Lions will enjoy comforts of home

The case for the Lions comes down to two words: Home advantage. They gave it up last year, by sending a weakened side to Argentina, where they lost to the Jaguares in the final round, and they were given it this year, when the Hurricanes handed the previously unbeaten Crusaders a loss in the final round. But now they have it, Super Rugby is theirs to lose. In the 22-year history of the playoffs, teams have flown from New Zealand to South Africa to play 11 times, for four wins and seven losses.

That’s the trip the Hurricanes have made in advance of this week’s game, and the trip that either the Crusaders or the Chiefs will have to make next week, if the Lions win. If it’s the Chiefs making it, it would be their third journey across the Indian Ocean in less than two weeks, making their task harder still.

All the evidence from this season so far suggests that the Lions are a strong team. They may have made hard work of the Sharks last weekend, but the Chiefs and Hurricanes didn’t do it easily in their quarterfinals either.

They’ve won 14 in a row at their Johannesburg home, the Emirates Airline Park, turning it into one of the most secure fortresses in Super Rugby.

As you may have heard, the Lions haven’t played a New Zealand team this year, and there’s a suggestion they might be exposed for frauds when they do on Sunday.

At home in the playoffs last year, they beat the Crusaders and the Highlanders, making up for their round-robin losses against the same opposition – but then they had to travel.

When everything’s on the line, as will be this weekend and next, expect the Lions’ crowd to see them through.