Lions may have the edge on WP ... just
AT FULL strength, Western Province would be favourites to beat the Golden Lions … even if they had to make the trek up country for a match in Joburg. But with Allister Coetzee’s team now minus inspirational captain Jean de Villiers and key forwards Andries Bekker and Tiaan Libenberg, the Lions are now all of a sudden the big favourites ahead of tomorrow’s Currie Cup semifinal showdown.
But, Lions coach Johan Ackermann will tell you it makes little difference who his team are playing; he’d back them to win every time, even if they were up against the Boks. That’s Ackermann’s way … he doesn’t get too excited about individuals, big name players don’t scare him and he’ll approach this match like any other: in a calm, calculated way, telling his players they need to focus only on what makes them tick.
While it is true the absence of De Villiers, Bekker and Liebenberg plays into the Lions’ hands, the three men were with the Boks for much of the campaign anyway so, in a way, the Province team is probably more settled than had these three men been fit. And they will still be able to field a starting team with five Boks … to just the two of the Lions, a clear indication the visitors should be the stronger of the sides, and the favourites, but if form over the last 10 weeks is to be used to gauge who’ll be more upbeat tomorrow, then the Lions will be the happier of the sides.
Ackermann’s men were able to lose both of their last two games and still finish second, while Province needed to win on the final day last weekend to secure their play-off spot. And, if history does count for something, the Lions have the edge as well … they won both their round-robin matches against Coetzee’s team this season as well as last year’s semi-final, also at Coca-Cola Park. Also favouring the hosts tomorrow, is the fact the majority of their key men sat out last weekend, re-energising themselves for tomorrow’s clash, while the boys from Cape Town were involved in a match they had to win against the Cheetahs, losing three players on the way.
“It wasn’t so much about resting the body, but rather the mental part,” said Lions captain JC Janse van Rensburg this week. “We needed to become hungry again … and that’s what’s happened.”
Indeed. The Lions have plenty to prove after being stripped of their Super Rugby status earlier this season and they’d love nothing more than to win the Currie Cup again, after their victory last season, to make a big point: thet they belong in Super Rugby and still are one of this country’s better provincial outfits.
Province though also have plenty at stake. They haven’t won the Currie Cup since 2001 and have failed to also capture the Super Rugby title, despite being South Africa’s best team for three seasons now.
“Western Province are a good side with great individuals who can break open any game,” said Janse van Rensburg. “They’ve got lots of experience and their Boks will give them plenty of confidence … but semi-finals are won by 22 men, playing as a team, and not by individuals.
“We’re going to have to be clinical in everything we do and make sure we cut out the mistakes. We know we can beat them, we’ve done it before, but it’s not going to be easy.”
It’s a tough one to call, but the defending champions might just have the edge. Just.
TEAMS LIONS (15-1): Andries Coetzee, Ruan Combrinck, Jaco Taute, Alwyn Hollenbach/Dylan des Fountain, Anthony Volmink, Elton Jantjies, Michael Bondesio, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Cobus Grobbelaar, Franco van der Merwe, Michael Rhodes, Jacobie Adriaanse, Callie Visagie, JC Janse van Rensburg (c). Bench: Bandise Maku, CJ van der Linde/Pat Cilliers, Hendrik Roodt, Derick Minnie, Ross Cronjé, Butch James, Deon Helberg PROVINCE (15-1): Gio Aplon, Gerhard van den Heever, Juan de Jongh, Marcel Brache, Bryan Habana, Demetri Catrakilis, Nic Groom, Duane Vermeulen, Don Armand, Deon Fourie (c), De Kock Steenkamp, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Bench: Deon Carstens, Brok Harris, Wilhelm van der Sluys, Jebb Sinclair, Louis Schreuder, Damian de Allende, Joe Pietersen.