The second game of the morning sees the Lions, fresh off their scrappy win over the Brumbies take on play off contenders the Waratahs in Sydney. All of South Africa will be hoping for a second straight win for the Lions, but that is rather unlikely.
The Waratahs re still without their on/off captain Phil Waugh has seems to always be injured these days, but the ret of the team is built around a core group of players that have not been amazing so far this season, but have done the job reasonably well enough to stake a claim in the play offs.
The Lions have opted to start with new recruit Butch James at flyhalf and drop to the bench probably their most influential player from the win over the Brumbies, Elton Jantjies. Butch is certain to add a different element to the flyhalf position, and it will be interesting to see how he goes against Barnes.
Kick off is at 11h40.
Waratahs – 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Lachie Turner, 13 Ryan Cross, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Sosene Anesi, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Luke Burgess, 8 Ben Mowen, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Dean Mumm (c), 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Subs: 16 Damien Fitzpatrick, 17 Al Baxter, 18 Kane Douglas, 19 Hugh Perrett, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Daniel Halangahu, 22 Tom Kingston.
Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Doppies la Grange (c), 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Butch James, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Joshua Strauss, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Warren Whiteley, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Dylan des Fountain.
Tweet
Tahs to win.
Had a meeting with the fans this week and the fans are not happy.
Expect them to come out and prove a point today.
@McLovin (Comment 1) :
Didn’t expect any other result really..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : True.
I hope Butch has a good game..
@McLovin (Comment 1) : you’re saying the Tahs met with their fans?
Shit, that’s revolutionary. Not like the Sharks who like to sell stuff to their fans but otherwise would prefer them to not exist!
@robdylan (Comment 5) :
They were just talking about it now..
It was a Fan-Forum.. very interesting indeed..
And we are under way with a Kurtley Beale try!!
Tahs 5 – 0 Lions
3 minutes
Lions not taking the three point penalty, going for attacking 5m lineout
Another penalty, another lineout!
Third lineout now..
Tahs etting warned for penalties in the red zone..
Lions, after 5 minutes on the attack, have lost it forward..
Good play from the Lions though..
Hi People – just some useless trivia – and perhaps you people knew this – I sure did not – Willem Alberts’ sister is Deon Stegmanns’ wife! Talk about being torn in two – I hope blood is thicker than water! 😆
Howcome Doppies is Captain again ? Did Josh not do a good enough job last weekend?
@Ice (Comment 13) :
Thanx for the info Ice.. very interesting.. so they are brothers in law.. interesting..
@Ice (Comment 13) : Maybe Albert will give his “Swaar” a lesson on how to play clean 😀
Mapoe being stretchered off..
He copped a stray elbow on the head.. Looked rather painful!
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 16) : not today though…after the comp! We can do with a Yellow from Stegmann! 😆
@robdylan (Comment 5) : .
Don’t you think that is a bit harsh??
I have had plenty of good vibes from the Sharks, players as well as their P.R.O.dept.
Maybe it depends on ones attitude?
Tauta try!!!
Referred to TMO but he got the ball down!
Butch with a grubber on attack..
@Ice (Comment 18) : 😆
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 17) :
OUCH…hope not too bad.
Tahs 5 – 5 Lions
Butch missing a pretty easy conversion..
15 minutes
Anesi try!!
Tahs take the lead back!
Beale misses from the sideine
Tahs 10 – 5 Lions
23 minutes
Ryan Cross scores a fantastic try!!!
Barnes chipped the Lions defence, Beale caught and saw Cross on the wing!! Great play!!
Butch looking good. Rest of the Lions not – these Waratas tries were way too easy.
Deon van Rensburg gets a yellow for a knee to the head of Tahs player..
Tahs 17 – 5 Lions
25 minutes
Good to see Rhodes getting a lot of game time!!
Anesi scors the bonus point try!!!
A chip over from Burgess puts the winger away with the missing van Rensburg sitting in the sin bin..
Oh no: Lions back to their old ways. I didn’t see the alleged knee: the YC has hit the Lions hard.
Beale misses another conversion..
Tahs 22 – 5 Lions
31 minutes
Butch penalised for a high tackle when the Tahs player slipped into his shoulder..
Very kak call that!
Vermaak given a lecture for a shoulder charge..
Lions are bleeding penalties here..
Another Tahs try!!!
Replacement Kingston on the wing..
Beale slots the conversion
Tahs 29 – 5 Lions
37 minutes
Waratahs 29 – 5 Lions
HALF TIME
6 tries to 1..
Waratahs dominating in all aspects..
SA Sevens 17 – 7 Russia
FULL TIME
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 42) : 🙁
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 43) : 😀
How are u guys holding up?? My nerves are SHOT!
Tahs 29 – 5 Lions
50 minutes
@Ice (Comment 46) :
Hello Ice!
Must say i am a little nervous BUT I believe!!!
Hoorah!!! Time to go home…catch you all later!!!
Mama – felt like this CC semi’s last year…and it went well..so hold thumbs!! WE Believe!!
@Me2 aka Mama Shark (Comment 49) : Mila has Model of the season comp at 3 – so will be just in time for the game! Hold thumbs! She looks like a mini Grace Kelly – beautiful and classy! Hold thumbs!
Tahs try!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 52) :
Sorry.. Tahs knocked..
@Ice (Comment 51) : 😎 Tell her Mama says”Go for it” and good luck! 🙂
FULL TIME
Waratahs 29 – 12 Lions
OMG these Aussie commentators are idiots! I thought Victoria moans a lot.
Tahs you might have won the Lions but we are waiting 😆