Sorry, but Sharks have no chance

Most people outside Johannesburg would probably disagree, but it is in the best interest of South African rugby that the Lions advance to the Super Rugby semifinals by beating the Sharks at Ellis Park tomorrow. The equations are quite simple. If the Lions do beat the Sharks, they will set up a home semifinal against either the Hurricanes or the Brumbies, and it will probably be the Hurricanes as the Brumbies have only the lopsided conference system to thank for getting this far.

What options are left for the Sharks, even if they manage to upset the Lions at home? An away semifinal against the Hurricanes or the Brumbies.

And their chances in either scenario are next to zero, regardless how the die-hard Sharks supporters argue against it.

If you want to win this competition you simply have to do it in the comfort of home surroundings.

And if the Lions manage to get the better of the Hurricanes, which will be a tough ask in itself, they could host the Crusaders in the final, simply because the Crusaders should beat the Highlanders this weekend and will then welcome the winners of the clash between the Stormers and the Chiefs, which is bound to go to the men from Waikato.

But can the Lions win three tough play-off matches in succession? Yes, they can, and they are the only SA team capable of doing just that. People are starting to realise what a big partner Ellis Park has become to the Lions. They simply don’t lose there.

It’s similar to the record that the Bulls built at Loftus Versfeld some years back.

It is true that the Lions got a hammering from both the Crusaders and the Hurricanes early in last year’s competition, but the big loss against the Hurricanes triggered a dream run of consecutive wins at home.

On that day the Lions were hammered 50-17 but it happened a day after the now injured Lions captain Warren Whiteley was the victim of an attempted hijacking outside the stadium.

And since that day the Lions have not lost again at their home ground, racking up 13 straight wins.

Furthermore, they haven’t lost to fellow SA opposition since round 12 of the 2015 edition.

Now one has to ask if the Lions deserve to win the competition.

No question. Even the Springbok side have benefited greatly from their efforts.