Lions brush aside toothless Sharks

The Lions became the first team to qualify for the Super Rugby playoffs and moved top of the overall standings with a 37-10 romp over the Sharks on Saturday.

The Johannesburg-based Lions moved a point ahead of New Zealand's Chiefs at the top with two rounds of the regular season to go.

It's a scarcely believable rise for the Lions after they were relegated from the competition in 2012, having finished bottom for the third time in five seasons.

They underlined their newfound success with a five-tries-to-two victory over the Sharks, and led 27-0 at halftime.

Two of the Lions' newly-capped Springboks returned from the international break to help them continue their best-ever Super Rugby season.

Wing Ruan Combrinck scored the first try and flanker Jaco Kriel the last, with the Lions charging to a 10th win in 13 games. That record matches the two-time champion Chiefs, with the Lions collecting one more bonus point.