The final match of the weekend, and one of the more interesting ones at that, is the Sharks hosting the Lions at Mr Price Kings Park. This match could go one of two ways, with the Sharks winning by a large margin thanks to the Lions being disrupted by external factors, or the Lions winning by a large margin, with the external factors pumping the team up to a good performance.
The Sharks see the return of three big names in Bresler, McLeod and Ludik, following their weekend off last week. There is also a small change in the loose trio, with the impressive Francois Kleinhans getting his first start in a Sharks jersey, forcing a shuffle.
The Lions got news of the external factors on Thursday, and it remains to be seen how it affects the team. The team shows only one change from the one who beat the Cheetahs so comprehensively last weekend, with Warren Whiteley coming in for the injured Derick Minnie.
As mentioned, this game could go either way, but my gut tells me the Sharks have the mental strength to pull this off.
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Jacques Botes, 7 Jean Deysel (captain), 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Jandré Marais, 19. Lubabalo “Tera” Mtembu, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Marius Joubert, 22 Gouws Prinsloo.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Guy Cronje, 22 Ruan Combrinck.
Tweet
Go LIONS!!! Show SARU
Let’s see if this game will be the game of the weekend
@Mutley (Comment 1) : Show SARU what?!
You won the CC last year, then used the SR to prove to SARU that CC form means nothing when playing the big league.
Score updates anyone?
sharks 6 – 7 lions
Halftime
Sharks 6
Lions 7
And your team has won WHAT in the big league? The Lions beat you in the humble CC league, not so?
Bosman slots another penalty from in front of the uprights
sharks 9
lions 7
is everyone asleep?
Sithole in the corner and Bosman add the extra 2
Ndungane in the other corner
Bosman on target again Sharks 23-7 Lions
Oh, yes!
Lions score and Butch converts sharks 23-14 Lions
Deysel forces his way over for their 3rd try
Bosman on bang on again sharks 30 – 14 Lions
Off sides
changes aplenty for the sharks
Reinach for Macleod
Marias for Bresler
Mtembu for Botes
Joubert for Bosman
F/T sharks 30 lions 14
We weren’t bad, especially in the second half we came out really firing.
For me, Bosman had a MOTM game – it seems that he’s finally found his feet for the Sharks.
Much more exciting than the preceding opening game (Boks vs..)
The Lions are a broken team. Congratz on the win you guys.
Well done Sharkies
Deysel in post match interview: “if you’re old enough you’re good enough.”
@Ben (Comment 22) : Maybe an undercover compliment to Marius Joubert
@FireTheLooser (Comment 23) :
@FireTheLooser (Comment 23) : Nahhhh, then he would have said, “If you’re too old then you’re too good”