Preview: Lions v Stormers
Jaque Fourie is tackled by Jean de Villiers in action during the Super 14, round 5 match between the Stormers and Lions held at Newland Stadium on March 14, 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Carl Fourie/Gallo Images/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jean de Villiers;Jaque Fourie (March 14, 2009 - Photo by Gallo Images/Getty Images Europe)
The Lions v Stormers clash might well be the most attractive game for the South African Super 14 teams. While the Bloemfontein match between the Vodacom Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls is expected to be a tough forward battle, we might well see a more expansive game in Johannesburg.
Rugby15 have found a nice summary from Paul Neazor, Sportal and would like to share this!
While nobody expects the Lions to fire a shot this year, many punters will take considerable interest in the Stormers’ early form. Strengthened by the recovery of Andries Bekker and arrival of Bryan Habana, the Cape men should be playoff material – but that’s a song sung many times in the past only for it to sound flat by mid-May.
VENUE & TIME: Coca-Cola (formerly Ellis) Park, Johannesburg, Saturday February 13, 17.05 local (04.05 Sunday NZT).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 13 – Transvaal/Gauteng/Cats/Lions 4, Western Province/Stormers 9.
LAST TIME: March 14, 2009 (Cape Town) – Stormers 56-18 Lions.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: May 17, 2008 – Lions 13-22 Stormers.
CCID: 28580
MATCH ODDS:
TAB NZ: Lions: $3.30, Stormers: $1.30
FORM: The Lions hardly impressed in pre-season, getting thumped twice by the Bulls in split-squad matches and having two wins against Currie Cup sides afterwards. The Stormers could hardly have been better; they put 50 on the Force, walloped the Sharks and took a Boland Invitation XV to the cleaners as well.
WHO’S HOT: Signing Carlos Spencer was something of a publicity coup for the Lions but they’ll need a lot more than that to avoid a ninth straight double-digit finish. There’s size in the forwards where Cobus Grobbelaar is always good value and a veteran locking pair of Jannes Labuschagne and Willem Stoltz should provide plenty of grunt, but the backline looks thin, with halfback Jano Vermaak, utility Earl Rose and winger Tonderai Chavhanga the most appealing. As ever, the Stormers are strong on paper but need to get it done on the park. A big, mobile pack features former Lions lock Anton van Zyl, Schalk Burger and a solid front row in addition to Bekker, while Peter Grant, Jaque Fourie, Conrad Jantjes and Bryan Habana are other dangerous attacking options in a backline loaded with talent.
WE THINK: Although this match is at Johannesburg, we expect the Stormers to win comfortably and possibly take all five points. Somebody has to finish last each year and the Lions are among the favourites for this unwanted spot in 2010; the Stormers should be good enough to run out 10-15 point winners.
Referee Jaco Peyper is expected to add to the festivities by allowing for an expansive game! Both these teams are capable of scoring from distance and will seek to benefit from faster ball from ruck situations.
TEAMS:
Lions: 1 – Heinke van der Merwe, 2 – Hannes Franklin, 3 – Ross Geldenhuys, 4 – Jacques Lombard, 5 – Willem Stoltz, 6 – Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 7 – Franco van der Merwe, 8 – Jonathan Mokuena, 9 – JP Joubert, 10 – Carlos Spencer, 11 – Wandile Mjekevu, 12 – Doppies la Grange, 13 – Deon van Rensburg, 14 – Tonderai Chavhanga, 15 – Earl Rose.
Reserves: 16 – Charles Emslie, 17 – JC van Rensburg, 18 – Todd Clever, 19 – Jacques Coetzee, 20 – Derrick Minnie, 21 – Burton Francis, 22 – Michael Killian.
Stormers: 1 – Wicus Blaauw, 2 – Tiaan Liebenberg, 3 – Brok Harris, 4 – De Kock Steenkamp, 5 – Andries Bekker, 6 – Schalk Burger (c), 7 – Francois Louw, 8 – Duane Vermeulen 9 – Dewaldt Duvenhage, 10 – Peter Grant, 11 – Bryan Habana, 12 – Juan De Jongh, 13 – Jaque Fourie, 14 – Gio Aplon, 15 – Joe Pietersen.
Reserves:16 – Deon Fourie, 17 – JC Kritzinger, 18 – Anton Van Zyl, 19 – Pieter Louw, 20 – Ricky Januarie, 21 – Lionel Cronje, 22 – Sireli Naqelevuki
REFEREE: Jaco Peyper
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