The Bulls and Lions went head to head in 2 warm-up matches today at Polokwane (Pietersburg). The Bulls Teams won both encounters, the 1st match ending in the Bulls favour at 25 / 3 and the 2nd match between the better sides ending in the Bulls favour at 42 / 12.

One must be careful not to draw too many conclusions from these warm-up matches or condemn the losing teams of the Lions, or the Sharks for that matter in their game against the Stormers.

At the same stage in 2009, the Bulls lost to the Lions and did particularly bad in their warm-up’s, yet they started and of course finished the 2009 Super 14 season with an absolute high.

Let’s rather hope no serious injuries result from the preparation for the Super 14 and that all South African sides get their act together for Super 14 2010.

Match summaries will be made available, should the Bulls or Lions make public statements in this regard.

The Teams were as follows:

Bulls:
Blue team:
Zane Kirchner, Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, John Mametsa, Morné Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pedrie Wannenburg, Derick Kuün, Deon Stegmann, Victor Matfield (capt.), Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Gurthrö Steenkamp. Replacements: Jaco Engels, 17 Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Ruan Snyman, Francois Brummer, Stephan Dippenaar, Dries van Schalkwyk, De Wet Barry.

White team:
Tiger Mangweni; Sampie Masriet, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Clayton Blommetjies; Francois Brummer, Ruan Snyman; 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, CJ Stander, Okkie Kruger Wilhelm Steenkamp (capt.), Fudge Mabeta, Bees Roux, Bandise Maku, Jaco Engels. Replacements: Henri Bantjes, Dean Greyling, Cornell Hess, Devin Oosthuizen, Danie Faasen, Marnitz Boshoff, Wynand Willis, Rossouw de Klerk, De Wet Barry.

Lions:
Black team:
Earl Rose; Dusty Noble, Rouan Cloete, Justin St Jerry, Shandre Frolick; Burton Francis, Chris Jonck; Jonathan Mokuena, Thabo Mamojele, Danie Crous, Franco van der Merwe, Jannes Labuschagne (capt.), JC Janse van Rensburg, Derek Harwood, Lawrence Sephaka. Replacements:  Hans Van Dyk, Nico Luus, Johan Van Deventer, Doppies la Grange, Jannie Boshoff, Alwyn Hollenbach.

Red team:
Michael Killian; Wigan Pekeur, Deon van Rensburg, Walter Venter, Henno Mentz; Herkie Kruger, Alex Koch, Todd Clever, Derrick Minnie, Cobus Grobbelaar (capt.), Willem Stoltz, George Earl, Kevin Buys, Hannes Franklin, Heinke van der Merwe. Replacements: Charles Enslie, David Bulbring, Robert Kruger, Alistair Siegelaar, Trompie Nontshinga, Wandile Mjekevu.