[2017 Super Rugby] Round 3: Jaguares vs. Lions (11/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Estadio Jose Amalfitani
Time: 21:40 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[SomeOke]

Rohan Janse van Rensburg is attending his mom's funeral so he won't be going.
Jantjies is having a baby so he won't be going.
Mostert and Mapoe being rested.
http://rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/77743-lions-leave-a-few-boks-behind

Hate to give the Jaguares any hope but at home this looks to be a potential scalp for them.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lions squad to Argentina:
Jacques van Rooyen, Dylan Smit, Ruan Dreyer, Johannes Jonker, Hencus van Wyk, Malcolm Marx, Robbie Coetzee, Andries Ferreira, Lourens Erasmus, Marvin Orie, Jaco Kriel, Kwagga Smith, Cyle Brink, Ruan Ackermann, Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronjé, Faf de Klerk, Andries Coetzee, Shaun Reynolds, Jaco van der Walt, Courtnall Skosan, Anthony Volmink, Harold Vorster, Jacques Nel, Sylvian Mahuza

I hope its not a case of history repeating itself but TBF they went with an entire B team to Argentina last year and its not as if Ackermann has a choice in many of the cases of players stayng at home. The Jaguares came within inches of beating the Stormers at home and shouldn't be taken lightly even if the Lions are a top 5 team.

Jaguares will be targeting this match for sure. No Combrinck, R JvR, Mapoe, Jantjies or Mostert. That's 4/7 of the prefered starting backline out.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Rohan Janse van Rensburg is attending his mom's funeral so he won't be going.
Jantjies is having a baby so he won't be going.
Mostert and Mapoe being rested.
http://rugby365.com/tournaments/super-rugby/77743-lions-leave-a-few-boks-behind

Hate to give the Jaguares any hope but at home this looks to be a potential scalp for them.

Although they have two good wins under their belt I'm not convinced the Lions have hit top gear yet either as they are conceding a lot of points. In these circumstances this is a terrific opportunity for the Jaguares to get their season on track. Probably the second best game of the round on paper.

 

[SomeOke]

Although they have two good wins under their belt I'm not convinced the Lions have hit top gear yet either as they are conceding a lot of points. In these circumstances this is a terrific opportunity for the Jaguares to get their season on track. Probably the second best game of the round on paper.

No arguments from me, the Lions still have to prove themselves (and I hope they do), and not bringing some of their best players to Argentina against what looks to be a significantly stronger jags side might be a mistake.
In their defense though RjvR and Elton have legitimate reasons not to go.

The most annoying thing is Robbie Coetzee apparently taking over from van der Merve as the 2nd choice hooker. Coetzee is more of a journeyman in my book.

 

[petite]

strangely jaguares do better away..

 

[FNS]

Even with players missing Lions are better team but maybe if we avoid yellows and kick smartly so we dont get open to counter attacks..well.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

I'm almost done making predictions about our games. We never know who, when and if will show up and perform.
Lions are a solid, mature teams that punishes mistakes. We make a lot of those.
I do see us making damage, but silly mistakes and indiscipline are part of our dna. On paper even with subs, they are a better team. Not necessarily individually, and that is what is so bloody frustrating.
I sincerely hope i am proven wrong. This game would be great building block to qualify.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

In America Elton would be getting ripped for missing this game.

American sports fans tend to tilt towards being awful and feeling they own players.

Good to see support for him.

 

[CocoPampas]

I see the Lions as a better team than us. So, I expect them to win this one.
I hope the Jaguares can show a good performance, as we saw against the Stormers (but without the yellows of course).
We can afford losing this one and still reach our goal.

Lions by 5+

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Hernandez back fit, and Montero. I would not like to see Hernandez start. I think the Jaguares have shown good shape in the first two games and should try for some continuity at centre rather than switch to Hernandez's kicking game. I'm sure they will make Hernandez start if he is fit though.

http://www.americasrugbynews.com/2017/03/07/hernandez-montero-set-return-jaguares/

Remembering how good the Lions second XV were in a losing effort in Argentina last year I think they are still favourites. I think the Jaguares need this though. The Cheetahs, Sharks and Bulls all look highly competitive to me this year so far.

 

[saulan]

With home advantage and the Lions being in the unfortunate position of losing a number of starting players for this match, I back the Jaguares for this one. You have a strong competitive team, it really is just the discipline. I feel that the Lions really haven't completely hit their straps yet. I think they will get there as the season progresses, but I really believe this is the best time for the Jaguares to pull off this win.

 

[Jaguares]

Lions:

15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Dylan Smith

Reserves:

16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Andries Coetzee, 23 Sylvian Mahuza

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

That Lions lineup looks to have a number of second choice players in it (like all the backs?). Is Ackerman taking the Jaguares for granted two years running?

 

[Jaguares]

Jaguares:

15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Felipe Arregui, 2 Agustín Creevy (C), 1 Santiago García Botta.

Replacements:

16 Julián Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera Paz, 18 Cristian Bartoloni, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Matías Moroni

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

That Lions lineup looks to have a number of second choice players in it (like all the backs?). Is Ackerman taking the Jaguares for granted two years running?

Nah, I think his hand is forced;

9) Ross Cronje I think is ahead of De Klerk as is
10) Jantjies' baby is being born
11/14) Skosan is there and Combrinck is still out injured
12) RJvR is out for family reasons due to the passing of his mother
13) Mapoe is an odd one but he does seem to be off his best and I believe is carrying some ****le?
15) I believe Ackermann is starting Van der Walt for his better kicking game to take pressure off of Reynolds with Jantjies being out.

The Lions aren't really a team of stars. Sure, some players are just better but its their game and the fact they all know it that makes them dangerous. Their bench has the potential to make huge impact.

I am not building up the Lions though- I really do believe the Jaguares can take this. Now or never type of thing. They've shown they can go toe to toe with ***le contender teams on ther day.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Thanks. I did wonder if Faf had lost his place. It's like he and Mapoe in particular have been scarred by their unfortunate Springbok experience.

 

[SomeOke]

Sorry Stormer I have to disagree with you, about this not being a second side.

Jaco Kriel isn't starting either, and Ackerman has been preferred over Brink, his first choice lock isn't starting and Johannes Jonker isn't first choice either - along with some of the non-forced changes in the backline.

To me you can't argue this is a second string side. Not sure what Ackerman is thinking other than perhaps, he'd rather lose this game than have his players tired/injured in Argentina.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Sorry Stormer I have to disagree with you, about this not being a second side.

Jaco Kriel isn't starting either, and Ackerman has been preferred over Brink, his first choice lock isn't starting and Johannes Jonker isn't first choice either - along with some of the non-forced changes in the backline.

To me you can't argue this is a second string side. Not sure what Ackerman is thinking other than perhaps, he'd rather lose this game than have his players tired/injured in Argentina.

I don't know, I have to agree with Stormer here.

Some of the stars were also playing in Japan ahead of the start of the Super Rugby tournament. Maybe this fixture is the ideal break for some of them.

But we shouldn't compare this fixture to last year's fixture. Last year, it was the last round before the playoffs and Ackermann made a calculated decision to rather rest his performing players. Which worked for them in the playoffs.

This year, there are valid non-rugby related reasons why some guys aren't going. But with that said, it seems like the plan is to play a little bit tighter than usual, maybe to grind out a victory.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Sorry Stormer I have to disagree with you, about this not being a second side.

Jaco Kriel isn't starting either, and Ackerman has been preferred over Brink, his first choice lock isn't starting and Johannes Jonker isn't first choice either - along with some of the non-forced changes in the backline.

To me you can't argue this is a second string side. Not sure what Ackerman is thinking other than perhaps, he'd rather lose this game than have his players tired/injured in Argentina.

I don't know, I have to agree with Stormer here.

Some of the stars were also playing in Japan ahead of the start of the Super Rugby tournament. Maybe this fixture is the ideal break for some of them.

But we shouldn't compare this fixture to last year's fixture. Last year, it was the last round before the playoffs and Ackermann made a calculated decision to rather rest his performing players. Which worked for them in the playoffs.

This year, there are valid non-rugby related reasons why some guys aren't going. But with that said, it seems like the plan is to play a little bit tighter than usual, maybe to grind out a victory.

I didn't mean to say that's it not a weakened squad, just that in the backline I don't think Ackermann has any choice. Still a strong enough team to take on most. Nothing compared to the side that Ackermann sent last year. That was a full blown B team. Here even if its only 1/4 1st choice many of those decision were forced on him and another 1/4 is on the bench at least.