The Xerox Lions host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their opening Absa Currie Cup match on Saturday 21 June at Ellis Park Stadium (5.15pm kick-off) in one of the most mouth-watering clashes of the season.
www.lionsrugby.co.za.
This derby match is not for the faint-hearted as the two physical sides battle it out for supremacy, and an exciting and interesting tussle is to be expected. The Xerox Lions lost at the final hurdle in last year’s Absa Currie Cup and will look to go one better, having had a disappointing Super 14 season and will be focused and intent on making amends.
Neighbours, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, were knocked out in the Currie Cup semis last year, and after winning the 2007 Vodacom Super 14 and dropping to 10th spot this year, they too will be going all out to salvage their pride. These are two teams that have a lot to prove and that adds to the flavour of the match.
A strong Xerox Lions side has been chosen by coach Eugene Eloff and differs little from the Super 14 squad. With continuity possible, it affords the coach the opportunity to keep momentum and get the season off to a good start.
With the Springboks playing Italy at 3pm on Saturday, screening of the Test will take place on the big screen in the stadium as well as in the beer garden so there is no excuse not to turn out to support the team.
Fans are urged to come early to get parking and enjoy the day’s festivities which include competitions and giveaways in the stadium.
Xerox Lions:
15. Earl Rose
14. Louis Ludik
13. Jaco Pretorius
12. Walter Venter
11. Ryno Benjamin
10. Jaco van Schalkwyk
9. Jano Vermaak
8. Willem Alberts
7. Franco van der Merwe
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. Gert Muller
18. Anton van Zyl / Justin Wheeler
19. Wilhelm Koch
20. Chris Jonck
21. Jannie Boshoff
22. Dusty Noble
Here is the full Lions squad for the Currie Cup:
1. Willem Alberts
2. Ryno Benjamin
3. Jannie Boshoff
4. Ross Geldenhuys
5. Heinrich Gordon
6. Cobus Grobbelaar
7. JC Janse van Rensburg
8. Chris Jonck
9. Ernst Joubert
10. Michael Killian
11. Wilhelm Koch
12. Doppies la Grange
13. Louis Ludik
14. Derick Minnie
15. Gerhard Mostert
16. Gert Muller
17. Dusty Noble
18. Jaco Pretorius
19. Ethienne Reynecke
20. Earl Rose
21. Jody Rose
22. Dewald Senekal
23. Justin St. Jerry
24. Louis Strydom
25. Francois Uys
26. Franco van der Merwe
27. Heinke van der Merwe
28. Jaco van Schalkwyk
29. Anton van Zyl
30. Walter Venter
31. Jano Vermaak
32. Willie Wepener
33. Justin Wheeler
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ROOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR !!!!!!!!!!!
I’m having beef tonight !
😎
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 1) : keep your sex life outta this! 😉
Tough call, a team that has played together all Super 14 (albeit finishing in last place) versus a team that has a lot of injuries and Bok call-ups….
Xerox??? what happened to A&G….was that only Super 14?
@Dive Pass (Comment 4) : yeah – two different naming sponsors… clever 😉
@Dive Pass (Comment 4) :
Yes, Xerox is the Currie Cup sponsor and A & G the Super 14 sponsor
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 6) : and both are paying top dollar
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
Clever Xerox………not so sure about the deal A&G are getting
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
The A&G deal was R30m for three years.
And I think we will spend a fair portion of that for a World Class Flyhalf for next year….
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 10) :
Amongst other players too I hope..just a flyhalf won’t cut it..Maybe even a Fijian import for the wing position that knows how to catch a ball would be a good start.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 10) :
Hey the Sharks can give you a good deal on a brilliant little Frenchman if you like? (As always we will throw in an international prop that cost us millions – for free) 😉
@Dive Pass (Comment 12) :
Is the prop a LH or TH?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 13) : he can be anything you want him to be 😉
LH but supposedly he can play both sides….
And if he is a foreigner can we get a valid work permit as well?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 16) :
:)…. he has been here so long he qualifies for a pension …..Oom Rudi orgainsed it
Dont have 1 Lion in my fantasy league team
Ok wait i lie!
We’re covered at LH with Heinke and JC, it’s at TH where we are thin
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 20) :
Most teams in the world are thin in that department…..
@PJLD (Comment 18) :
We will do well in the CC so you should have picked a few
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 22) : Is ONE regarded as a few?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 22) : 2
I’ve got 11
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 25) : that’s what I like!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 25) : That’s optimism…good stuff…well you did make the finals last year 😛
Optimism can also be defined as : each member of the Italian squad planning a signature try celebration.
@blackshark (Comment 27) : no – that’s called “being high on drugs” 😉