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Preview: Lions v Chiefs
Sportal.co.nz - (18/02/2010)
Last week's first round win gave the Chiefs a rare good start to the Rebel Sport Super 14 season, and they have the chance to build on that against the Lions on Friday (SA time).
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 – Transvaal/Gauteng/Cats/Lions 5, Chiefs 9.
LAST TIME: April 4, 2009 (Hamilton) – Chiefs 36-29.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: May 10, 2009 (Johannesburg) – Lions 33-27 Chiefs.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Lions are still in the process of sorting out their best side, so a rotation policy is in full swing at present – which is why the starting lineup includes a high number of inexperienced players. Chiefs lock Kevin O'Neill returned to New Zealand after damaging an Achilles tendon and has been replaced in the squad by new Super 14 player Romana Graham.
FORM:
Lions:
Round 1: Lost to Stormers 13-26 (Johannesburg)
Chiefs:
Round 1: Beat Sharks 19-18 (Durban)
The Lions looked pretty much what everyone was expecting in the first 40 minutes last week as they stuttered their way to halftime well behind. To their credit the Lions stopped the bleeding at 6-26 and actually scored the only second half points, but the final defeat was still comprehensive. The Chiefs got out of jail twice in the Durban downpour, first when Jackson Willison scored the match's only try to give his side the lead with five to play and then when the Sharks gave away a penalty immediately after retaking the lead. Stephen Donald did the honours – he kicked five from seven in terrible conditions – and showed his composure by ignoring the rubbish being thrown by larrikins in the crowd as he nailed he vital points.
WHO'S HOT: While the Lions offered little a week ago, the mercurial Earl Rose had one of his good days and was probably his team's best. Carlos Spencer was hardly what the Jo'burg faithful were hoping for and he was dragged early. The second spell was too ad-lib to inspire thoughts of a comeback, even though the Lions were calling most of the shots. The Chiefs will be thanking Stephen Donald's trusty boot for getting them home in the rain and the forwards for putting in a gutsy effort against a bigger and, on paper, more powerful pack. The conditions meant it was imply a case of getting everyone working for the whole 80 minutes, which the Chiefs did. Willison's try was well taken – there was some nifty handling along the way – but it was not a day for anything more than attention to the basics and accurate tackling.
WE THINK: Although the Chiefs made a pig's ear of their last match at Johannesburg, we simply cannot see any result other than another win for the tourists. They simply have too much class across the board for what really is a moderate Lions outfit and should be good enough to take a 10-point victory without too much trouble.
TEAMS:
Lions: 1 – Heinke van der Merwe, 2 – Hannes Franklin, 3 – Ross Geldenhuys, 4 – Franco van der Merwe, 5 – Willem Stoltz, 6 – Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 7 – Derek Minnie, 8 – Todd Clever, 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 – Janse van Rensburg or Kevin Buys, 18 – Jacques Lombaard, 19 – Jonathan Mokuena, 20 – Jacques Coetzee, 21 – Burton Francis, 22 – Michael Killian.
Chiefs: 1.Sona Taumalolo, 2.Aled de Malmanche, 3.Nathan White, 4.Craig Clarke, 5.Culum Retallick, 6.Liam Messam, 7.Luke Braid, 8.Sione Lauaki (captain), 9.Junior Poluleuligaga, 10.Stephen Donald, 11.Sitiveni Sivivatu, 12.Callum Bruce, 13.Richard Kahui, 14.Dwayne Sweeney, 15.Mike Delany.
Reserves: 16.Hika Elliot, 17.Ben Afeaki, 18.Jarrad Hoeata, 19.Tanerau Latimer, 20.Brendon Leonard, 21.Jackson Willison, 22.Tim Nanai-Williams.
REFEREE: Marius Jonker
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