Most likely the Currie Cup game of the weekend, as the Lions host Western Province at Coca-Cola Park in Johanesburg. The Lions could well wrap up the top spot on the log with a win today, and a Western Province victory would keep hope alive for a Durban final and a spot in the play-offs for themselves.
The Lions have pretty much a full side with little injury concern and will hope to wrap up that home semi and potential home final before having to travel to Durban next weekend.
Western Province on the other hand, have a few players returning from injury, with Catrakilis handed the flyhalf jersey in hope to continue the good form he showed before injuring himself. The confidence should also be high after their victory against the Sharks in Durban.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Burton Francis, 21 Dylan des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.
Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Berton Klaasen, 12. Marcel Brache, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Nick Groom, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (Captain), 1. JC Kritzinger
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Hilton Lobberts, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Pieter Louw, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Johann Sadie
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I want Province to stay above the Bulls but beneath the Sharks 😈
@JarsonX (Comment 1) :
agree on that one go WP anything to keep he snoils underneath
With the Bulls loss to the Griquas, a win here will seal a semi-final place for the white and blue. And with the return of our young Spartan, we can give the Lions a real challenge.
Onward, for death or glory!
@Leviathan (Comment 3) : Demetri is your brother?
@JarsonX (Comment 1) : i see you did scoring in the bulls game, so its you that made them loose. Good for you… 😛
The Sharks made many meters through the WP new physically weak midfield last week and Hollenbach and Doppies better centers so hope the Lions can make better work of that…
Lions already taking in up through the middle forcing WP centers to double team…
@Franshark (Comment 5) : My SB suffered but I’m happy with the result 😈
The ball is not round ne… Bouncing around
@JarsonX (Comment 8) : same here
Penalty to the loins, opting for line out
maku try
Go Shorty, its your birthday 😛
Lions try after Doppies initial break running through Claasen and Whitley making the second break to just pop out to Maku who was open…
Elton converts
Lions 7 – 0 WP
7min
@Franshark (Comment 5) : I like commentating the minnow teams 😆
WP line out, lions 10
@JarsonX (Comment 17) : 😆
WP penalty in front of posts…
Lions 7 – 3 WP
Catrakilis PK
Lions 7 – 3 WP
11min
@JarsonX (Comment 8) : @Franshark (Comment 10) : mine to but its ok as long as they stay down so we can get ahead
Lions looking dangerous on attack until a very flashy pass on Elton is knocked on…
Got the snoils by 10 but if wp wins or lets just hope its a draw
Lions on attack ends in a knockon and then Wp takes a turn to do some attacking
WP attacking until a kick fielded by Taute which he carried over the tryline…easily drove back into field through the attempted Claasen tackle…Lions out of jail card no 1
Possession is very equal at this stage
Catrakilis drop goal
Lions 7 – 6 WP
21min
well lets just hope the Province win this one it keeps them down and under we can’t seem to win on their field anyway would love the finals to be at ST
I just saw that they are showing the sharks game tonight, my program said its not showing, jippieeeeeee
DG WP #10…
Lions 7 – 6 WP
@Franshark (Comment 31) : Miracles do happen 😎
Elton hits back with a PK
Lions 10 – 6 WP
23min
Lions penalty at kickoff…slotted by Elton…
Lions 10 – 6 WP
@JarsonX (Comment 33) : Amen to that is not always shown so we are lucky
Province getting very close, penalty awarded to them
Catrakilis PK
Lions 10 – 9 WP
27min
Elton gets hammerd
Lions putting the presure on Wp and gets the penalty
Elton PK
Lions 13 – 9 WP
31min
Lions on attack Hollenbach running over Brochy (however you spell it)…Taute diving 5 meters with Claasen..Lions win penalty…slotted
Lions 13 – 9 WP
A good display of goal kicking by the 2 fh’s
Lions down the side line, foot in touch
Province line out, lions 10 😯
Province line out, lions 10
Taute try
Elton converts
Lions 20 – 9 WP
39min
Lions 20 – 9 WP
HALF TIME
Elton running right over WP 10 runs down midfield…inside pass to Taute to score…converted… Lions 19 – 9 WP
Keep the comments coming! My fiance and I are on the train to Coldplay and she’s loving the Lions comments!
@juz (Comment 51) : No problemo, will continue after the break 😎
@Hmmm (Comment 50) : i just remember sth you are a Lions fan 🙄 😉
@juz (Comment 51) : is she also a Lions fan ❓
@juz (Comment 51) : well, hmmm is a lion giving updates so enjoy 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 52) :
Picked Lions by 2 😐
I am a massive Sharks fan, grew up at KP but now live in JHB. She’s a massive Lions fan and considered missing Coldplay so she could watch the game. I think we’re going to have issues dressing our kids – black or red?
@JarsonX (Comment 56) : way out myfriend unless province pick up
@juz (Comment 57) :
black if i was you you got some converting to do my friend
@juz (Comment 57) : As long as its not Black And Red (Crusaders) 😈
Snoils by 10 🙄
@juz (Comment 57) : thats easy, black when you going out and red when they get punished
@Franshark (Comment 62) :
@juz (Comment 57) : But you’ll miss the Sharks game 🙁
Penalty agaist Brachy…right in front of posts but over 40 meters so Taute is taking it…
Ttaute to take a penalty kick 48 meters
Missed to the left…
@Franshark (Comment 66) : taute with one t, missed
@JarsonX (Comment 60) : oh my forgot that one
Problems 5 meter out now
WP on attack..10 phases in Lions 22…then blown for obstruction 2 meters out…Lions penalty kick 40 meters into touch..
Province over but penalized for obstruction
Wp gets a penalty for lions being offside
Wp line out lions 22
WP not in possession much and they chip kick via Conrad/Brochy…and giving away possession when they have it…
Conrad is running more than I have ever seen him do though…
Wp gets nowhere and its Lions to put the ball in still on their 22
Brache.
Score please.
Wp on attack and gets a penalty for a early tackle
Deon Fourie on for Phentom-Wells should bring a lot more physicality to the WP loose trio who have no answer to the physical Lions loose trio at the moment…
First good thing I have seen Brache do stealing the ball in the ruck…
Catrakilis PK
Lions 20 – 12 WP
50min
@klempie (Comment 78) : Lions 20
WP 12
wp looking completely disinterested. Seriously boring game this, or is it just me?
@klempie (Comment 78) : sorry don’t know what happened to my post with the score 😕
Catrakilis PK
Lions 20 – 15 WP
55min
Ruck penalty against Lions in kicking distance…WP going for goal…WP ten still kicking them over at will…
Lions 20 – 15 WP
Yeah. Michael vd Spuy about to become the latest Province youngster to get a shot.
Demetri Cat too good.
@molly (Comment 84) : its not that bad
😕 😕
Come on Province, you useless poofs!
Province work their way into lions 22 and is awarded another penalty…
Catrakilis PK
Lions 20 – 18 WP
59min
Siya put into a gap…hauled in from behind by Whitely in Lions 22…WP put on some phases…awarded a penalty 14 from side line…kicking for goal…and guess…the Greek slots it again…
Lions 20 – 18 WP
@Franshark (Comment 89) : it just sooo static from wp
Elton straight thru
@Hmmm (Comment 94) : I detect a bit of sarcasm in there 😉
TMO try for Tuate
Elton converts missed
Lions 25 – 18 WP
62min
Elton makes a break…passes to Doppies who palms off Siya but stopped by WP 11…2 more phases Taute runs straight over Brache to score his second…difficult kick missed
Lions 25 – 18 WP
Bonus point try for the lions
Elton converts
Lions 32 – 18 WP
67min
Lions keep penetrating WP defense…take it wide…Lions replacement hooker shows good pace after receiving a Hollenbach pass to score behind the posts…kick converted…
Lions 32 – 18 WP
Come on WP! Get closer!
@molly (Comment 95) : I picked province on sb so I feel your pain, if province gets nothing it keeps the door open for the bulls 🙁
Lions are unstoppable! 😛 😆 Where’s McLovin?
That’s top spot wrapped up for the snoils. 🙁
Proooooooooviiiiiiiiiiiince
Lions awarded 4 tries for speeding up play and also a lot to do with the 15 tackles missed by WP…
9min to play
@JarsonX (Comment 106) :
@JarsonX (Comment 108) : do you have Tuate in your fl team
The Lions deserve to win the CC this year.
@Franshark (Comment 112) : Yip, but not starting 😕
@JarsonX (Comment 106) : 😆
Elton PK
Lions 35 – 18 WP
75min
Doppies in to contest for ball..cleared from the side by Brache 42 meters out in front… Elton slots
Lions 35 – 18 WP
Come on you Brokeback Mountaineers!!!
Intercept try for deon fourie
@Franshark (Comment 116) : That seals the game.
Cartikilis converts
Lions 35 – 25 WP
77min
Elton loses ball in contact..Fourie pics up and ouitsprints Minnie to score…converted
Lions 35 – 25 WP
One more try for a bonus point WP!
Minni try on Full Time
Jason…was merely being descriptive @ 94
well played Lions, much better than us today and this season.
@beet (Comment 113) : maybe they deserve to but the Sharks are going to.. 😉
3 FL tries from this game, non starting though 😕
Elton converts
Lions 42 – 25 WP
FULL TIME
@Hmmm (Comment 125) : No worries 🙂
@JarsonX (Comment 128) : 2 starting for me…
Minnie assisted drives over 2 WP players to score…converted
Final score
Lions 42 – 25 WP
@Franshark (Comment 131) : 4 tries in total and 18 kicks with more to come 😛
@Hmmm (Comment 125) : good detail in your commentry
@Franshark (Comment 127) : I’ll be so chuffed if you’re right. 🙂
I’ll be back…….later 😛
@JarsonX (Comment 133) : munch more by the sharks 😉
@beet (Comment 135) : me too 🙂
Lions outscoring WP 5 tries to 1
@Hmmm (Comment 139) : glad they won 😉 they will not be so focused next week, can afford to rest all their players 😉
Taute in only his 2nd year out of school playing like a seasoned pro.
well done Snoils what ever happens from here onwards and just hope if we get through to the finals the sharks have sth up the sleeve
Sure thanks Franshark…some though the detail was sarcasm though 😉
@franshark 140
Lions should stay focus right up to the finals from here on out…
Seems it should be Lions to play WP at Coka-cola park in the semis…
I am pleased 🙂
(comment 4)
no, thats just how I refer to him.
Anyway, a dissapointing result, given that we made so many attacks. Should perhaps have gone for the try a few times. A good showing nonetheless by our boys, especially young Demetri, good to see that he hasn’t lost his touch. The Pumas should be little danger at home and the Bulls and Griquas won’t catch us.
A little upset that the Lions didnt get pinged for a lift tackle when we did, but overall a good reffing performance.
Finally, well done to the Lions, you deserved the win, but you had better hope that the Boks win tommorow, because the returning Boks will have a massive impact come the finals.
@Leviathan (Comment 146) :
Better what …bring all the Boks back please !
I’d rather we won beating “all the boks” blah blah ..
Well played Lions and WP can hold their head up high .. u guys certainly have alot of depth and look good going forward.
@CoffeeshopBok (comment 147)
Well, you’ll get your wish if we stumble in Wellington tommorow.
Personally, I’d rather see WP out of semi contention if it meant beating the Aussies. With our injury list I’m proud of the boys for making it this far. Still, after losing some of our young players to the Bulls, I will get some measure of satisfaction seeing them out of contention.