The first derby match in the 2009 Super 14 sees the Cheetahs trek to Johannesburg to take on the Lions.
This is the third year of Eugene Eloff’s three year plan and he will feel the pressure of having to show some results this season. On the flipside of the coin it seems as if there is very little pressure on Naka Drotske and his team to do well as it is a well publicized fact that they are the “poor cousins” of the SA Super 14 franchises.
Will the Lions’ plan start taking shape? Or will the Cheetahs show that money isn’t everything?
Venue: Coca Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 SA time
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
ARs: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Joey Salmans (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Cheetahs:
15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez
Replacements:
16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Wayne van Heerden, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Fabian Juries, 22 Piet van Zyl.
Lions:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Henno Mentz, 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 Gert Muller, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements:
16 Hans van Dyk, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Jannie Boshoff.
Tweet
LIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : hear hear
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 2) :
Finally an SB pick that let’s us shout for the same team. 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 1) : @KSA Sharkette (Comment 2) : Yip Yip
Cheers everyone – GOOOOO SHAAARRRRKKKS!!!
And a Happy Valentine’s day to all my Boys on the Blog!! 😉
I went for the Mielie farmers!!! 🙄
@Ice (you can leave your hat on!) (Comment 5) : Bye. Happy happy Valentine’s day to you too. 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 4) :
Only on SB for me.
Much like your business relationship with the Force, i have netered into a similar one with the Bulls tomorrow. 😳
Ligtoring Landman 😯 😆 🙄
@wpw (Comment 6) : Wes-Transvaal?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 8) : I’ll also be Blou McLovin during the Bulls match.
LIONS LIONS LIONS
Go Lions
Go Cheetahs!!! 🙄
Go LIONS! Crap- I HAVE TO shout for the Bulls tomorrow as well…
let’s hope I get to watch this one…
@blackshark (Comment 15) : It will all be worth it when we get those GSP’s 😉
SHAAARKS FOREVER!Have to find my Johnny Clegg- IMPI!Later people…:smile:
@Pokkel (Comment 17) : I have more than the GRAND SLAM riding on the Bulls game. What was I thinking? 😆
@blackshark (Comment 19) : I’ll feel your pain while ALSO shouting for the Bulls. Those cows better not stuff up my LMS competition
Hallo doosies.
@klempie (Comment 21) : Hello koeikie
@Pokkel (Comment 22) : koeikie?? Is dit ‘n kalf?
@klempie (Comment 23) : Dit kan wees net wat wil he dit moet wees. Jy moet net vir die naweek jou Avatar verander. ek het op LMS die Bulls vir n wen. Volgende week kan jy dit weer terugsit
@Pokkel (Comment 24) : Jammer boetie. Gaan nie gebeur nie. 😳
Speaking of cricket. The WI v Eng test has been suspended after only 10 balls. Apparently the outfield is not fit for play and the bowlers run up ‘a hazzard’. 🙄
@McLovin (Comment 26) : HAHAHAHAHAHAHA….Not suspended…ABANDONED!! LMAO Think the Windies did it on purpose with their 1-0 lead? 😉
http://content-rsa.cricinfo.com/wiveng2009/engine/current/match/352662.html
@klempie (Comment 27) : Bit of a skande really. Not the first time there’s been problems at this venue. The ICC should scrap it off their list of test venues.
@McLovin (Comment 28) : Is there even a list of approved venues? 😕
10.31am Drama in the press-box! Over to Gnasher … “There’s an alarm going off in the press-box but no one can turn it off because the instructions are all in Chinese! You couldn’t make it up…”
Gotta love cricinfo commentary! 😆
Laughably, there hasn’t yet been a public announcement at the ground. The spectators are milling around, hoping and expecting for an update. If any of you are reading…go back to your hotels.
Cheetahs not fielding a particularly strong back 3…
Basson is the only real stand out there…I am not convinced of the other two…
@McLovin (Comment 26) :
That happens often that the fields are not fit to play on!??!
How far are the LIONS in the lead???
Combo match-up:
Back 3 – LIONS
Centers – LIONS
Half pair – LIONS
Loosies – Cheetahs
Locks – LIONS
Front row – LIONS
Replacements – Close call but will edge Cheetahs
But should be a close game…
Hope it has a similar outcome as the Brumbies/Landers game…with the LIONS scoring 5 log points and the Cheetahs 2…
The LIONS have not scored a 4 try bonus in some tiume now 😳
ok – I need a volunteer to do commentary for this game… KSA has internet problems.
Any takers? HMMMMM???
Unfortunately I do not have internet at Home at the moment…
Sorry Robd…
I was hoping for it to be up by this weekend so that I can chat while watching…but it wont be!??!
Cheers I am gonno go watch the game!!!!
@Hmmm (Comment 40) :
My 1st S14 game for 2009!!!!
ok – no worries.
Anyone else? I am struggling to get away from work in time to watch
@robdylan (Comment 42) : OK fine. I’ll do it. 😉 But you owe me. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 42) :
Rob, try this http://myp2p.eu/competition.php?competitionid=217&part=sports&discipline=other
-2 mins : Marriott puts a kak new ad up with Mark Lawrence asking the TMO if there is any reason why he shouldn’t invest with Marriott. 🙄
– 1 min : Tops at Spar “Scrum on the Couch” ad with that oke with a beer stain running down the front of shirt. The one that looks like a bull dog.
ok. In front of the tv.
OK my clock is a bit out. Resetting it now to – 1 min.
@robdylan (Comment 47) : lol. In a move of desperation, Rob makes a plan to find a TV to avoid me doing commentary. 😆
go lions
klemp. Please go ahead
i am on my phone. Impossible to commentate
OK. With Rob’s blessing I’ll continue.
There’s a minute of silence for the bushfire victims in Aus.
Craig Joubert is blowing. AAAAAAAAND GO!
@robdylan (Comment 52) : Not good enough.
0 mins – Earl Rose KO to practically the try line. Cheetahs kick it out at the 22.
1 min – Bit of a stop start “start” so far
Enterprising stuff from the Lions from a scrum on the halfway line and making a couple of breaks with Henno being bundled out 2m from the tryline.
4 minutes – Cheetahs make it into the Lions half for the first time. But Lions running at them drive them back to their 22. J Smith penalised for playing ball on the ground. Lions don’t kick. Although I am not sure if that is long or short arm anymore.
7 mins – J Fourie grubbers one form his own 22 and it bounces awkwardly over the new fullback and it bounces out in the Cheetahs 22.
Lions looking very exciting
8 mins – GRaphic pops up saying trinations and S14 will be playing Hybrid ELVs. I’m so confused. 😳
rose lining up a shot
8:30 – Frans Fourie (?) goes into the ruck from the side and gets blown up. Earl “I’ve grown up” Rose misses the kick.
hits the post
10:30 – The Lions are all over the Cheetahs at the moment. Hard to see how the Cheetahs can exert some dominance.
what a try!
11:00 – Fantastic work along the left hand side of the field by the backs with J Fourie and then Mentz providing the gas and then the big man Baywatch taking the glory at the end.
henno, mossie and baywatch in tandem. 5 zip
7 zip
13:00 – Rose takes a leaf out of Ruan’s book and slots the conversion from the touchline.
lions pack is full of fire
almost an intercept try, but penalty for Lions backs offside
7-3
14:00 – Hmmmm. The Lions backline come up early at a Cheetahs scrum on their own 22. Entire back line blown up and the Cheetahs take the 3 points.
@robdylan (Comment 71) : Do you really need me?
lions line out looks suspect
17:00 – Cheetahs steal a line out on their own 22 and then kick it away. 🙄 Seems the Lions have them all timed out.
lovely try to frans viljoen
juan smith break set it up. 7-8 now
17:00 – OMG!! From a speculative line out, the Smith eventually shovels the ball up and breaks the Lions defence, offloads to Heinrich Brussouw who does the same to Viljoen.
and rose puts the kick off out on the full
18:00 – Potgieter cocks up the conversion
both sides full of running
lots of aggro too
22:30 – Cheetahs pressure the Lions tryline for a number of phase but then get blown for holding on I think it was.
Will probably catch the 2nd half …
and now playing ping pong 🙂
droppies!
24:00 – La Grange loses the ball forward under pressure from Bosman.
I find this orange red strip combination disconcerting…
alberts is a machine!
26:00 Nice barney on the left hand side as if this wasn’t entertaining enough. 😎
26:00 Brussouw gets told that the game is “spicy” already and gets a yellow for his sterling off-the-field efforts.
brussow yellow! Ludicrous
rose misses the penalty
26:00 Rose misses the kick.
van zyl on for bosman. Blood
27:00 Wepener is off. For blood I think
another lovely Lions try
Ok…guess i made the last ten minutes… ash!!!
forward pass from Rose! Still, try to Ashwin stands. Good conversion. 14 8
28:00 The pace of this game is frenetic! Vermaak was the catalyst there but Willemse takes it from the 10m line and manages to keep Demas off until the last second as he rolls overs next to the posts. Rose converts.
lions busting the cheetahs midfield at will
29:00 Lions throwing it around the back line, left and right, with abandon.
henno looks to be in superb condition
and he scores!
hans van dyk sets it up. 19 8
21 8 after the kick
33:00 Very broken play just inside the Cheetah’s half and the Lions snaffle it. It quickly gets sent left and Henno is on the end of it from the 10m line and goes around. Converted.
orange 6 back on
36:00 Viljoen is penalised for a high tackle on Wepener but I think that’s a bit harsh.
The Sharks need to pay attention. The Lions look very handy at this early stage.
Ok…we want Henno back!
38:00 – Baywatch blown up outside the Cheetahs 22 for holding on. Gives the Cheetahs a breather.
first scrum in about 15 minutes
henno is hungry and getting lots of ball
HT – Vermaak goes in from the side and Potgieter takes the 3. That’s half time. Get yourselves a couple of drinks fellas.
Lions 21 – 11 Cheetahs.
tell you what, if the Lions can keep up this pace and stay injury free, they will beat a lot of good teams this year.
@robdylan (Comment 117) : Agreed.
sky commentators reckon Smith is a one-man team
lions need to win big here. Let’s get them nice and complacent for next week
The Lions have 63% possession. There’s a nice symmetry in the score.
in fact, let me not be disparaging. They really are looking very good out there. Sharks will need to be at the top of their game
Brosnihan reckon that Baywatch has “lungs the size [pause] big plastic bags. 🙄
@klempie (Comment 123) : size of *
penalty against Ash
pot lines up a shot
good kick. For the Lions
41:00 Assistant Ref spots Willemse pushing Demas out of the way to get to an up and under. Penalty which Potgieter hits the posts with.
Cobras are 46 for 4 …chasing 163. Come on Dolphins!
lions stuff cheetahs scrum. But Heinke is penalised for scrumming up
21-14 now
43:00 – Lions scrum blown up for…well going up! Potgieter gets a kick from just outside the 22 near the left hand touch line and slots it!
i must say loffie has proven me wrong. his backline work has improved a lot. if lions can keep their players fit, don’t be surprised to se them in top 6.
@try time (Comment 133) : Careful TT. Someone might see you being complimentary.
46:00 – The Yank makes his S14 debut in place of Mostert.
Cheetahs trying to get back… Come on Lions!
clever on. Bosman yellow for a spear.
the dolphins are warming the mountain poefters to a weekend of sadness.
46:00 – Hand bags as Ludik goes down from a tackle. Bosman cops a yellow for that.
@try time (Comment 138) : T20’s junk…but what is the score…out of interest?
bonus point try to ash
cricket is junk
28 14 now
48:00 – Another long range effort from the Lions in broken play. Rose chips one over the rushing Lions backline round about halfway line. Willemse takes full advantage for the BP try. Rose gets the conversion.
28-14
@klempie (Comment 134) : creditv where it is due
51:00 – Some Cheetahs changes but I didn’t follow who. Maybe Rob did.
rose having a good game
@klempie (Comment 140) : 57/4 9.1 overs
Dont remember my pick…
@robdylan (Comment 147) : damn i started something. even rob is complimenting people he dislikes.
54:00 – Hugh Bladen raves about how well Slimgat is performing.
@klempie (Comment 146) : julies on for basson. Strauss cousins swap
54:00 Ping pong which is ended by Ludik kicking it out on the Cheetahs 22.
Andre “Keep a stretcher handy” Pretorius comes on. 🙄
Petoors!
this Clever looks useful
55:00 – van Heerden on for Breedt
BOSMAN back on…
bosman back on
@blackshark (Comment 157) : jinx
Rapunzel Clever looking good indeed…
58:00 – Blades gives an obfuscated explanation of what constitutes a forward pas.. 🙄
61:00 – The Lions looking confused as the Cheetahs pop the ball from the back of the ruck at the 22 on the left hand 5m. I personally think it was a forward pass but Demas take it down to the tryline and hands it to Brussouw. Soft. Converted.
Poor defence Lions…
28-21
65:00 – Stretcher kicks one out on the full. Nice comeback boet. 😛
all cheetahs now. Lions have tired themselves out
66:00 – Cheetahs DRIIIIIIVE the Lions back from the 22 to the tryline. Straight up the middle. Comes out and goes left to the fullback (whoever that is) who goes over but Willemse is deemed to have held him up by the TMO. Nice bear hug!
Well done ash!
66:00 – Sepakha and Boshoff on.
they’ve botched this! Try to jlp
all square
66:00 – Lions run it out of their 22 and Mentz crucially kicks it down the field and Juries eventually runs straight down the middle, stepping past loads of Lions, hands off to Smith who goes under the posts!! It’s converted and the scores are level! What a game! Cheetahs still need another for the BP.
68:00 – Loffie looking bleak in the coach’s booth. LOL
If these are the worst two teams in SA, then one of the SA teams had better win it this year.
all went wrong when ap came on
FOK Lions- get a penalty or something…
I am going to LMGA at Lions mate if they don’t win after their start.
and there he knocks over a drop!
72:00 – HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Stretcher takes the piss and decides “Screw all this helter-skelter and puts a drop over.
73:00 – Slimgat on the floor after a tackle. Welcome to Africa boet.
74:00 – Crowd booes Stretcher as he follows up the droppie with another one out on the full.
75:00 – Free kick Cheetahs at the Lions 22 for Lions not rolling away. Cheetahs takes the scrum.
cheetahs are dumb
75:00 – Lions DESTROY the Cheetahs and turn the scrum.
76:00 – Cheetahs throwing everything at the Lions now.
78:00 – Why the Lions keep kicking the ball back at the Cheetahs is beyond me.
Come on LIONS!
Come on LIONS!ROSE!
earl adds another drop for good measure
79:00 – Cheetahs HAVE to win this lineout. They cock it up and the Lions run up and down in front of the posts til Rose drops one over. Looks like the Cheetahs are doomed to follow the pattern of last year, losing close games.
FT 34-28
Can I go home now please? 😐
DOLPHINS!!!
Log updated… Lions go top!
DURBAN 1 – KAAPSTAD 0
@blackshark (Comment 194) :
You beat me to it. 😆
Bloody home internet. 👿
it better bloody be working by the time I get home today. 👿