The Xerox Lions travel down to Durban this weekend to take on the Sharks in the Absa Currie Cup semi-final knowing that there is no cushion like last week and that there is plenty to play for if they would like to achieve their ambitions of going all the way this year.
www.lionsrugby.co.za
The Sharks have named a team with a strong international flavour but Xerox Lions Coach Eugene Eloff admits he is only too happy for his side to go into the game labeled as underdogs. “We are going to Durban to play the Sharks as huge underdogs, but that’s the best position to be in.”
Eloff has made an interesting selection ahead of the Absa Currie Cup semi-final against the Sharks this Saturday at The Absa Stadium Durban, with regular Currie Cup flyhalf Earl Rose starting at fullback with Louis Ludik shifting to the wing and Louis Strydom wearing the number 10 jersey for this clash.
The forward pack that has been in such good form all season remains intact and know they will have a big job on their hands containing the likes of Springboks Ryan Kankowski and Beast Mtawarira who revel in open play. There will be a battle-royale upfront and at the collision points where the fight for ball possession will be worth the admission fee alone.
While the Xerox Lions had to rely on their fantastic defence to make sure Province didn’t run away with last week’s knock-out game, Saturday’s semi is all about scoring the points to earn the win, and they will be adding attack to defence in order to emulate last year’s feat when they beat upset the coastal side in Durban in a replay of this year’s semi.
Eloff praised his side’s commitment against Province, saying, “Wow, what a defensive effort! The team defended like their lives depended on it and showed a hell of a lot of character.”
This week it is going to take a concerted effort. Certainly this team has the courage, desire and commitment to make all the season’s hard work show good return.
Xerox Lions:
15 Earl Rose
14 Louis Ludik
13 Jaque Fourie
12 Doppies la Grange
11 Trompie Nontshinga
10 Louis Strydom
9 Jano Vermaak
8 Ernst Joubert
7 Justin Wheeler
6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c)
5 Franco van der Merwe
4 Anton van Zyl
3 Ross Geldenhuys
2 Willie Wepener
1 Heinke van der Merwe
Replacements
16 Ethienne Reynecke
17 Lawrence Sephaka
18 Jannes Labuschagne
19 Derick Minnie
20 Chris Jonck
21 Michael Killian
22 Jaco van Schalkwyk
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that’s a very sensible semi-final side. Strydom may not be flashy, but his goalkicking is good and he will be a lot more stable than Earl. The latter can still cause some damage from the back.
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 1) :
For us or for the Lions…?? 😈
@Ice Sharkadelic Babe (Comment 2) : either or both 🙂
Game set match…SHARKS !!! 👿
@Charlie (Comment 4) : yeah baby!
I don’t mean to tempt fate but really, if that team couldn’t beat a WeePee side throwing the ball around, then they really have little hope against the Tjarks.
Surely nobody is really nervous about this game?
Good team this. I know of one Lion supporter who will be over the moon with the flyhalf berth.
Walter, where are you????? 😀
But alas, the Sharks team does inspire more confidence.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 6) : yeah – certainly not me. No way.
Ummm
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 8) :
To be fair though – there have been far greater upsets in the past…
Loffie’s gonna lose for playing silly buggers – why change a winning albeit losing team.
@Sauce (Comment 10) :
I’m certainly not going to cry myself to sleep if the Lions lose. So go Loffie!!
@VinChainSaw (Comment 11) : I’ll cry myself to sleep if they win, though
@Sauce (Comment 10) : Loffie’s gonna lose by having a hopelessly inferior team 🙂
Not bad, but not good enough either.
Fantastic side! I really can’t see the Sharks beating this team.
Finals here we come 😀
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 15) : That’s confidence for you. Blind, unfounded, crazy. But confident all the same 😀
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 15) : There’s the fighting spirit that I admire so much!
@Baldrick (Comment 16) :
Absolutley !
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 17) :
Might aswell..there is a snowball chance in hell that we’ll even come close…oh well
@CoffeeShopBok;-) (Comment 18) : It happened last year and joburg was a lot closer than a lot of people realise
@robdylan (Go Sharks!) (Comment 13) : Smacks of over confidence…..:D
I can never remember do the sharks normally lose in the semi’s or finals?
😈
@Sauce (Comment 20) : We have no particular preference. We’re great at either!
Sharks Sharks Sharks!!!
As an aside… currently sitting outside in the Melb sunshine and watching the ANZ cup quarter’s… the level of rugga is about the same as the CC… definitely no better… and most certainly not the same atmosphere… they even just did the old ‘spanish trumpet call’ and not a single punter said ‘ole’… they looked dumbfounded lol!