The Lions coach for the Currie Cup, John Mitchell, has named his charges to take on WP at home at Newlands in Cape Town.
For once we see some consistency in selection at the Lions, giving them far more chance to have a decent enough Currie Cup campaign.
The Lions, less affected by National call-ups, are in a good position to recover from the horrendous Super 14 season they have had. The fact that their player depth is limited due to poor contracting will at least place them in the position to be able to compete favourably with the other “Big Dogs” in the Currie Cup, who have to contend with numerous players unavailable.
This week is a daunting task though, WP at home is never an easy game.
Xerox Lions:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Franco vd Merwe (c), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 David Bullbring, 4 George Earle, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Renbsurg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Maratlulle, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Trevor Hall, 19 Wikus van Heerden, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht.
Wp’s playing with very much close to their Super 14 forwards, bar Schalla, Langbek & Louw… their replacements though have done well when coming off the bench in the Super 14…. so I see the WP mastering the forwards battle.
In the Backline, it’s much of a muchness really…
Duvenage vs Vermaak – about equal
Wielie Waalie vs Herkie die Ertjie – clear advantage WP
Centres – Clear advantage to WP above Kameelperd (13) and Wayward Side-Crab Murray (12)
Back 3 – Jantjes is way overrated, other than that it should be about evens stevens
Prediction…. WP will take this at home.
goeie dag almal die scrum is weer saam, WP all the way!!!!!!
O ja ek like finals nokol die jaar eers die stormers wat verloor en toe die oranje wat is volgende?????
Ek verwag 2 dinge van vanjaar se CC.
1 is ‘n taai, close affere. Nie sommer 3 of spanne wat los voorloop nie. So situasie is nie lekker om te volg nie, want of jy weet jou span is deer met 4 rondtes om te gaan, of hulle is realisties uit, so jy volg nie meer nie.
Die ander rede hoekom ek so se is omdat, wel, yster sluip yster. Hoe harder die kompetisie, hoe beter is dit vir rugby in SA in die algemeen.
2de is dat die WP en die Bulle in die finaal speel-hehehehe
Maar eerlikwaar ek hoop rerig die Lions doen goed, dat die Sharks weer die partytjie join, dat die Cheetahs nie weer 5 weke vat om te besef hoe goed hulle kan speel nie, dat die Bulls en WP nie te veel ly aan Bok-call ups nie, en dat die Grikwas dit vol kan hou tot die einde.
En op daai punt… waar is die Kings?
The Lions have been forced to retain their youthful look, ahead of their trip to Newlands for a Currie Cup showdown with Western Province on Saturday.
Despite a successful start to their campaign, after they beat the Leopards 43–13 last week, the Lions will be hard pressed to claim a second successive victory.
The Lions have been hampered with injuries this week – with Springbok wing Tonderai Chavhanga, centre Doppies la Grange, flyhalf Burton Francis, replacement Johan Snyman and wing Wandile Mjekevu all ruled out of the trip to Newlands.
Although Springbok Wikus van Heerden has recovered from his arm injury, he is not match fit yet and will play off the bench, along with veteran recruit Trevor Hall.
The starting XV shows just two changes – with Deon van Rensburg in on the wing in place of the injured Chavhanga and Warren Whiteley starting at No.8 ahead of Jonathan Mokuena.
On the bench Edgar Marutlulle is the replacement hooker in place of Francois du Toit, with Hall (in place of Whiteley) and Van Heerden (for Robert Kruger) adding some experience to a very youthful Lions side.
How on God’s green earth do you select the worst crabbing, lateral runner in SA rugby at 12?
Agreed Morne, the Sharks did well to get rid of him…
6@ Morné:
Damn, luckily I see it is not only me who thinks Wayward Side-Crab Murray is the absolute pitts!!
I said before, the Lions had able centres to start with but they go and buy Kameelperd (Marius Delport) and this bloody Murray fella…. and let them play as starters…. man oh man!
And watch them prove you all wrong.
Trevor Hall back from Europe, so straight into the new season without a break…he has certainly improved and did well o/seas….cant remember the team though, I think it was an Irish team. Saw him in some or other playoff and he was the stand out lock.
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