[VIDEO] Lions vs Hurricanes highlights: 2015 Super Rugby scores, blog

The opening round of Super Rugby for 2015 sees the Lions host the Hurricanes at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:10am (AEDT).

This is the first South African match, and the first between the Hurricanes and the Lions in three years.

Last time the Hurricanes won narrowly through a penalty kick a few minutes from death. They will aim to win handsomely this time, taking advantage of their outstanding backs.

Never mind the Lions, facing TJ Perenara, Beauden Barrett, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane at the same time is a disconcerting prospect for any national team. Meanwhile, Jason Woodward will have his first run for the Wellington-based team after amassing 144 points for the Melbourne Rebels last year.

If that’s not daunting enough, they also face Julian Savea, known endearingly as ‘The Bus’. He doesn’t just run through backs like speed bumps, he’s also happy to run through the odd IRB player of the year. Fortunately for the Lions, 94-cap All Blacks Ma’a Nonu is not available.

The Lions had the best scrum in Super Rugby in 2014. Combined with the 60 metre super-boot of Springbok Marnitz Boshoff, they could control the game. The Lions are not fielding front-row superstars Robbie Coetzee, Julian Redelinghuys but they are replaced by heavier players in Malcolm Marx and Ruan Dreyer, who can serve punishment.

The Hurricanes’ scrum is pretty good also, so we could expect a hard-nosed tussle in the first few engagements.

Last year, the Lions conceded a whopping 26 long-range tries from their opposition red zone. This is a clear breakdown in organisation and scrambling. They conceded twice as many points in the second part of each half, compared to their first. This can be due to concentration, conditioning or leadership – or a combination. Today, it will be heavily tested by players like Barrett and the Savea brothers.

Most people will recognise Julian Savea’s brother, Ardie, who plays openside flanker. A few are familiar with Blade Thomson and look forward to seeing him in action. Warren Whiteley is a favourite of many fans from many countries.

One who will probably rise to great recognition this year is 100 kilogram, 25-year-old Jacobus Albertus Kriel. In the final game against the Cheetahs the blindside flanker ran more metres than almost all backs on both sides. He could become the Michael Hooper of South African Rugby, without the locks.

The Hurricanes have the luxury of fielding All Black Victor Vito. He could to do the Lions something similar to what the All Blacks reserves did to Wales last year.

While the Hurricanes have reserves who are ‘tenderisers’, the Lions have their ‘terrorisers’ in the form of scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Elton Jantjies.

The Lions plan to continue their onward march to great performance directed by their highly regarded 53-year-old coach, Rob Ackerman.

The Hurricanes have a brand new coach in Chris Boyd, who also coached the Wellington Lions. Irrespective, the bookies have given the Hurricanes a slight advantage.

There may be an upset if the Lions are able to capitalise on set-piece supremacy, and employ diverse attack pattern and a little bit of home advantage.