The unpredictable nature of the Lions makes them one of the most dangerous sides and a real threat to the defending champion Free State Cheetahs when the two sides meet a Currie Cup crunch match in Johannesburg on Friday.
Jan de Koning writes for Rugby 365 that amidst the excitement of the Tri-Nations the Currie Cup, South Africa’s premier domestic provincial competition, continues its staggered progress – with two matches in Round Nine taking place this week and another two the following week.
While Griquas and the Falcons also face off this week, the Currie Cup spotlight will be firmly focussed on Johannesburg where last year’s finalists go head-to-head once more.
The Cheetahs managed a narrow 22-18 over the Lions in Bloemfontein earlier in the competition, but travelling up to Johannesburg for the return fixture provides a number of challenges.
Top of that list, according to Cheetahs team manager Helgard Muller, is the unpredictable nature of the home team.
And of course the game is much more important this time round, as both teams have a lot less room to manoeuvre in the race for the play-offs – with the Cheetahs in third place on the standings and the Lions in fourth.
“It is an enormously important game for both teams,” Muller told rugby365.com, in reference to the play-offs in October, adding: “But we are looking forward to the challenge.”
He admitted that the Lions, despite the slow start which saw them loser their first two matches, the Lions remain one of the most highly rated teams in the country.
“Many pundits regard them as the most dangerous team in the country,” he said of the team the Cheetahs edged 20-18 in the 2007 Final – with a converted try in the last five minutes of the match.
“What really makes them so dangerous is that no matter how tough it gets, even if the bounce of the ball is against them, they will always come back at you,” Muller told rugby365.com.
“They are truly unpredictable, a team that will try anything – a really ‘foxy’ team,” Muller added.
The Cheetahs team manager confirmed that the side has just one injury concern – lock Flip van der Merwe is struggling with an upper-leg muscle injury.
A decision about his fitness will be made later in the week, but Nico Breedt has been placed on standby to take over in the second row.
Breedt, who left the Cheetahs to join the Sharks before heading to France where he played for Toulon, has been training with the Cheetahs for three weeks.
The Cheetahs are also still awaiting news from the Springbok camp on the availability of wing Jongi Nokwe – who could be called up for Teri-Nations duty if Bryan Habana’s hamstring injury rules him out of the Test against Australia on Saturday.
Tweet
Nothing unpredictable about this match.
Lions by 11.
GO LIONS!!!!!!!!!!
Go Lions! Who wants to cover this match for us?
Go Lions. I’ve picked them on SB.
@McLovin (Comment 3) :
I will also be picking them on SB.
by 11 or so
Lions by 5.
As will I.
Ok. Off to rugby practice. In the rain. Pray for me
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
Don’t drown
ATTENTION ALL SHARKSWORLD USERS
I have picked the Lions to win by 11. If you want to imrove your chances of winning the closest pick BP on your own then DON’T pick 11!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : Me wife says she understands your predicament.
Me thinks “foxy-lions” sounds so…..
@Silver Fox (Comment 10) :
Hey no cross-breeding with the foxy Lions now……….
Tell your missus NOT to pick the same as me this week.
I think we can win this one and will be at the Park as usual!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 12) :
Lucky man. I think you guys will win this.
The only thing that has changed since the CC final last year is that you guys are now finishing those moves that always seemed to end JUST short of the tryline.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 13) :
I think our managament and coaching staff are aiming for a top 2 finish on the log, they want a home semi and/or final.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 14) : Hi Walter. All the best for your team, though I….no, I will not jinx them.
@Silver Fox (Comment 15) :
Hey, you must be sleeping on the couch this week? You are supporting the Lions and your missus is supporting the cheetahs
Huis moles!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) :
Maybe I misread your comment?
maybe you know on which side your bread is buttered after all
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I told you I am an old hand at this.