The Golden Lions face the prospect of a Currie Cup crunch match against Western Province at Ellis Park on Saturday 5 December.
Western Province will be eager to bounce back from a narrow defeat to the log-leading Bulls last weekend.
Golden Lions vs Western Province: Currie Cup 2020
The first half was a cagey affair dominated by errors from both sides.
With Warrick Gelant rested for Western Province, Tim Swiel came into flyhalf and Damian Willemse shifted to fullback.
Swiel gave Western Province the lead before two excellent penalty kicks from Tiaan Swanepoel gave the Lions a three-point advantage.
Swiel erased that moments later and would then give Western Province the lead with three minutes left on the first half clock.
Overnight rain had left the field greasy, and the footing appeared uncertain from both sides. The Lions probably edged the first half in terms of intent and chances but couldn’t turn that into anything and trailed 9-6 at the break.
Western Province tried their best to slow the game down and keep the Lions from hitting their straps. They led at the break but lacked creativity in attack.
HALF-TIME
Western Province were on the board again early in the second half after a basic error from the Lions. The Lions two missed kicks at goal started to look more expensive as the second half wore on.
Swanepoel shortened the gap with another penalty before a Sevens expert showed how to create something from nothing.
Seabelo Senatla provided some inspiration with his stepping and hands and would also round off the score after a sweeping move that gave WP a ten-point lead after Swiel added the afters.
That try forced the Lions to adopt a more attacking approach. Western Province’s defence was the bedrock of their game and left the Lions frustrated.
Time and again, the visitors won a turnover or penalty when they were under the pump.
Swanepoel’s big boot kept the Lions in it as the contest approached its climax, closing the gap to seven points with 13 minutes left on the clock.
A quick tap and go from Stiaan Pienaar finally broke down the Western Province defence, and the kick would level the scores with less than ten minutes to play.
In the end, the Lions enterprise paid dividends and a late penalty allowed them to snatch victory when a draw seemed on the cards.
Swanepoel held his nerve and slotted the kick after the hooter to clinch victory for the Lions.
Golden Lions vs Western Province: Follow Currie Cup live scores here
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Team news
Tiaan Swanepoel will make a starting debut for the Golden Lions at fullback in one of two changes to the side that grabbed a come-from-behind win last weekend.
He replaces the injured EW Viljoen, while the other change is at scrumhalf where Ross Cronje swaps places with Morne van den Berg in a rotation switch.
Western Province coach John Dobson reshuffled his backline for the clash, making three changes and two positional switches which sees Damian Willemse starting at fullback in place of the injured Warrick Gelant, while Tim Swiel will start at flyhalf in a new halfback pairing with Godlen Masimla.
Ruhan Nel has been drafted into the starting line-up at outside centre for the first time this season and will link up in the midfield with Dan du Plessis, who moves to inside centre.
Golden Lions – Currie Cup Starting XV
Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Roelof Smit, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Dan Kriel.
Western Province – Currie Cup Starting XV
Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Jaco Coetzee, 25 Kade Wolhuter, 26 Rikus Pretorius.
