Some are calling it a grudge match…. ok, let’s be honest, everyone’s calling it a grudge match, even if Lions coach Johan Ackermann won’t admit that fact openly! The Lions have named probably their strongest available side to face the Kings this weekend, with the loss of Willie Britz and Mike Bondesio to injury forcing Ackermann’s hand in certain positions.
The loss of Bondesio means that we once-again have an all-Cronje halfback duo, but it’s not the twins that we’re expecting this time around. Guy is still with UJ, while brother Ross starts at scrumhalf alongside well-travelled, yet unrelated namesake Lionel.
JJ Breet comes in at blindside flank in a reshuffled loose trio that has to make do without the impressive Britz.
The Kings ahve yet to announce their team.
Lions:
15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 JJ Breet, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (captain)
Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Warwick Tecklenberg, 20 Whestley Moolman, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Dylan des Fountain
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Southern Kings:
15 Elric van Vuuren, 14 Marcello Sampson, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Siyanda Grey, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johan Herbst, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Mpho Mbiyozo, 6 Rynier Bernado, 5 Darron Nell (captain), 4 Tomas Leonardi, 3 Grant Kemp, 2 Boetie Britz, 1 Lizo Gqoboko.
Replacements: 16 Dane van der Westhuizen, 17 Khwezi Mkhafu, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Daniel Adongo, 20 Thabo Mamojelle, 21 Scott Mathie, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Scott van Breda.
@Baylion (Comment 1) : very excited about seeing Dane van der Westhuizen, he turned down an offer from the Sharks in matric as well as in his u19 year. Opted for the EP Kings. A very talented hooker
Is there a requirement to be Afrikaans to play for this Lions team?
@VinChainSaw (Comment 3) : Volminck isn’t Afrikaans, but you risk raising a point that while totally valid, can’t be discussed here.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 3) : oh shit – actually Ross Cronje isn’t Afrikaans either…. not even a little bit.
@robdylan (Comment 5) : Annandale doesn’t sound Afrikaans either
Go LIONS!!!!
Moment of silence for Jan Ellis
Kick off by Dunlop
Lions have a kickable penalty but go for the line out.
Lions lose the ball. Scrum for Kings 5m out
Scrum resulting in a penalty to the Kings and they clear there line
But Kings lose the ball at the line out. Scrum to Lions.
Lions get another penalty and go for goal.
Boshoff misses
Lions 0
Kings 0
13min
Another penalty to Lions.
Boshoff converts
Lions 3
Kings 0
16min
Knock on by Lions after restart. Scrum to Kings
Bernado scores a try for the Kings
Dunlop converts
Kings 7
Lions 3
21min
Lions reply with a try by Hendrik Roodt
Boshoff converts
Lions 10
Kings 7
23min
Penalty to the Kings
Dunlop misses
Kings 7
Lions 10
27min
Scrum to Kings. Lions destroying the Kings resulting in penalty.
Another scrum to Kings Lions get the tighthead
JJ Breed scores for the Lions
Conversion missed
Lions 15
Kings 7
33min
Kings score a try but no. Grey pushed a lions player of the ball. Penalty to Lions. Go for line out and result in a try for Ruan Dryer.
Conversion over
Lions 22
Kings 7
36min
Kick off not going 10m by Dunlop. Scrum on half way for Lions.
@Mutley (Comment 27) :hallo Mutley…. Howzit going….
@Franshark
If the Lions are in front its always going good with me
Lions gets a kick able penalty and going for line out
Kings collapsing the maul. Lions take quick tap. TMO try for Boshoff in the corner??? Not given
Halftime
Lions 22
Kings 7
@Mutley (Comment 30) :
JC is having a monster of a game in the scrum, and Stokkies Hanekom is starting to look like a great aspect for the future.
Lionel Cronje starts the 2nd half
Yellow card to Wayne Stevens
Lions going for line out of resulting penalty
TMO try for the Lions. Yes Minnie scores the Lions 4th.
Sorry its Hendrik Roodt that scores
Conversion missed
Lions 27
Kings 7
44min
Lions lose another kick off
Kings get penalty. Go for line out
Kings lose the line out. Lions kick down field. Kings get another penalty and go for the line out again
And lose the line out again
The Kings win a line out and results in a great try for Herbs.
Converted
Kings 14
Lions 27
50min
Lions get another kick able penalty and go for the line out but kick it to far. Scrum to the Kings
Kings get penalty. Whitehead misses
Kings 14
Lions 27
56min
Another scrum penalty to the Lions.
Another penalty to the Lions, yellow to Leonardi. Lions go for line out.
Try to Warwick Tecklenburg from the line out.
Conversion over by Lionel Cronje
Lions 34
Kings 14
60min
The Lions lose another kick off. Scrum to Kings.
Herbs scores his 2nd
Kings 21
Lions 34
5m defense scrum to Kings
Parks scores for the Kings under the posts
Converted
Kings 28
Lions 34
71min
Kings throwing everything at the Lions. Looking like they want to win the game
Kings get penalty. Go for posts and over
Kings 31
Lions 34
74min
Kings replacements making a huge difference
Kings building good momentum.
Lions get a kick able penalty but go for line out. Gets another penalty 5m out. Go for another line out. Try no 2 to Warwick Tecklenburg
Boshoff converts
Lions 41
Kings 31
79min
Full time
Lions 41
Kings 31
The last 20min the Kings showed some promise. Maybe just maybe the won’t be a walk over, but on the other had, the Lions stopped playing the last 20min
@Mutley (Comment 65) : Yea the Lions did stop playing.
@robdylan (Comment 4) : Valid?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 67) : the composition of the Lions team, is what I mean. But like I said, we can’t and won’t discuss that here.
Ethzebeth also may have picked up a serious injury, going for scans on his ankle.
@robdylan (Comment 68) : Same could be said for the Stormers….plenty of Afrikaans guys there too
@FireTheLooser (Comment 70) : that’s not what I meant, but anyway