The Xerox Lions, with just one injury-enforced change to the starting line-up that beat Western Province, will be looking to redouble their efforts when they take on the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Absa Currie Cup derby at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.
Ken Borland writes on Superrugby that that Lions coach Eugene Eloff is in the cosy position of having to make just one change to the team that overpowered the Streeptruie in Johannesburg last weekend, but it is at lock, with the hard-hitting Dewald Senekal limping around Coca-Cola Park on Wednesday with a hamstring injury.
Apart from Senekal, the Lions’ injury toll seems to be easing with Gerhard Mostert returning for Senekal and Ernst Joubert back in action on the bench. Eloff is also pleased to welcome back flyhalf Louis Strydom from a groin injury and he will start on the bench as back-up to Earl Rose.
“Losing Dewald because of his hamstring is definitely a blow, but you see Ernst Joubert is back and Anton van Zyl has been playing very good rugby as well, so it’s worked out very well,” Eloff said.
Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar said he expected the bulky Bulls pack to try and soften them up first.
“They will try to disrupt us in the tight phases and Deon Stegmann and Wikus van Heerden are both very good, hard players on the ground. And if the pack is constantly tackling you back then it becomes even easier to contest the ball,” Grobbelaar said.
But the Lions’ fetching king said the Bulls also had the backline to play adventurous rugby.
“They have very good backs who have been in the system a long time and if they get quick ball then they will be dangerous – they finish things like overlaps very well,” Grobbelaar said.
The skipper said the Lions would be focusing on the simple matter of execution against the Bulls.
“The one thing we took from the Western Province win was that if you take your opportunities then you will win. We believe that and we’re starting to do it. If we don’t take that attitude and mindset into the match against the Bulls then we can’t expect to get anywhere,” Grobbelaar said.
Either way, the fur is bound to fly when the two Gauteng arch-rivals clash on Friday night.
Team – 15-Louis Ludik, 14-Michael Killian, 13-Jaco Pretorius, 12-Doppies la Grange, 11-Rayno Benjamin, 10-Earl Rose, 9-Jano Vermaak, 8-Willem Alberts, 7-Franco van der Merwe, 6-Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5-Gerhard Mostert, 4-Anton van Zyl, 3-Lawrence Sephaka, 2-Willie Wepener, 1-Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16-Ethienne Reynecke, 17-Gert Muller, 18-Ernst Joubert, 19-Justin Wheeler, 20-Chris Jonck, 21-Louis Strydom, 22-Jaco van Schalkwyk.
Tweet
Go LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We need to prove that we can beat the other top teams away from EPS, so we need this win!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : Check your mail dude! 💡
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 2) : Out of which hole did you crawl now?? 😀 😀 The sad news is that you casnnot win here!!
@Silver Fox (Comment 3) : casnnot = thick fingers
@Silver Fox (Comment 3) :
I HOPE they can.
I picked them on Superbru 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : Glad you’re there. I think I have sorted out the mail problem to you, can you just confirm if you’ve received one a couple of minutes ago??
@Silver Fox (Comment 6) :
I got the one with the Excel spreadsheet and have replied to it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : That’s the one, still waiting for it to come through. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) : The link if you type it yourself will be in Capital letters.
@Silver Fox (Comment 9) :
there was an error with the link. I have corrected it and sent you a mail on it.
@Silver Fox (Comment 3) :
>>>The sad news is that you casnnot win here
If “here” is Durban, you’ve got a short memory, what happened in the Currie Cup Semi-final last year?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 11) : Nah, I’m talking about the bulls. I do however wish them the very best of luck, for the Bulls are my least liked team!! It is just that I believe our SA teams really have a mental block where the Bulls are concerned. The very first game I gave the Lions a win on SB, for I thought that with their Super14 team they should beat what was then not an impressive Bulls tean with ease. That is history. Now I am taking my revenge on SB!! 😀
This page is our results vs the Blue Bulls since 1991
http://www.transvaal.co.za/winratiodetail.asp?team=Ntvl
We’ve won 2 more matches than what we’ve lost in that time.
10 of our 23 wins were at Loftus in that time.
If you want to state something, back it up with facts…LOL!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 11) : Go Lions!! Yeah one meagre blot on our history, but it wont repeat itself we got rid of AJ who gave it to the lions that horrible day! 😉
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 13) : Thanks for the stats Walter, that is why I employ you. 😆 😆 But I am not changing my mind about the Bulls block. I’m not saying that they have not been beaten or cannot be beaten, in fact every time they play I shout for the opposition!! Maybe Steve and his lot has something to do with it?
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 14) : Hi Dudette!! You make it difficult for me to decide whether you are a Shark or a Lion!! 😉
@Silver Fox (Comment 15) :
You employ me? …..PAUSE…….NOT!
@Silver Fox (Comment 16) : I am a True Black and White Sharks supporter, the Lions are my second team though, and that coupled with the fact that I will side with any South African side that plays against the Bulls, puts me 100% behind the Lions on this weekend! Although I donot quite dislike the bulls as much as I loath Weepee but they are close.
@Silver Fox (Comment 16) : And let me add the way you said that the Lions cannot win here meaning Roftus, I nearly choked, thinking you maybe one of those Bully boys 😯
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 17) : @Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 19) : Reeeelaaaxxxx!!! 😀 😀
@Silver Fox (Comment 20) :
I’m relaxed…just hoping that boat your sitting on tips over soon…LOL!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 21) : You leave my boat dude!! 👿 👿
@Silver Fox (Comment 20) : I am relaxed? Did I come accross as highly strung? Sorry Silver, just very proud Sharks supporter 😎
@Sharksmad – The Blog’s Dudette (Comment 23) : Dudette, apology duly accepted. 😉