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The Lions host the Cheetahs at Ellis Park Stadium, in Johannesburg. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:05 am AEST.
Over the last four years, the Cheetahs and Lions have won three games apiece. Their last battle was Round 1, in Cheetah’s Free State Stadium.
The Lions won that match by a single point via 18 penalty points and a late drop goal. The Cheetahs scored the only two tries, but dropped nine costly penalty points.
Today’s match is a skirmish between the feline teams of Super Rugby to avoid last place in the South African conference. They are safe from the competition wooden spoon, compliments of the Melbourne Rebels.
Just like a good catfight, we may experience lively but untidy action. This season, over 810 points were leaked by the felidae. Over 360 points were scored against 13th placed Lions. Over 450 points were scored against 14th placed Cheetahs.
This match isn’t just about avoiding the South African wooden spoon. Both teams will be hoping that 2014 is a bounce year for next season. The Cheetahs failed to win an away game this year. A triumph in the Lions stadium may be a forerunner to a more successful 2015.
Lions rugby community is 125 years old this year. 2014 is their first year back in Super Rugby, and is a launchpad for a few players.
Both scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and first-five Maritz Boshoff are Nelspruit-born and raised in Blue Bulls country, Pretoria. Captain and eightman Warren Whiteley comes from Sharks territory, Durban. They are impact players today. Coach Ackermann is starting experienced halves pair, Ross Croje and France-bound Elton Jantjies.
Super Rugby’s best frontrow are also outsiders: Schalk van der Merwe was raised in Cheetahs hometown Bloemfontein. Robbie Coetzee is born and bred in Pretoria, along with tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys.
The Lions lineout can improve, which is probably the only thing stopping them from using ‘Jake-ball’ to win more games. Whiteley and Cheetahs’ Francois Uys will face up in lineouts. Both have steals at eight each. Whiteley will be helped by Lion’s other lineout king, Franco Mostert and the other Franco-lock (van der Merwe), who is moving to Ulster after this game.
The Cheetahs are on a knife-edge. They have among the best outside backs in the business, but their team has the worst ruck win rate. To compound this, their midfield is a source of missed tackles and leaked points. This is a bit like building the Chinese wall with some gaps in Beijing.
62,500 capacity Ellis Park is supposed to be cloudless and below ten degrees. The man in the middle is 30-year-old Capetonian Marius van der Westhuizen. He will be assisted on one side by Johannesburg-born Jaco van Heerden. On the other side the Australian and New Zealand’s favourite referee Stuart Barry. The TMO is Worcester-born Shaun Veldsman.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.