Super 15: Hurricanes - Lions in Wellington (03-06-2011, 6:30 GMT)

[Darwin]

Super 15: Hurricanes - Lions in Wellington (04-06-2011)

Westpac Stadium, Wellington (04-06-2011, 6:30 GMT)

While neither the Hurricanes nor the Lions have any chance of making the playoffs this year, both teams will want to produce a strong performances in this match. The Lions will want to continue the impressive tour of Australia and New Zealand, which has already seen them pick up two wins, which is more victories than they got all last season! There are a number of players in the Hurricanes that are in All Black's contention; these players will want to perform at their best to assure they get selected in the All Blacks Tri-nations squad.

Hurricanes – 15 Cory Jane, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Conrad Smith/Jayden Hayward, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Piri Weepu, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Neemia Tialata, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 John Schwalger.
Subs: 16 Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Hayward/Julian Savea, 22 Richard Buckman.

Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Dylan des Fountain, 13 Doppies la Grange (c), 12 Butch James, 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar,5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Michael Killian.

Andrew Hore returns to the Canes front-row, after being rested last week. Piri Weepu also gets his first start of the season after coming off the bench in the last two matches. He will definitely need to show some form if he wants to be considered for the AB's Tri-nations squad. Conrad Smith as been bracketed with Jayden Hayward, as Smith picked up another injury last week, while Alapati Leiua replaces the injured Andre Taylor on the right wing.

The Lions only have a single change to their starting lineup, with former captain Cobus Grobbelaar replacing the suspended Michael Rhodes on the flank.

Last five matches:
27 Feb 2010 Hurricanes v Lions 33-18 Wellington
28 Mar 2009 Hurricanes v Lions 38-32 Johannesburg
03 May 2008 Hurricanes v Lions 38-12 Wellington
24 Mar 2007 Hurricanes v Lions 7-30 Johannesburg
24 Feb 2006 Hurricanes v Lions 29-16 Wellington


<a href="http://winbetting.at/therugbyforum?CTY=1&amp;CID=15908"><img src="http://b1.perfb.com/b1.php?ID=15908&amp;PURL=winbetting.at/therugbyforum" border="0" /></a>

*Vbookie odds supplied by BWIN*

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Vbookie and logo's added

 

[TRF_RC]

Will Conrad please stop getting injured...please?

Same great team on paper as last week, same under-performing set of individuals again?
I hope not. Although the Lions have got a few scalps to their name this season, I think the Canes will pull this one off - especially if Cruden is as elusive as he was at times last week.

 

[TRF_RC]

Oh come on! Hurricanes starting at 5.30pm tomorrow?
Some people work on saturdays, why can't they just keep them to evening games. I'm gonna miss most of that match!

 

[Cassie]

Both teams are so unpredictable this season tough one to call if the Lions do manage to win they will equal the best that a South African team has done so far overseas in recent years (3 wins). But my gut tells me the Home Team has the advantage!

 

[Seaton]

There was an article earlier this week that said Joe Pietersen pulled out of the Premier XV vs. EP Kings game, because he was negotiating a deal with a local SupeRugby side.

The Stormers so far have denied talking to Joe, and with the Bulls, Sharks and Cheetahs having fullback options, he may be going to the Lions

Not that that has anything to do with this match, which should be a good match with lots of running.

 

[TRF_RC]

Lions have gone to sleep here. Giving away a 12 point lead and now are 8 points behind.
Nonu is on form tonight as is CJ. Just keep the pressure up, boys!

 

[TRF_RC]

Ok, 15 points behind! Nice try Hosea!!!

 

[TRF_RC]

I'm loving this ruthless play by the Canes.
Everytime they go near the red zone they're coming away with points. This is exactly how to deal with the banana peel teams like the Lions.

 

[Darwin]

Been great to see Nonu look like he's back to his best, even if he has got away with 2-3 forward passes....

 

[TRF_RC]

Been great to see Nonu look like he's back to his best, even if he has got away with 2-3 forward passes....

Nonu has been brilliant tonight. Absolutely brilliant! But how did those officials miss those forward passes?

 

[Shaggy]

Nonu has been brilliant tonight. Absolutely brilliant! But how did those officials miss those forward passes?

Yep, those missed forward passes came at crucial times and allowed the Canes to gain the momentum to win the game

 

[Darwin]

Nonu has been brilliant tonight. Absolutely brilliant! But how did those officials miss those forward passes?

No idea, they were pretty obvious!

Canes will be happy with the win; they were great in the middle period of the game where I think they scored 30-odd unanswered points! The Canes backline is starting to look quite effective at times, unfourtunately it is almost the end of the season. I thought Cruden looked quite comfortable controlling the Canes backline; he certainly looks effective taking the ball to the line. It was unfourtunate that Conrad Smith was ruled out as he would have made the backline even more potent (and Hayward had a poor game in my opinion).

 

[nickdnz]

Just came back from the game. Good result, but not entirely conviced by some of the performances. Good to see Nonu have a strong game, and Gear was generally pretty dangerous (even if he did get caught a few time out of position). I had a beer with Andrew Hore on Friday night, so I'm pretty sure the win was entierly down to me.

 

[Darwin]

Just came back from the game. Good result, but not entirely conviced by some of the performances. Good to see Nonu have a strong game, and Gear was generally pretty dangerous (even if he did get caught a few time out of position). I had a beer with Andrew Hore on Friday night, so I'm pretty sure the win was entierly down to me.

Gear looked better in attack this week, though his defense was poor, and he gifted the Lions a try with his inability to recover a kick.... I was actually really impressed with Leiua on the other wing; I thought he was the most dangerous outside back from either team.

 

[nickdnz]

Gear looked better in attack this week, though his defense was poor, and he gifted the Lions a try with his inability to recover a kick.... I was actually really impressed with Leiua on the other wing; I thought he was the most dangerous outside back from either team.

In fairness, the bounce of the ball would have beated anyone. He did everything right, but instead of following the pattern it was on, it bounced to the side. He didn't miss any tackles to my knowledge either, he just occasionly was too far infield when they kicked long, or too far midfield when they spread it wide.

 

[Sneaki]

Good result in the end, was very impressed by Nonu. I thought the Canes backline generally looked dangerous on attack, but very vulnerable on defense, story of the season I guess.

Also good to see Weepu play for most of the game (I think he got pulled a few minutes before full time), he looked reasonably sharp throughout the game.

 

[Darwin]

In fairness, the bounce of the ball would have beated anyone. He did everything right, but instead of following the pattern it was on, it bounced to the side. He didn't miss any tackles to my knowledge either, he just occasionly was too far infield when they kicked long, or too far midfield when they spread it wide.

I thought his effort to get back to that kick was very poor; I would have expected him to force that ball easily.. I saw Gear miss a simply tackle out wide (I think it was on Taute), and if I remeber correctly La Grange basically went through him on the way to his try (I didn't catch a replay of that try, so I may be wrong).... but lets be honest though, you haven't seen him miss a tackle all year

 

[nickdnz]

I thought his effort to get back to that kick was very poor; I would have expected him to force that ball easily.. I saw Gear miss a simply tackle out wide (I think it was on Taute), and if I remeber correctly La Grange basically went through him on the way to his try (I didn't catch a replay of that try, so I may be wrong).... but lets be honest though, you haven't seen him miss a tackle all year

Well, if we're being honest he could have run 80m to catch a winger from behind with a text book tackle and you'd still point out his flaws on defense.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

There there children. Play nice

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