The Currie Cup may have just gotten underway, but the Lions are already showing they mean business.
With Ellis Park as their fortress, they continued their unbeaten run with an emphatic 40–19 victory over Western Province on Saturday.
It was a performance built on grit, leadership, and a bit of flair—especially from their captain, Jaco Visagie.
Early Fireworks but Lions Quickly Take Control
Western Province got off to a dream start, crossing the try line within the first five minutes thanks to a powerful surge from No. 8 Louw Nel.
But any hopes of building on that momentum were quickly snuffed out.
The Lions responded almost immediately, as flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela slipped through the defense for a well-taken try, which he also converted.
That was just the beginning of Dobela’s influence.
He helped orchestrate a fast-paced attacking move that earned the Lions a penalty try after Western Province repeatedly infringed.
The try not only boosted the score but also earned WP a yellow card—leaving them a man down.
Winger Rabz Maxwane then added to the tally, finishing off a silky attacking sequence to make it 21–5 by just the 21st minute.
It looked like it could turn into a blowout, but Western Province showed a bit of fight before halftime, with flanker Gideon van Wyk dotting down to narrow the gap to 21–12.
Lions Up the Pressure After the Break
Any hopes of a WP comeback were dashed in the second half.
The Lions took charge of both territory and possession, controlling the pace and using their forwards to devastating effect.
Flank WJ Steenkamp powered over from a maul to extend the lead again.
Captain Jaco Visagie then came to the fore, crashing over the line twice—both tries showing just how well-drilled the Lions are in the set-piece department.
While Louw Nel did sneak in his second try for Western Province, it was too little too late.
With ten minutes to go, Visagie’s second try sealed the bonus point and left no doubt about the result.
Dobela Shines and Lions Sit Top of the Table
While Visagie led from the front, it was Dobela who earned Man of the Match honors.
His clever kicking, calm game management, and role in two crucial scores made him stand out in a team full of strong performers.
The win means the Lions have now taken maximum points—10 out of 10—from their first two games, following up last week’s victory over the Sharks in style.
What’s Next in the Currie Cup?
Next up, the Lions hit the road to take on Boland in what should be another opportunity to flex their muscles.
Western Province, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they travel to Kimberley to face the Griquas.
As the Currie Cup heats up, one thing’s for sure—the Lions are roaring early, and they don’t look like slowing down anytime soon.
The Currie Cup may have just gotten underway, but the Lions are already showing they mean business.
With Ellis Park as their fortress, they continued their unbeaten run with an emphatic 40–19 victory over Western Province on Saturday.
It was a performance built on grit, leadership, and a bit of flair—especially from their captain, Jaco Visagie.
Early Fireworks but Lions Quickly Take Control
Western Province got off to a dream start, crossing the try line within the first five minutes thanks to a powerful surge from No. 8 Louw Nel.
But any hopes of building on that momentum were quickly snuffed out.
The Lions responded almost immediately, as flyhalf Lubabalo Dobela slipped through the defense for a well-taken try, which he also converted.
That was just the beginning of Dobela’s influence. He helped orchestrate a fast-paced attacking move that earned the Lions a penalty try after Western Province repeatedly infringed.
The try not only boosted the score but also earned WP a yellow card—leaving them a man down.
Winger Rabz Maxwane then added to the tally, finishing off a silky attacking sequence to make it 21–5 by just the 21st minute.
It looked like it could turn into a blowout, but Western Province showed a bit of fight before halftime, with flanker Gideon van Wyk dotting down to narrow the gap to 21–12.
Lions Up the Pressure After the Break
Any hopes of a WP comeback were dashed in the second half.
The Lions took charge of both territory and possession, controlling the pace and using their forwards to devastating effect.
Flank WJ Steenkamp powered over from a maul to extend the lead again.
Captain Jaco Visagie then came to the fore, crashing over the line twice—both tries showing just how well-drilled the Lions are in the set-piece department.
While Louw Nel did sneak in his second try for Western Province, it was too little too late.
With ten minutes to go, Visagie’s second try sealed the bonus point and left no doubt about the result.
Dobela Shines and Lions Sit Top of the Table
While Visagie led from the front, it was Dobela who earned Man of the Match honors.
His clever kicking, calm game management, and role in two crucial scores made him stand out in a team full of strong performers.
The win means the Lions have now taken maximum points—10 out of 10—from their first two games, following up last week’s victory over the Sharks in style.
What’s Next in the Currie Cup?
Next up, the Lions hit the road to take on Boland in what should be another opportunity to flex their muscles.
Western Province, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they travel to Kimberley to face the Griquas.
As the Currie Cup heats up, one thing’s for sure—the Lions are roaring early, and they don’t look like slowing down anytime soon.