The Auto & General Super 14 Lions have announced their side to take on the Chiefs in Saturday’s Vodacom Super 14 encounter at Ellis Park Stadium at 5.05pm.
The GLRU reports that flank Cobus Grobbelaar Captains a well-balanced side that welcomes Springbok Jaque Fourie back at outside centre where he partners Walter Venter who has been in great form all season. In other changes, Willem Alberts comes into the side at eighthman which sees Joe van Niekerk shifting from the back of the scrum where he played in last week’s match against the Hurricanes to flank and Louis Ludik takes over from Jannie Boshoff on the wing, Boshoff moving to the bench.
The team returned from a long overseas trip this weekend after five gruelling matches on foreign soil, with coach Eugene “Loffie” Eloff expressing his disappointment at the run of form. “I am disappointed with the outcome of our Super 14 campaign so far and am trying to think what the reasons can be,” he said. “We’re not looking for excuses, and the one thing that comes up is that just maybe we had the high expectations from our team this year, given the fact that we won 5 matches last year and played in the Currie Cup final.”
Obviously the loss of senior, experienced players like Andre Pretorius, Jaque Fourie and captain Ernst Joubert has not helped their cause, and the return of Fourie in the backline should hopefully give the Jo’Burg side a more settled-look as well as his ability to penetrate and break the shackles of the opposition defence.
The home side are looking for a morale-boosting win that will go a long way towards regaining their pride, while the visiting Chiefs side, currently in fifth place on the log, are looking to secure a top four finish. The Auto & General Super 14 Lions could do both themselves and the Sharks a huge favour by beating the Waikato-based side and South Africans supporting all five teams will be behind the Auto & General Super 14 Lions on Saturday.
TEAM:
15. Earl Rose
14. Louis Ludik
13. Jaque Fourie
12. Walter Venter
11. Ryno Benjamin
10. Jaco van Schalkwyk
9. Jano Vermaak
8. Willem Alberts
7. Joe van Niekerk
6. Cobus Grobbelaar (Captain)
5. Gerhard Mostert
4. Dewald Senekal
3. JC Janse van Rensburg
2. Willie Wepener
1. Heinke van der Merwe
Reserves:
16. Ethienne Reynecke
17. Ross Geldenhuys
18. Franco van der Merwe
19. Wilhelm Koch
20. Chris Jonck
21. Jannie Boshoff
22. Dusty Noble
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I hope Fourie makes the difference needed.
Go Lions !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this IS good news!
great news, but missing the two Pretorius’ before will see any noticable difference.
Venter looks ok but rose, benjamin and our tight 5 are pretty damn ordinary.
I’m worried that Jaque is rushed back so quick…it might have been better to start him on the bench?
Cab…our tight 5 isn’t that bad..I think they’ve done their bit for us..the big problem for us started at 10…I don’t think Jaco worked as the stand-in 10
yes Walter, thats probably more correct. not a fan of jaco at 10.
How does Rose manage to stay on the team sheet ❓ ❓ ❓ 🙄
Rose had a shocker last week but his unpredictble play sometimes works in our favour…remember a few weeks back he played off the bench and scored 2 tries.
nevermind him – what is Benjamin doing back in the team?
Walter, seems like the splinters in his ass make him a better player 🙂
looks like Loffie is revolving the 2 wings
What’s wrong with Boshoff and Noble as the wings, with Ludik at 15?
Glad to see Mossie back. We will need him against Wales and usually dont need to many matches to hit his form.
#12 I think Noble is a bit average, I think Benjamin is slightly better
Noble has always been too slow… kinda why the Sharks got rid of him.
I dunno about Mossie hey.
I’ve just seen too many players trying to retuirn to the game and never quite hit their straps again.
Thinking of Chester, Skinstad, Willemse, Snyman, Pretorius etc etc etc.
Doesnt exactly inspire confidence… and he’s playing in a seriously ordinary team…
Walter
2 weeks ago benjamin was confirmed as the player with the worst handling record in the S14 this season…………I have no idea how he can be played ahead of Noble.
Noble’s hands are surely better 😉
Expect the Gary Owens to rain down all night on the ‘wife-beater’!
#17 the times that he does manage to catch the ball without dropping it he looks better than Noble…I know it’s not often!
If there ever was one damn match that these useless bunch of kittens had to win its this one…
Note to Rose : Show some goddamn urgency in your play and if you gonna try pull a Spencer then be sure that you a)catch the ball first b) be sure that its not on our TRYLINE!!!!
What a dissapointing season
Had high hopes for Jaco and Ryno… both disappointed…
Some highlights is that a few players put up their hands this year, Willie Wepener really lifted his game, JC janse van Rensburg and Ross Geldenhuys look capable at tighthead and will only get better. Dewald Senekal at lock is also impressive. Walter Venter at 12 is probably our find of the season.
I like Venter a lot.
Senekal was with the Sharks squad a year or so ago and didn’t make the cut. Perhaps we should have persevered.
VCS Mossie & Petoors do this season after season. He did not play much before the 2007 WC and was sharp in no time. The last one against the Stormers will tell if he is ready for Wales.
it also won’t take much for Mossie to look VERY GOOD relative to his teammates