Currie Cup: Ten-try Golden Lions demolish Pumas

The Golden Lions kicked off the defence of their Currie Cup title with a 10-try demolition of Pumas on Saturday, winning 68-26 at Ellis Park.

Having Western Province in last year's final, the Lions put on a tremendous team display, with nine players going over – Anthony Volmink the only man to cross twice with a try in each half.

Coach Johan Ackermann could have been forgiven for making a slow start after his Lions side lost the Super Rugby final to the Hurricanes last weekend, but his Currie Cup outfit flew out of the blocks.

Lourens Erasmus – a late replacement in Wellington – set the ball rolling by capitalising on a Pumas error from kick-off, before Jaco van der Walt, Volmink, Cyle Brink and Sylvian Mahuza helped the Lions to a 35-14 half-time lead.

Akker van der Merwe, Howard Mnisi, Koch Marx, Marnitz Boshoff and Volmink's second try put the home side out of sight, with the Pumas' four tries paling in comparison.

The result sends the Lions third behind the Sharks and the Free State Cheetahs, both of whom have played a game more.

The Cheetahs added to their opening victory over the Boland Cavaliers by beating the Blue Bulls 43-20 in Bloemfontein.

Franco Smith's side ran in six tries to put the Bulls to the sword and join the Sharks on a maximum 10 points for the season so far.