‘Other’ Lions put heat on Crusaders
If the Crusaders want the right to host a possible home Super Rugby final they might have to beat the Hurricanes in their final round-robin game on July 15.
Believe it or not Super Rugby started again at the weekend, which seems completely mad considering most New Zealanders are focused on the All Blacks-Lions series, with four matches played between teams in the South African conferences.
And the Lions really turned up the heat on the Crusaders by walloping the Sunwolves 94-7 in Johannesburg; now the Lions sit on 61 points - just two behind the unbeaten Crusaders, who rest at the head of the competition log.
Victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington would give the Crusaders the significant advantage of a possible home final as they search for their first title since 2008.
A draw might also save the Crusaders’ bacon, but if they lose then all bets are off. Because if the Lions can beat the Sharks in the final round in Durban on July 16, the South African side will claim the minor premiership and the rights to host their finals games in Jo’burg.
Earlier in the week Lions coach Johan Ackermann held a meeting to ask the Springboks in his side if they wanted the weekend off, given they had just played a series against France; they told him to take a hike.
‘‘I don’t even know why he called us in because we were so keen to get back into it,’’ Lions stand-in captain and Springboks flanker Jaco Kriel said.
No wonder the Lions were keen to get stuck into this - the Sunwolves, who missed 53 tackles, just didn’t seem too interested. They also advanced just 289m with the ball, while the Lions ran over a kilometre. What a shambles. The Hurricanes, Chiefs and Highlanders are already guaranteed playoff spots and now it is just a matter of confirming how far they must travel for their playoff games.
The Stormers, who cemented top place in their conference several weeks ago and would host the Chiefs in the quarterfinal if the current standings remain unchanged, required a late try to loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe to notch-up their dramatic 40-34 win over the Cheetahs in Cape Town.
The Bulls created real consternation in Natal with a shock 30-17 win over the Sharks in Durban. While the Sharks are destined to qualify eighth unless they can upset the Lions on July 16, the Bulls had nothing to play for apart from that old chestnut called pride.
The Southern Kings also did a number on the Jaguares in Buenos Aires, beating them 31-30. This game was like a needless decoration on a Christmas tree.
It had no significance, whatsoever, in terms of the playoffs, because the both teams have already bombed out of that race. Yes, Super Rugby is back.