Coach John Mitchell has announced his team to face the Bulls at Coca Cola Park on Saturday night in the opening round of the 2011 Super Rugby season.
The team that had the most airtime in the off season with regards to player acquisitions has only three new players in the starting line up, with a further three on the bench.
The front row sees two of the debutants, with Bandise Maku and Pat Cilliers starting their Lions career along with JC Janse van Rensburg. Exciting lock George Earle and Captain Franco van der Merwe make up the second row with Lions regulars Derick Minnie, Josh Strauss and Warren Whiteley complete the scrum.
The halfback combination of Jano Vermaak and Elton Jantjies seems to be their strongest, and they link with the tried and tested combination of Doppies la Grange and Waylon Murray in the centres. The last of the new acquisitions is Lionel Mapoe, who will play his first game of rugby in quite a while, and joins Michael Killian and the exciting Jaco Taute as the back three.
Experience on the bench in former captain Wikus van Heerder and Cobus Grobbelaar, along with new signings in Rory Kockett, Burton Francis and James Kamana round of the match 22.
Team:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Lionel Mapoe, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Roger Whiteley, 7. Joshua Zac Strauss, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (Captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Jacobus Christo Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Wikus van Heerden, 19. Cobus Grobbelaar, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Burton Francis, 22. James Kamana
Tweet
We are here to toil. Hard working team I think.
I think thats the best bench the Lions have had in many a season!
Where is good ol Pretorious? Injured? Retired? Has King Carlos finally called it quits on his playing days or will we see him on the bench to play the Blues again? haha
@SheldonK (Comment 2) :
Pretorius is injured as far as I know.. Another hamstring injury..
As for Carlos.. wouldnt mind the 50 year old geiser playing for the Blues next weekend..
Lock is the biggest concern. Good backline but they need ball.
@Speed7 (Comment 4) :
You have a decent front row and back row..
@Speed7 (Comment 4) :
If, and its a big if, the Lions can live with the Bulls scrum then they just may win it.
I can now almost taste the rugby-buzz in the air – Lions supporters, good luck on your Super season, but may it only start next week 😉
Imho the lions have an average tight 5, a good loose forward trio and a very good backline.
I know Lions fans think the world of Doppies but I think he is the weak link (especially on defense). I am sure Mapoe will partner Murray at centre as the season wears on.
Would be lovely to get an upset in week 1. Roar LIONS, ROAR!
If it`s wet I`ll start Rory.
Just hope the Lions fwds can hold off the bulls assault.
What person have “starve” and “kos” in one name? 😆
@Ice (Comment 11) : A guy who can’t wait for the season to kickoff. Wonder where I can get the Sharks’ strip here in Jozi.
@Starvekos (Comment 12) : and what u call a gal who can’t wait?
You can go to sneakers or mrprice sport.
@Ice (Comment 13) : Thanks Ice
I’d have started Rory, Grobbelaar and van Heerden. But then that’s me enjoying winning!
Okay all u Jozi people…did you hear me on 94.7 this morning?? 😆
@Ice (Comment 16) : no way… what did you say?
@Ice (Comment 16) :
Did Whackhead get hold of you?
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) : is that moron still on air?
He’s the reason I left SA
@robdylan (Comment 19) :
To be honest I dont know, he was until recently, his show was syndicated to KFM so I would sometimes hear it in the mornings. I havent heard listened to KFM for a while now.
@Salmonoid (Comment 18) : yip, but after the prank. It was brilliant – download it!
@Ice (Comment 21) :
Will do. 😎
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Ag sies Rob, then I must not show you the photo of my girls with Whackhead. And I heard Ice this morning on my way back from school.
@Salmonoid (Comment 22) :
Post a link if you have one. I tried to find it on Highveld but could only get him pulling a U2 prank on Arno Carstens, trying to get him to sing Steve Hofmeyer’s Pampoen. Had a good laugh.
@Ice (Comment 21) : @Nita (Comment 23) :
I bet you Ice gave him beans.
Good team but bulls will strangle them to death ,oh and spies will be devistating if their scrum gains the upper hand ,he has soft targets to run at -hand off whitely ,run over jantjies .
If i was the stratergist for the bulls I would not employ kick and chase game becuase their(lions) back 3 are dangerous. I think we will see a low socring game where the forwards bash eachother up and lions will not win that batle .Du Preez and Morne kick for corners and maul it over the line ,if the lions are to win this game they must make sure their discipline is tops, get all the forwards 6,7,8 inc, to just focus on retaining ball and then throw it wide ,my 2 cents
@Ice (Comment 21) : Did you give him stick, Ice? Where can I download it?
@robdylan (Comment 19) : Darren Scott is making mincemeat of him with his Jacaranda breakfast show.
My head says the bulls will win easily but my heart says otherwise. Go LIONS
@SharonvanWyk (Comment 28) : Darren Scott is actually intelligent and funny. Whackhead is just a buffoon.
@robdylan (Comment 30) : Haha I don’t agree there.
@Ben (Comment 31) : that’s fine dude… we don’t all have to agree.
I am friends with LOTS of people who think Whackhead epitomises the art of good comedy.
@robdylan (Comment 32) : I just think he’s pranks are a lot funnier than darren’s
@Ben (Comment 33) : aaah – ok. I haven’t actually heard any of Darren’s pranks.
And not to be a killjoy, I don’t really like prank calls anyway. I think they’re unfair. But maybe that’s just me
@robdylan (Comment 34) : Yes it is a bit unfair. But holy crap its funny.
@Ben (Comment 35) : 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 36) : No seriously dude that guy is is hilarious when he does prank calls. You should give it a listen.
@robdylan (Comment 34) : I’m with you on that. 🙂
@McLovin (Comment 38) : the whole Russel Brand thing has just left such a sour taste in my mouth.
@robdylan (Comment 39) : Never actually heard the call, but I’ve never liked him anyway.
@McLovin (Comment 40) : no, I didn’t hear the call either, but to me, using the advantage of anonymity and an assumed identity to make fun of somebody else isn’t comedy. It’s bullying.
@robdylan (Comment 41) : and don’t even get me started on recording someone and broadcasting it without their knowledge or consent…
@robdylan (Comment 41) : All is fair in love and war.
http://www.supersport.com/rugby/super-rugby/news/110220/Individualism_cost_us_Mitchell
mitchell not accepting mediocrity