The first of four matches this Saturday has the Chiefs taking on the underperforming Lions in Hamilton. The Chiefs come off a very successful tour of South Africa followed up by a good home win over the Hurricanes last weekend, while the Lions start their tour with only one win in the bag so far, coming off a loss to the Brumbies last weekend
The Chiefs are top of the log and currently look set to make the play offs quite comfortably, but will still take every game seriously as the Crusaders are hitting top form themselves, and will be chasing the Chiefs for that top spot on the New Zealand log. The Chiefs will be targeting five points from this game to keep them at the top of the log.
The Lions have only one victory in the Super Rugby season so far, and after a few poor performances in front of their home crowd, it is difficult to be positive about their chances in New Zealand. What counts in their favour though is that they have nothing to lose, and that the opposition might see this game as in the bag already, so we can never completely rule out a surprise.
Chiefs: 1. Toby Smith, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Craig Clarke (c), 5. Michael Fitzgerald, 6. Tanerau Latimer, 7. Sam Cane, 8. Kane Thompson, 9. Brendon Leonard, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 12. Sonny Bill Williams, 13. Richard Kahui, 14. Lelia Masaga, 15. Andrew Horrell
Replacements: 16. Mahonri Schwalger, 17. Arizona Taumalolo, 18. Alex Bradley, 19. Scott Waldrom, 20. Tawera Kerr- Barlow, 21. Jackson Willison, 22. Maritino Nemani
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee , 14 Deon Van Rensburg , 13 Jaco Taute , 12 Alwyn Hollenbach , 11 Lionel Mapoe , 10 Elton Jantjies , 9 Ross Cronje , 8 Joshua Strauss (c) , 7 Grant Hattingh , 6 Derick Minnie , 5 Ruan Botha , 4 Franco Van der Merwe , 3 Patric Cilliers , 2 Callie Visagie , 1 Caylib Oosthuizen / JC Janse van Rensburg
Reserves:16 Martin Bezuidenhout , 17 CJ Van der Linde , 18 Cobus Grobbelaar , 19 Jaco Kriel , 20 Tian Meyer , 21 James Kamana , 22 Michael Killian
Referee: Ian Smith
Assistant Ref 1:Nick Briant
Assistant Ref 2:Grant Stuart
TMO:Ben Skeen
Tweet
Close game… Anyone?
@Franshark (Comment 1) :
I don’t want to jinx it, but it might be a close affair until the last 20 minutes or so..
I need Cruden and Masaga to run riot for my FL..
Cruden is my captain, he needs to kick a whole lot, asseblief!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : ja, Go Cruden
Go Lions.
Chiefs by at least 25, GO CHIEFS
Who is watching supersport prematch commentary with nick mallet? The man is asking all the right questions..he even mentioned how the sharks defense is lacking..he really should be coaching..
@shaniboi (Comment 7) : We need that man at the Sharks asap.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 8) : I wonder how much of a possibilty that is???
Come on Lions, I’m punishing myself watching this game
@GreatSharksays (Comment 8) : Can`t we email him at supersport and make him an offer on behalf of NRU?
Kick off
2 minutes and already 2 knocks by the Lions
PK Cruden
Chiefs 3
Lions 0
4min
TMO try for the Lions???
No try, inconclusive
PK Cruden
Chiefs 6
Lions 0
14min
Try Aaron Cruden
FL try number 2 for the weekend..
Go my Captain!
Conversion over
Chiefs 13
Lions 0
20min
25 min Handling errors
Lions 8
Chiefs 1
Try Craig Clarke
Conversion good
Chiefs 20
Lions 0
28min
Try for the Lions Cobus Grobelaar
Conversion over
Lions 7
Chiefs 20
35min
38min Handling errors
Lions 11
Chiefs 3
Halftime
Chiefs 20
Lions 7
Lions scrum and line out solid, Ruan Botha and Grant Hatting making a huge difference
Handling errors letting the Lions down
Mallet telling it as it is..hope he is also doing our game. Breath of fresh air from the other analysts that tip-toe around the facts.
Jantjies starts the 2nd half
Try for Masanga
FL try number 3..
Keep it up..
Lions not as bad as expected.
Converted
Chiefs 27
Lions 7
49min
Lions looking to play rugby, which is awesome, but basics just not there..
They should score a few more..
Chiefs al over the Lions
Try Josh Strauss
Conversion over
Lions 14
Chiefs 27
54min
Try Leonard after a Chiefs knock on
Converted
Chiefs 34
Lions 14
57min
Grobelaar scores his 2nd
Conversion over
Lions 21
Chiefs 34
68min
The big surprise is that all 3 the Lions tries came from a solid line out
17 handling errors by the Lions
18 handling errors by the Lions
Fulltime
Chiefs 34
Lions 21
@Mutley (Comment 39) : Then it should not be a try….how many of these have we seen this year.