The Lions edged Leinster in a tight URC opening-round clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.
Winger Erich Cronjé scored two of the hosts’ three tries in a 27-26 win over the defending champions, who scored their fourth try after the hooter to pick up two bonus points.
The visitors had led 19-17 at half-time following a hat-trick from scrumhalf Fintan Gunne.
Leinster backed academy players for this encounter, with only three of the players from last season’s URC final match-23 selected. Meanwhile, the Lions, who suffered a 59-10 quarter-final defeat to the URC champions in Dublin last season, fielded their best possible side, with only Morné van den Berg and Quan Horn unavailable due to Springbok duty.
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But it was Leinster who put the Lions under pressure from the off, with a clever Gunne snipe around the blindside catching flank Siba Mahashe off-guard.
The Lions responded almost immediately when a dominant scrum opened space for captain Francke Horn, who popped off the back to Nico Steyn. The scrumhalf found Cronjé running a hard line on the inside and Smith converted to make it 7-5.
Easy does it
The inside line does the trick for Erich Cronje
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Gunne crossed for his second with Gabriel adding the extras before Cronjé got the hosts back in front.
Just before the break, Gunne galloped through for his hat-trick.
The second half was just as tight. Smith nudged the Lions ahead with another penalty goal to make it 20-19 before replacement loose forward Dylan McNeice was shown a yellow card for not retreating.
The hosts struggled to convert their pressure into points but a crucial scrum penalty gave them an opportunity to move back up-field. A good run of phases was rewarded when Smith’s cross-kick released winger Kelly Mpeku out wide. Smith converted from the corner to make it 27-19.
Kelly Mpeku in the corner
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With time up, Lions replacement prop SJ Kotze was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle and Leinster took full advantage with replacement hooker Stephen Smyth powering over from close range.
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In round two, the Lions host the Ospreys, while Leinster travel to Durban to face the Sharks.
LIONS – Tries: Erich Cronjé (2), Kelly Mpeku. Conversions: Chris Smith (3). Penalties: Smith (2).
LEINSTER – Tries: Fintan Gunne (3), Stephen Smyth. Conversions: Caspar Gabriel (2), Harry Byrne.
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
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The Lions edged Leinster in a tight URC opening-round clash at Ellis Park on Saturday.
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