Five who must thrive for the underdog Lions to stand a chance
There’s no harder task in Super Rugby than to beat the Crusaders on their home patch.
When that match is an Super Rugby final, then the task gets immeasurably tougher.
If the Lions are to upset the Crusaders and lift their first Super Rugby crown, here are five players they will need to be at their best.
Malcolm Marx
The hype has been building for the Lions powerhouse hooker over the past couple of seasons and now New Zealand fans have the chance to see what all the fuss is about. Former Springboks coach Nick Mallett went on record this week as saying that Marx is better than any of the Crusaders forwards and it is hard to argue when looking at his try-scoring prowess alone. The 115kg hooker has been near unstoppable with ball in hand this year and has crossed for a remarkable 11 tries — more than any other forward in the competition. Mallett said: “He is an absolute menace around the ball, you cannot move him, he is completely legal and when he is on the ball, that ball is lost.”
Aphiwe Dyantyi
Blessed with searing pace and deft footwork, Dyantyi has made a huge splash in his first season of Super Rugby. With the ability to make something out of nothing, Dyantyi’s X-factor qualities quickly caught the attention of selectors who chose him for the three-test June series against England. The Crusaders’ structured defensive line could well be tested by a free-running player like Dyantyi who does the unpredictable.
Kwagga Smith
In a similar mould to Ardie Savea, Kwagga Smith is a tireless worker around the park, efficient forager and rampaging ball-runner. He is the type of energetic and passionate player that the Lions will rely on to come up with a big play and instil belief in his teammates. There’s a touch of X-factor about Smith and the Crusaders will have to watch him closely in all facets of the game. With Wallaby Pete Samu in for injured loosie Jordan Taufua, the head-tohead battle between him and Smith will be one to savour.
Elton Jantjies
If you can lead your side to three straight Super Rugby finals, then there must be something special about you. Lions pivot Elton Jantjies has expertly guided the Lions during the last three campaigns and has earned his spot among the top pivots in the world. While his general play is sound, it’s his creativeness that really comes to the fore in big games. Jantjies has pulled off 13 try assists this season compared to nine by his opposite Richie Mo’unga. Jantjies will have learned a lot from the last two final defeats and be eager to guide the Lions to a maiden Super Rugby title.
Warren Whiteley
After missing the last two playoff campaigns due to injury, inspirational captain Warren Whiteley is keen to make up for lost time in 2018. Whiteley’s steady leadership was missed in the 2016 and 2017 finals and will provide a big boost to the Lions this weekend. Whiteley is a tireless worker and hard-hitting defender — the perfect player for a big match. While there are a number of huge head-to-head battles over the park, none will be bigger than the clash between Whiteley and Kieran Read at No 8. — allblacks.com