So it has finally happened!!
Earl Rose has been dropped from the Lions starting XV for their upcoming match against the Highlanders. According to reports on most rugby websites, Earl has been the Lions’ weakest defensive player since the competition kicked off (as if we didn’t know this already)
The highly rated (in Lions country) Michael Killian will start at fullback in place of Rose in one of four changes to the starting XV.
My prediction is the Lions will get smashed by the Highlanders this weekend.
Here is the team:
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Wigan Pekeur, 13 Walter Venter, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Tonderai Chavhanga, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Todd Clever, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Charles Emslie, 17 Heinke van der Merwe, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Earl Rose.
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It really is a pity that Burton Francis is not available.
I thought he played quite well until he was replaced by Spencer!
between mjekevu & rose, it’s a toss up who is the most useless on defence!
Earl out Spencer in. It kind of cancels each other out….Lions to lose by plenty
@Megatron (Comment 2) : Earl Rose runs away from making the tackle and Mjekevu juts stands dead still hoping to get stepped.
@Megatron (Comment 2) : @provincejoulekkading (Comment 4) :
Shame, the bra is just 19 years old and this is his 1st season of top flight rugga!! š
I’m just saying!!!
@wpw (Comment 1) : My prediction is the Lions will get smashed by the Highlanders this weekend.
It’s not the hardest prediction to make…I bet your right!!!
Holy smokes, Wikus van Heerden is already in the Lions VC squad.
@Letgo (Comment 6) : I have so much faith in that prediction that I’ve picked the Highlanders on LMS.
@wpw (Comment 5) : No excuse
@wpw (Comment 1) : Burton should be used every time, he’s a decent flyhalf and needs the game time…I don’t know what good it will do the Lions to play Spencer…win a game? Whoop, Whoop ā š
And last year they used Herkie Kruger and before that overrated, always injured Andre Pretorius. Who’s doing the building at the Lions, because they suck.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : along with 19 others.
Some poor sod has actually picked the Lions. Intentionally š
@provincejoulekkading (Comment 9) : agree. Pat Lambie is also only 19 and a lot smaller, yet he finds a way to tackle.
@robdylan (Comment 8) : Good choice. I don’t know when the highlanders will get another chance to win…this might be our last chance to pick them.
@Letgo (Comment 10) :
I think Burton picked up an injury!! š
@Letgo (Comment 13) :
Highlanders will destroy the Force (if they haven’t already) š
@robdylan (Comment 11) : He’s taking one for the team….or jumping on his sword. š
@wpw (Comment 14) : Pity š
@Pokkel (Comment 3) : Lions should try to get Goode to play for them, tons better than queen carlos.
Why is heinke on the bench? 3 weeks in a row I think,he is one of their only world class players. Dick muir is faling seriously short here. Along with eaving the likes of marius delport to play vodacom cup.
@robdylan (Comment 12) : š š š
@zenrugby (Comment 19) :
Heinke VD Merwe is as much a world class player as what I am a veteran Comrades marathon runner!!
@wpw (Comment 21) : š
@wpw (Comment 21) : look,I think switching him to tighthead on the bok end of year tour was a stupid decision but a season ago he was the strongest scrummaging loosehead in the country until injury ruled him out. In relation to the reat of that lions front row he is superman
Till later got to make lunch
Well bottom line this is good news for the Lions. Earl had to go . .. years ago! How he managed to hang in there for so long is beyond me . . .
I don`t really care who they select in his place it`s bound to be an improvement. The UJ fullback would be a leap in the right direction. We don`t even have to know his name to know he`ll be better.
Problem is, Rose might still make another come back for them sometime. . .
@Letgo (Comment 13) : still need to pick the Lions, though š
@zenrugby (Comment 23) :
I think he is overrated and lazy.
What use is he if all he can do is scrum well?? He doesn’t defend well and hardly hits rucks!!!
@Original Pierre (Comment 25) : Yep, he’ll probably run to daddy and Pdiv…..again. š
@robdylan (Comment 26) : You’ll have to gamble the Force game. š
Very wise words Wes……Highlanders have a little left in the tank yet this season !
The thing I have to chuckle about, is all the big mouthed shark supporters having a full go at how crap the lions are and yet, You guys have only won one more game than us, with all your springboks!! One should be careful, when having a go at other sides when your own side is not much better!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 29) : ja… hmmm. But which one do you pick the Force to win? I’m not backing the Sharks until they play the Force.
……………AND YES THANK THE POPE THEY HAVE FINALLY DROPPED Earl, “how can I f#ck it upmore than last week” Rose.
@robdylan (Comment 32) : You might have to go with them when they play the Tjietas….as long as they play them in OZ.
So glad I’m already dead….it’s getting way too difficult, strengfffffff.
@Whindy (Comment 31) : Well, we could always point out the losing margins….eish. š
@FireTheLooser (Comment 35) : I am not defending the Lions they are kak, but they don’t have half the Springbok side in their team š
@Whindy (Comment 36) : Well, can’t say I’m enjoying the Lions playing such rubbish rugby…..
I think we’re having a go at them because they’re playing without any pride, and they give up half-way through a game. It’s hard to show respect to a side that doesn’t even respect themselves.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 30) :
I thought you’d like that!!!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 37) : True and as I said I am not defending them, but if you have a look at the resourses available to them, they were always on a hiding to nothing. No fault of theirs, but rather an inept management team, that have been able to squander the once richest rugby union in the world, to a laughing stock!! However they are still only two sides below the Sharks, I am only stirring the pot!! š
@Whindy (Comment 39) : and they have scored more tries than the Sharks š
@wpw (Comment 38) : Must also remember the Highlanders have played the
Bulls, Crusaders, Stormers & Blues could they be the semi finalists.
@Whindy (Comment 39) : And believe me, as a Sharks supporter our log position really hurts….though, with any luck we would have been sitting pretty in the top 7 of the log.
Lions have been managed to death. Muir will also not be afforded the time frame to turn things around, with him only being there during the S14….they needed him all year round, for at least 4-6 years, with experienced ass. coaches…not Ackerman and dis-Spencer.
@Pokkel (Comment 40) : they scored more tries in one game than the Sharks gave all season š³
@Whindy (Comment 39) :
What I want to know is what happened to the 60 odd million rond they received for the nameing rights to the stadium!!! š
Also, they should never have signed Carlos Spencer!!
@Pokkel (Comment 40) : And given away more tries than almost all the S14 franchises put together. š
@wpw (Comment 44) : Queen dis-Spencer, what a gat he is making of himself, bet even the kiwis are feeling embarrassed by his performances.
@wpw (Comment 44) : I thought Spencer would be quite a good skills coach….not attack coach !
@FireTheLooser (Comment 46) : He’s just the same old Spencer ! Generally rubbish ! Had a particularly good season in 2003 !
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 48) :
Until that 1/4 final against the convicts!! š
@wpw (Comment 44) : Agreed Wes, he is over the hill!! Would be interesting to know where its gone?? I still think the best thing that could happen to the Lions, is if ther introduce the Kings and have a relegation system, so they have their livelihoods to lose. Then maybe we will see the guys take action. There other Big mistake was not to appoint Meyer. Dick has other aspirations, they needed a dedicated guy to instill some feeder systems and look at what Meyer has achieved at the Bulls, would have been perfect.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 48) : Then it begs the question, why on earth would Muir have bought him?
I mean, he’s 76yrs old, way past his prime (which, as you pointed out, lasted only for one year). And as far as his coaching goes, haven’t seen any of it paying dividends.
@Whindy (Comment 50) : I wonder who handles the money matters at the Lions?
@FireTheLooser (Comment 51) : I think he was desperate too make a big name signing and it could have worked if Carlos could have brought a morsel of his former self to the table, as it would have given the younger members a bit of confidence, to be playing with an All Black “great”, unfortunately he never arrived with any semblance of Form and the Lions washed a huge amount of cash down the toilet.
@wpw (Comment 49) : That’s the one ! Bloody Aussies !
@Whindy (Comment 53) : brave, but ultimately very foolish of Muir. He shouldve seen it coming. Everyone else did
@FireTheLooser (Comment 51) : You only had to watch Spencer at Gloucester to realise he was in rubbish form…..however does a great banana kick ! š
@Whindy (Comment 53) : @robdylan (Comment 55) : @Hertford Highlander (Comment 56) : dis-Spencer might have been the only exotic the Lions could afford. š
The main reason for bringing in Carlos Spencer was a Mentor/Coach role. He won’t just be here for the S14, but to help out in the Curry Cup. Bearing this in mind they should then be starting Button as much as possible. Although Carlos is not yet up to S14 fitness, I think he will be, and it is also near impossible for one to save a sinking ship. Even Frans Steyn would battle to look good with a crap team.
I think the personal attacks on rugby players is immature and uncalled for. Really this isn’t Voldy’s site. Spence might not be in his best form, but at least he is trying to make a difference in some youngsters career…more than can be said of some of our old players. BTW – with Dick Muir as coach no one stands a chance of finding form (just my opinion)
@robdylan (Comment 8) :
Good call , was unsure who to pick .. watch the Lions go and win this one .. BWAHAHAHAHAHA not.
LMS safe for another week š
@Letgo (Comment 10) :
Hey hang on here .. The Sharks have also just won a game and that against the mighty Landers š
@Just a Fan (Comment 58) :
Very well said Sir ! (Robd another star for JustaFan) ?
I concur , not even Dan Cartwer would look good in a very dire Lions squad.
@Just a Fan (Comment 58) : who is Voldy?
Mega
Voldy is another name for Keo.
What does P Divvy have to say about this? I dont think he will be to happy š
Gio Aplon and Joe Pieterson are both better tacklers and defenders than Earl!!
Having said that, I think Earl’s best position is flyhalf, anyone have his defense stats for the position he’s played in?
Asking a bit much methinks!!