Lions coach Eugene Eloff will have a few sleepless nights this week, as he awaits news on his injured captain Cobus Grobbelaar, ahead of their decisive Currie Cup encounter with Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.
Eloff confirmed that the star flank is a doubtful starter for the trip to Cape Town, with a call scheduled to be made on Thursday only.
“He took a knock to his calf and suffered a haematoma,” Eloff told rugby365.com.
The Lions coach also confirmed that another star flank, Derick Minnie, has been ruled out of the Round 14 encounter after taking a blow to the neck.
However, it is the possible loss of Grobbelaar that could be the biggest blow to the Lions, as they go head-to-head with Province and a game that will decide the fourth and final Currie Cup play-off spot.
“As is the case with any captain, it will be a huge loss for us,” Eloff said, when quizzed about the value of Grobbelaar as a player and team leader.
“However, I will not risk him unless he is 100 percent fit. I simply don’t play injured players,” the coach added.
Eloff was in an upbeat mood on Monday, as his team stepped up preparations for the trip to Cape Town – despite their heavy 20-34 loss to the Sharks at the weekend.
The Lions needed a bonus point from their trip to Durban to secure their place in the semifinals, but their failure to secure any points means they will now have to do it the hard way against WP on Saturday.
Eloff’s team will go through if they take a bonus point or lose by 18 points or fewer to Province. WP will join the last four if they score four tries in winning by 19 points or more and deny the Lions a bonus point.
Eloff refused to point fingers, despite a woeful display by flyhalf Earl Rose, which gifted the Sharks 14 points.
“We outplayed a Sharks team, loaded with Springboks, for most of the game,” Eloff told rugby365.com. “However, a few individual mistakes and bad judgment cost us 14 points in just 10 minutes and that was the difference between winning and losing for us.”
The Lions coach also dismissed the notion that Rose alone should be blamed for the loss – saying it was not just the flyhalf’s to ill-judged kicks that are to blame.
“There was also bad defence on Ryan Kankowski and an open try-line with a two-man overlap and a player going for glory. Those are the small mistakes that cost a team from winning,” he added.
Eloff made it clear that his team will arrive in Cape Town as “huge underdogs” against a star-studded WP team – who boats as many internationals in their side as the Sharks do.
“Those things don’t bother us,” Eloff said.
“We don’t look at names or permutations … I leave that for the media to speculate about.
“We have a job to do and we will commit ourselves to the cause 100 percent.”
By Jan de Koning of rugby 365
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Go Lions. I am torn between thinking Loffie cannot quite make it or looking for excuses for the guy. The Lions play exciting rugby, and were it not for some unfortunate injuries, they would have been a formidable outfit right now.
They lack solidity and continuity at stages. His game plan has got a lot of similarities with what PDV has in mind, but I think one should first put some other structures in place before committing to such a plan. Nevertheless, some great players there, what with Baywatch imo threatening the famous Schalk himself.
And Rob, if you read this, it also reveals a point in the F/League that does not work out too well imo. That being the captain scoring double than what the other players do. Injuries and changing of captains and the inability to adjust accordingly puts paid to that.
Loffie is full of shit Iv decieded.
In one breath he refuses to even mention Roses inept performance but clearly has a go at the guy going fo glory with the overlap 🙄
Oh and Id hardly call 34-20 a heavy defeat.
53-8 would be 👿
Hope Cobus is fit… but Ernst is still one of the best captains in RSA in my books… their loosies only really have to fear an over-played Burger and Louw imo…
Its a real shame if Baywatch doesn’t get to play this fixture..its the perfect opportunity for him to ram home the reason why he should be a Bok.Id love to see him stealing the Problems balls all afternoon whilst twatson is hanging about at 1st reciever.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 5) : He doesn’t come close to being a Bok, we are loaded with talent at loose forward.
@Sauce (Comment 6) : not in the traditional 6… your man Watson refuses to play in his intended position when coming on as a sub!
@Sauce (Comment 6) :
I have to disagree unfortunatly , Baywatch has been SA premier at stealing the ball on the ground his work rate around the park is only rivaled by Schalk on a good day.Doesn’t come close are you serious..?
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 7) : I wouldn’t pick Watson for WP, i wouldn’t pick him for an under 9 match between a bunch of girls and a blind school, he has shown this season just how useless he is. And one final thing he ain’t my man – he’s a farking idiot.
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 8) : Baywatch is a great Currie Cup player but leave it at that.
@Sauce (Comment 9) :
Lol… I stand corrected… 😳
@bryce_in_oz (Comment 10) : 😀
@Silver Fox (Comment 2) : fair point… it needs an overhaul
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 13) :
What in the hell happened THERE? 😯
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 13) :
I couldn’t…the scoreboard wasn’t working….what was the score by the way?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 15) : lots to us and slightly less to you guys 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
The scoreboard seriously wasn’t working…it’s been extremely annoying the whole season, as it makes it difficult to know how much time left in a half. I think it’s because the building work, which sounds like it should be done by feb next year.
With the score at 13-10 for us and only 20 mins to go I must say I thought we had the game in the bag…but it slipped out and fell on the floor…LOL!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 17) : Hello Walter. Jammer vir die leeus het die “brainfart” toe van Earl Rose gekom. Ek hoop nie dis weer Fransie se beurt in die finaal nie…BTW good luck vir die leeus vir die naweek
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 15) :
Hi daar!! 34 – 10 as ek reg onthou….my team talk het so bietjie gewerk.. 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 20) :
Kom wees nou ernstig, dit was 34-20!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 21) :
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 21) :
Good luck for The Cape Town Job…
I wish for a Sharks / Lions final…really really… 😀
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 24) :
You are not alone…
At this stage we can even miss out altogether, depending on what we do on Saturday.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 26) :
Julle miskien,,,defnitief nie ons nie… 😈
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 26) : Just lose by 18…for the fun of it…
hey walter didn’t overdose on coke. so earl rose played for the sharks on saturday. well the sharks broke your 3 in a row run twice this season. maybe they’ll learn to start winning runs after the sharks game and not before it.
damn what am i saying. they must only start their next run next year. ag who cares the sharks will stop their run again this year if need be.
@just blackshark (Comment 28) :
That would put us on even PD with WP, what’s the next criteria they use?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 30) :
I have no idea…but according to the article above…
Eloff’s team will go through if they take a bonus point or lose by 18 points or fewer to Province.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 30) : The amount of BEE players. 😛
@just blackshark (Comment 31) :
I think that article is wrong then, it should be by 17 points or fewer..18 points will put us on the same points difference.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 30) : games against eachother.
@PaarlBok (Comment 32) :
Perel, waar val jy nou weer uit?? 
@PaarlBok (Comment 32) : we don’t discuss such things here
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 33) : Well…they said Province needs 19 or more to win…so I’m assuming that whatever criteria they will use next to determine who goes through will favour you guys…
@try time (Comment 34) :
We won the 1st one 27-13…which is by 14 points, so if they beat us by exactly 18 points I guess that means they go through.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 38) :
So Waltie…17 it must be then… 😈
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 38) :
Please check it out…
We’d hate it if your guys mess up the Duckworth-Lewis figures…
I guess our guys will go out to win it rather than to keep the score down.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 41) :
Well its good to know…just in case.. 😉
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 41) :
Yeah I guess…even though it will not be as entertaining as watching Province trying to get the lead to 19 pts.
I guess you guys have Cheetahs to worry about as well…
2.1 EQUAL POINTS: POOL MATCHES
In the event of teams having equal log points after completion of the pool matches, the log positions will be determined in the following order:-
2.1.1. Best nett points difference (points for minus points against), and if equal,
2.1.2. The team who scored the most tries, and if equal
2.1.3. The team who scored the most points in away matches, and if equal
2.1.4. The team with the least number of red cards during the competition, and if equal,
2.1.5. The winner shall be decided by the toss of a coin by S A Rugby.
Hey Rob…how about a new poll…we can predict the margin for The Cape Town job…
Province by 19 with BP
Province by 19 no BP
Province by less than 19 with BP
Province by less than 19 no BP
Province to lose
Hi there everyone!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 44) :
Number of tries? 😯
How many do they need to catch up with you?
@Nessa (Comment 46) :
Geez Ness – You are ALIVE!! How are you!! 😀
@Nessa (Comment 46) : Hey Nessa…. 😛
Hey Ice! Yes, barely. Have worked so much overtime lately that my boss gave me the day off. It is the Jewish New Year and he won’t be in the office.
we’ve got 12 more than them at this stage
Hi BS – I have so missed being on the site. Have been keeping a close eye on the rugby though!
@just blackshark (Comment 31) : Western Province’s task will be difficult as the Lions are one of the form teams in the Currie Cup, and it will be a monumental ask to expect them to defeat the Lions by a margin of 19 points or more. Unlike in the last game of the S14 earlier this year where the Stormers failed to secure a bonus point for a 4 try victory the Lions have more than a vested interest in this game, they are too playing for their own CC survival ; in my opinion the Lions have the upper hand because they have several bites at the cherry, they can lose by more than 19 points and allow WP to score the 4 tries but ensure that they themselves score 4 tries, or, they can lose but by not more than 19 points, or lose but ensure that WP do not score the bonus point for 4 tries, or, of course they can win .
But because I a cynical person with a perverse sense of humour I would dearly like to see either a WP win by 17 points and a missed conversion at the end of the match ; or failing that a comprehensive Lions victory.
Personally I don’t see WP making it. They really needed that bonus point last weekend.
This is the rules doc
http://images.supersport.co.za/2008CompetitionGeneralRules.doc
@Nessa (Comment 54) :
YOU HAVE THE DAY OFF and yuo only come on NOW?? 😐
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 56) :
Ha ha – sorry Ice – I had to go and do some retail therapy first.
Was baby sitting little Jordan last night took him to school first and then went shopping.
Went and browsed in the shops for hours – by myself – it was great.
@just blackshark (Comment 45) : good idea
@Nessa (Comment 57) :
One needs those days! 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 59) :
Yup – he has given me 2 days off – trying to decide whether to take the other day tomorrow or next week. Decisions,decisions! 😀
Going to Umhlanga in two weeks time for our annual holiday. Hoping for a home final then I can go.
@Nessa (Comment 60) :
Its going to be one…so you wil be there!! 😀
Yup – can’t wait.
Oh well, nice chatting, enjoy the rest of your afternoon Ice. Give my girls a kiss from me please.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 44) : very ambiguous, team with most tries in both games or just the one.
personally i cannot see wp doing it. they have had to play off games for the last three weeks. and you can see it is taking its toll. this will probably a bridge too far.
Hello to you too TT! 😉
@Nessa (Comment 65) : hello nessa. good to see you. also saw me2 made a cameo yesterday. it must be coming to play off time. hope you are all well. check up on you guys when i get home and have made supper.
@Nessa (Comment 65) :
Enjoy Ness – and dont stay away too long!! 😀
@try time (Comment 66) :
Cheers Ice!
Los Angeles – Pamela Anderson would “ruin” a good boy if she ever dated one.
The former Baywatch star is always drawn to bad boys, and thinks she will end up growing old with her ex-husband Tommy Lee.
“Bad boys just keep following me around. What would I do with a good boy? Ruin him, probably,” said Pamela – who is currently living with Tommy and their two sons Brandon, 12, and 10-year-old Dylan while her house is renovated.
“I think I’m stuck with Tommy. To make it work, you have to allow freedom. Women accept friends as they are, but with men, we’re like, ‘Change!’ Nobody changes, but hopefully, we grow up.”
Sexy gets attention
The 41-year-old star – who is a strict vegetarian and animal rights campaigner – also revealed she loves her sexy image as it means people always pay attention to her.
“My exhibitionism can be a great vehicle – here are the boobs, now let’s talk about animal experimentation. You know you’re getting the attention,” she said.
However, Pamela admits she does not always have charitable intentions when she strips off.
“Why do I like getting naked? Because it’s so f**king hot! And it makes you look thinner on a photo shoot,” she added. – Bang Showbiz.com
HAHAHAHA _ there is only ONe Pammie…
TT- I think they mean the most tries in the competition
Pamela Anderson makes my skin crawl. 😈
@McLovin (Comment 71) : i never fancied pammy, i am more of a heather graham fan. same age (you have to compare like with like)
@try time (Comment 63) :
Most tries in all 14 Currie Cup matches…not against each other
Lions
Louis Ludik, Michael Killian, Jaque Fourie, Doppies la Grange, Trompie Nontshinga, Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak, Ernst Joubert, Justin Wheeler, Cobus Grobbelaar (c), Franco van der Merwe, Anton van Zyl, Ross Geldenhuys, Willie Wepener, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserwes: Ethienne Reynecke, Lawrence Sephaka, Jannes Labuschagne, Wilhelm Koch, Chris Jonck, Louis Strydom, Jaco van Schalkwyk
@try time (Comment 72) : I like the Girls of the Playboy Mansion. They are just so clever and intelligent and smart and stuff.
Kendra last night wanted to know what the Mile High Club is, while she was on the Hef’s Private jet.
Chicks having fun and getting paid. They have to be smart. Only down side is kissing Hef. His lips like cover their whole faces!
@Baldrick (Comment 75) :
**EEEEuuuuoooooo** thats the only reason why I refuse to stay at the mansion.. 😎 😆
Ice, seriously, I don’t know if you’d be in their intellectual level, even strasophere. I think Hef recruits them at Mensa and MIT and Google and stuff.
@Baldrick (Comment 75) :
And I agree…I reckon these girls are quite clever in a way…same with pammie…she is just using to her advantage what her plastic surgein has given her… 😉
Look at Madonna…brilliant business woman…contraversial? Immoral?? but brilliant!
@Baldrick (Comment 77) :
Oh, But Baldrick , I am a member of MENSA myself…I reckon my intelligence is so high that I come across as a ‘verstrooide professor” you know…Einstein League.. 😉
@Baldrick (Comment 77) :
So…do they have warmer levels higher up and coller levels lower??
I doubt THAT…se-ri-as-lie 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 79) : If you got DD [email protected]@bs, I think that contributes to the brain power, at the mansion at least…
@Baldrick (Comment 81) :
So …do you say IF you have DD’s you dont have brains??? 🙄
😈
No, not at all. I just think when you have so many brains, you like need some where to store the bits that can’t fit in your head. It’s like an overflow storage facility…
@Baldrick (Comment 83) :
ROB…please unlock all the people tonight…it was way too quiet today!! 👿
Have a good evening!! 😉
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 85) : I don’t know where they are… I think everyone’s taking a breather this week before the semis
Roger that, Comrade Rob…O well, hope its better tomorrow…over and out…kggggggggggggggg 😀
Go LIONS!!!! 😆 😆
@I’ce (Rebel With a Cause) (Comment 85) : What, dear Lady, would then be your excuse for the days when you go ‘ missing ‘? 😈
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 44) : Have they ever tossed a coin for this? 😆 Seems to me like taking it just one step too far.