Lions moving in for the kill
Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:08
Elton Jantjies: The Lions' new teenage star. (c) Gallo
John Mitchell's Lions may not have convinced all their detractors that they are the real deal, but there are few who will argue against them winning this week.
The lowly Leopards, brave at time, simply don't seem to have the overall skill and pace to match the ever-improving Lions when the two sides meet in Johannesburg on Friday.
Having started the season as no-hopers - and rightly so after a winless Super 14 season and losing more senior personnel - Mitchell's youth policy have secured them three wins in seven Currie Cup starts.
That include a fortuitous triumph over the Pumas last week, but also a deserved win over the Free State Cheetahs.
This weekend the Lions could close in on the Cheetahs, just one place outside the top four (play-off spots).
A five-pointer, well within the Lions' grasp against a side that has not threatened any team, could see them come out of this first fixture with a total of 20 log points and on even terms with the Cheetahs, who play Western Province at Newlands.
And the Lions could also find themselves only two shy of the Griquas - who have to travel to Durban to meet the Sharks.
That means the Lions could, surprisingly, be play-off contenders as the second half of the season picks up pace.
The Leopards are the only side in this season's competition that are still in search of their first win.
Recent results:
2005: Lions won 37-21, Potchefstroom
2005: Lions won 44-27, Johannesburg
2009: Lions won 40-19, Phokeng
2009: Lions won 31-13, Johannesburg
2010: Lions won 43-13, Phokeng
rugby365.com Prediction: Don't hold your breath for a Leopards victory, It is not going to happen. Brave as they are, the men from Potchefstroom have always been a good few paces off the pace in all their games. And please ignore that late rally against the Bulls - it had more to do with the Bulls taking the foot off the gas and making changes. The Lions have impressed enough in recent weeks to suggest an easy win is on the card. The Lions to win by at least 15 points.
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Jannie Boshoff, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Renaldo Bothma/Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4 Johan Snyman, 3 Ross Geldenhuys/Ruan Dreyer, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 George Earle, 19 Derick Minnie/Jaco Kriel, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht.
Leopards: 15 Jan van Zyl, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Shuaib Samaai, 10 Neill Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Reginald Kember, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5
Anthonie Gronum, 4 Brad Mockford, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Bennie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Johan Coetzee, 18 Edrich Linde, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Danie Dames.
Date: Friday, August 27
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Luke Burger, Christie du Preez
TMO: Willie Roos
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