[2015 Super Rugby] Lions vs. Hurricanes (Round 1) 13/02/2015

[TRF_heineken]

Ellis Park, Johannesburg

19:10 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

Teams:

Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee , 14. Ruan Combrinck , 13. Lionel Mapoe , 12. Howard Mnisi , 11. Courtnall Skosan , 10. Marnitz Boshoff , 9. Ross Cronje , 8. Warren Whiteley (c) , 7. Derick Minnie , 6. Jaco Kriel , 5. Franco Mostert , 4. Martin Muller , 3. Ruan Dreyer , 2. Malcolm Marx , 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Replacements : 16. Armand van der Merwe , 17. Corne Fourie , 18. Jacques van Rooyen , 19. Robert Kruger , 20. Warwick Tecklenburg , 21. Faf de Klerk , 22. Elton Jantjies , 23. Stokkies Hanekom

Hurricanes: 15 Jason Woodward, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (captain), 12 Rey Le-Lo, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 2 Dan Coles, 1 Ben Franks

Substitutes: 16 Brayden Mitchell, 17 Reggie Goodes, 18 Chris Eves, 19 Callum Gibbins, 20 Victor Vito, 21 Chris Smylie, 22 James Marshall, 23 Matt Proctor

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lions team for round 1

http://www.superxv.com/45399/1/lions-name-team-for-hurricanes-season-opener#.VNnoE53Lfow

Lions

15. Andries Coetzee , 14. Ruan Combrinck , 13. Lionel Mapoe , 12. Howard Mnisi , 11. Courtnall Skosan , 10. Marnitz Boshoff , 9. Ross Cronje , 8. Warren Whiteley (c) , 7. Derick Minnie , 6. Jaco Kriel , 5. Franco Mostert , 4. Martin Muller , 3. Ruan Dreyer , 2. Malcolm Marx , 1. Schalk van der Merwe

Replacements : 16. Armand van der Merwe , 17. Corne Fourie , 18. Jacques van Rooyen , 19. Robert Kruger , 20. Warwick Tecklenburg , 21. Faf de Klerk , 22. Elton Jantjies , 23. Stokkies Hanekom

Mapoe and Mnisi should be an interesting combo; one an underrated SR veteran, the other an exciting but raw prospect. The Lions' strength lies in their front row and backrow along with their team culture though! Pretty unspectacular in the rest of the backline and 2nd row though.

Looking ahead to this fixture as both teams like to play some rugby (also I have tons of Hurricanes and Lions in my fantasy rugby teams!) and the Bulls vs Stormers fixture just for the intensity it'll deliver.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Check out the no 2 Marx, he is called the "next Bismark" - can't wait to see him in action, he very big for a hooker at 1.88m and 119kg.
Evven the replacement hooker is a very busy body
Mnisi is a good prospect, hard running and ruthless defender

Strong loose trio and front row
Best no 9 is on the bench

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Marx was good, very good in fact, for the Junior Bokke the 1 game he played (missed the rest through injury). It'll be interesting to see what he does at a higher level but I'm expecting good things if he is keeping Armand van der Merwe on the pine (who I also have a lot of time for but I expect Ackerman might also see Armand as an impact player as he is quite a dynamic hooker- loves to have a run ball in hand). While I agree Faf is an exciting 9 I expect him being a Pumas player rather than a true blue (or rather rooibont ) Lions player counts against him.

 

[Gena_ZA]

nah, he is only now coming back from injury, he was the preferred no 9 last year.
Just like his energy, seems he bulked up a bit, all 5"6 of him

 

[TRF_heineken]

Cronje isn't so bad either. He is more of a controlling scrumhalf, whereas Faf is more of an x-factor. I think for the first game you need a guy like Cronje, along with Boshoff they'll be looking to control the game for the Lions.

If you look at that bench, it's clear that Ackerman is looking for impact. Armand, Faf, Jantjies and Stokkies are all guys who can make some impact late in the game.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

This is the toughest one for me to pick. I think the Hurricanes are the better side but the Lions at home are tougher than for a good while. I think a lot depends on what the Lions can do with what I expect to be superiority in the scrums and breakdown as the Hurricanes have them otherwise. Also, Boshoff needs to make his goal kicks count unlike the Currie Cup final which he lost for the Lions with what was it.. 6 misses?

 

[Jaguares]

The votes should be publics IMHO

 

[nickdnz]

The votes should be publics IMHO

When you vote on them they become publics IMHO...

 

[Jaguares]

When you vote on them they become publics IMHO...

I'm talking about the voters, I wrote bad

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I'm talking about the voters, I wrote bad

You meant to write; "I wrote poorly". Just teasing. Yeah, I meant to set it up as public but in my hurry to get everything up I missed a few and even in 1 poll I forgot to set a deadline for voting!! My apologies, I'll be more thorough next time round though of course this is only for some added fun and should never be taken seriously.

 

[Icemn]

Canes by 15

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

caned by 15

ftfy

 

[Jaguares]

You meant to write; "I wrote poorly".

Is it no the same? Ok, I was wrong...

 

[Icemn]

ftfy

jokes...

 

[Amobokoboko]

Curious to see if the Lions can keep their form of last year?

 

[big ginger 8]

78% possession and the Lions are still losing.

 

[FlukeArtist]

Terrible officiating in this game

 

[Gena_ZA]

Lions just needed some penetration, feel they lost this more than the Canes won it

 

[TRF_heineken]

Lions just needed some penetration, feel they lost this more than the Canes won it

Their sideway running cost them. I'm all for the offload play they do, and the pace their pack are going at. But they should run straight, leave the sideway running to the backs.