[2017 Super Rugby] Round 4: Lions vs. Reds (18/03/2017)

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Emirates Airlines Park
Time: 17:15 CAT (SA, GMT+2)​

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Reds have a lot going for them but I'd be backing the Lions to bounce back. I am assuming here Mostert, Jantjies and RJvR will be available and that Kriel and Marx will be starting.

 

[Radsy]

The Reds have a lot going for them but I'd be backing the Lions to bounce back. I am assuming here Mostert, Jantjies and RJvR will be available and that Kriel and Marx will be starting.

I wonder if they go back to de Klerk?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I wonder if they go back to de Klerk?

Your guess is as good as mine, my friend. I don't know if dropping De Klerk in the first place was for the sake of keeping him honest, reward for Cronje making impact off the bench, standard rotation or as part of that of ill conceived (as proven by the result) 'B-team' selection for the trip to Argentina. I expect Ackermann'll pick his A team as far as he can but don't know which halfback that would include.

TBF to Ackermann the team he chose could've come away with a win. There were a lot of small things that added up all going against the Lions in that game half of which the Lions can blame themselves for and the rest just part of those things you simply cannot hope to plan for.

 

[Radsy]

Your guess is as good as mine, my friend. I don't know if dropping De Klerk in the first place was for the sake of keeping him honest, reward for Cronje making impact off the bench, standard rotation or as part of that of ill conceived (as proven by the result) 'B-team' selection for the trip to Argentina. I expect Ackermann'll pick his A team as far as he can but don't know which halfback that would include.

TBF to Ackermann the team he chose could've come away with a win. There were a lot of small things that added up all going against the Lions in that game half of which the Lions can blame themselves for and the rest just part of those things you simply cannot hope to plan for.

I'm glad everyone in my pool thought they could come away with a win without their best attacking players too

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lions back to full strength apart from Combrinck. Also wished AvdM could get back that bench hooker spot.

Lions15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe/Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen


Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith/Corne Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Harold Vorster

With the Stormers on the bye, the Lions back to full strength and the Reds in a bit of form seamingly this is going to be the game I target.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Feeling bold today. Lions by 20.

 

[Makos]

Bit of a bump in the road for the Lions last week?

What was the reason for the rotation, it stuffed up my fantasy and superbru predictions.

The Lions are a great team to watch and play some very good running rugby. The reds have improved, but won't be able to keep up away from home, Lions should do it 12+.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Lions need to get points on the board for their dominance. Combination of inaccuracy in the opposition half and a bit of luck and spoiling by the Reds.

- - - Updated - - -

Two shoulder charges from the Reds for nothing and illegal scrumming from Slipper yet the Lions get penalized. They've had no luck with the calls these last two games.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Agree, although to be fair, an injure-less/baby-born-less/funeral-less Lions side doesn't need luck to beat any non-NZ team imo. We beat them two times but the only time they fielded their best they tore us a new one.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Thats true enough but I don't think they'd have had their way in Argentina even if they were at full strength. I'd imagined they could've made it but Jo'burg counts for a lot for them.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

wow the reds were dirty in the first couple minutes... in middle of watching game now

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

reds dirty throughout the whole game... lions try to play a really lovely free flowing game and the reds result to thuggery

starting to think that elton was injured towards the end of last year because he was not moving the way he's been moving this year... same with rvr and mapoe actually, look like they have an extra jolt to the step

that young wing also looks like he has huge potential

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Yeah, Skosan caught the eye in the reserve Lions that lost in Argentina last year. I think he'll be more than just pace. But boy, what pace!

https://youtu.be/i7pZ0tDo4Uw

Chases his own kick, overtakes the opposition and scores.

 

[galumay]

Lions continue to look the only side that might be able to match it with the kiwis on their day - and if the kiwi side has an off day!. Reds once again proving a team of good players doesnt make a good team.