Lions just can’t afford to lose
WITH three home games to come, the Stormers are in pole position to win the South African conference and qualify for the Super Rugby play-offs. But with just three points separating them and the Lions, there’s still a possibility Johan Ackermann’s team can sneak in and qualify for the knock-out rounds.
It’s a long shot, but if the Lions are able to win all three of their remaining games, including their last one against the Stormers at Newlands, the Capetonians will head to Durban on the final weekend of action possibly needing to beat the Sharks to take the conference.
However, the team with their backs to the wall and unlikely to be in the running on the final weekend are the Bulls. The Sharks and Cheetahs have been out of the race for some time.
Ackermann’s Lions missed a golden opportunity to be in prime position when they lost to the Brumbies last weekend. And with just three games to play (four for the Stormers and Bulls) they have it all to do to reach the final stages of the competition for the first time.
But it’s not an impossible task.
What Ackermann will be stressing to his players right now, in the build-up to Saturday’s clash against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, is that they simply have to win their remaining games.
If they do they will end with 43 points (they’re currently on 31), and that doesn’t Rebels (h), Sharks (a)
TEAM
Clayton Blommetjies, Cornal Hendricks, Francois Venter, Michael van der Spuy, Raymond Rhule, Francois Brummer, Tian Meyer, Willie Britz, Boom Prinsloo, Carel Greeff, Francois Uys (captain), Carl Wegner, Maks van Dyk, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Danie Mienie.
Stephan Coetzee, BG Uys, Ewald van der Westhuizen, Steven Sykes, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Coenie van Wyk, Rayno Benjamin.
*Lions still to name their team Chiefs (a), Brumbies Cheetahs (h)
Cheetahs
(a), Rebels
(h),
Lions
Cheetahs Waratahs (h), Stormers (a)
(a),
(h),
(a), include bonus points. After this weekend’s match, they host the Waratahs and finish away to the Stormers.
The Capetonians have 34 points, and should pick up four or five more this weekend against the Rebels. But nothing is guaranteed against the Cheetahs next week, and the Lions after that, while they finish with what should be a tough away game against the Sharks.
The Bulls, with 35 points, have three more games on tour – against the Chiefs, Brumbies and Rebels – and then in their last game they host the Cheetahs.
Ackermann’s men will be hurting after going down to the Brumbies the way they did last Saturday, and they’re sure to be a desperate bunch in Bloemfontein this weekend.
They’ll know a strong finish would pile the pressure on the Stormers, so we could be in for a very interesting final month of Super Rugby.
The Lions team for the trip to Bloemfontein will be named today, with Warwick Tecklenburg set to return to the starting team, while at the back Lionel Mapoe may move to outside centre, with Harold Vorster shifting to his favourite No 12 position.
On the bench, Marnitz Boshoff could be back in place of Jaco van der Walt.
Meanwhile, outgoing Cheetahs boss Naka Drotske’s team have been boosted by the return to full health of Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks, and captain and lock Francois Uys.
Hendricks is back in the side after recovering from tonsillitis, while Uys was a late withdrawal against the Highlanders last week after picking up a stomach bug.
In other changes, Raymond Rhule is back in the starting team after playing off the bench, while Griquas stalwart Carel Greeff gets a chance on the side of the scrum in place of the injured Tienie Burger.
On the bench, Shimlas star Henco Venter could make his Super Rugby debut.
However, the Cheetahs still have to make do without experienced stars Willie le Roux, Johan Sadie, Joe Pietersen, Sarel Pretorius, Heinrich Brussow and Coenie Oosthuizen.
The match will be Drotske’s last before he calls it quits next week against the Stormers in Cape Town.
Forwards coach Os du Randt will also call it a day next weekend.