Lions coach John Mitchell has made two changes and two positional changes as he named his side to face the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Saturday.
Lions stalwart Cobus (Baywatch) Grobbelaar returns to the side for his 100th match, whilewhile wing Deon Van Rensburg replaces Jannie Boshoff. Michael Rhodes moves from No. 6 to lock and Derick Minnie moves to No 7. Michael Bondesio remains in the side after an injury scare against the Leopards.
This promises to be an entertaining and intense encounter, as the Bulls fight for an unlikely place in the play offs after a nightmare Currie Cup campaign sees them in the bottom half of the Currie Cup. The victory last weekend against Western Province must have lifted their spirits, and they will want to build momentum, and fight for that elusive spot in the semi finals.
The Lions on the other hand, are riding high in their best campaign in four years, which sees them leading the log by a massive 10 points, and a guaranteed place in the quarter finals. However, the Joburg side do not just want a semi final place, they want to top the log at the end of the season and secure a home semi final and possibly a home final.
The team:
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (capt.), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana.
Kick off is at 15:00, and the match will be aired on Supersport 1.
I will be in the Kruger Park this weekend so wont be able to see the match live. But if there are any Lions supporters out there, with nothing to do, make a trip to park and and enjoy the vibe that only a full Coca Cola Park can offer.
Gooooooooo Baywatch!
This is going to be a good match. Bulls are on the up and it’s going to be a real test for the Lions.
An interesting part of the season. This is around about the time that the Lions normally start suffering from a lack of depth and a few injuries are already taking their toll. Jano Vermaak knows them inside out and can take them apart if they are not careful. The Bulls are just hanging on to the lifeline to keep them in the Currie Cup and they played out of their skins last weekend. On balance it is going to be pride and passion that wins this one, the Lions have been the Bulls voodoo side over the years with a lot of feeling between the sides and can the Bulls lift themselves for two weeks in a row. I think the Pride of Lions has it by about 5 points, its going to be a nail biter. The game of the weekend, not the guys that are fighting it out for 2nd, 3rd and 4th.
4man, I agree, but the Lions do have more depth than most people realise. I think JM has been developing his run on side, but we do have some decent locks in the background, just they have not been having game time. Bulbring has played Super Rugby, as has George Earle. But after that we will struggle.
Mitchell has commented that Vermaak could have the whole playbook if he wanted, but acknowledged that he is playing some good rugby.
@ Lion4ever:
I think they will have enough for this game anyway. I am sure they are in the semi’s….no problem there, but then the injury problems might bite. The big teams will have guys returning from world cup, but a lot of those players are moving on…..Interesting fact….Ruan Pienaar was voted the player of the year for the Ulster team last year….I didn’t know that. He looks a lot more relaxed now…probably good for him that he is away from the turmoil of Bok Rugby and all the politics.
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