Wikus van Heerden at lock, have set a rock-solid platform for the rest of the team to work from.

Flank Derrick Minnie is a brilliant exponent at the breakdown and is a more than useful link player, while the hirsute Josh Strauss is an explosive runner and bludgeon in close quarters.

They're not a team of stars but they're fast becoming a star team, with the ability to play both adventurous, almost carefree, rugby and to slug it out when they need to.

On Friday the Lions play their penultimate game of the first round against Western Province at Newlands. It will be another stern test of their resolve against a side now desperate for a win after two defeats in succession.

WP lost 21-19 to the Sharks at Newlands on Friday and find themselves eight points behind the Lions on the standings. Ill discipline was one of WP's main areas of concern.

"It's frustrating to put yourselves in a position to win the game and then you don't win it, but one has to have patience with the players and the combination we're trying here, and hopefully we can get it right," coach Allister Coetzee said.

The Sharks are now second with 18 points, four adrift of the Lions. They face the Leopards at home on Friday.

The Blue Bulls picked up only their second win of the season with a hard-fought 16-12 win over the Pumas in Nelspruit.

The star-studded Bulls side was made to look ordinary by the blue-collar Pumas, and, despite the win, the Bulls are a long way from being a dominant force in the local game.