Good evening and welcome to Super Rugby’s third quarter-final as the table-topping Lions play host to their South African rivals the Sharks. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:30pm (AEST).
The Lions have had a superb season, dropping only one match throughout the entire regular season and not only topped their conference but also the competition as a whole.
It earns them the right to host all the way to the grand final if they can manage to win and they are rightly favourites to go one step further and claim their first title.
The Sharks come into the knock-out stages as the lowest wildcard qualifier after what would probably be deemed a less than satisfactory season to date. They have mixed some very inconsistent form throughout to finish with nine wins, five losses and a single draw for their efforts.
Ironically, these two teams met in their last regular season clash with the Lions prevailing reasonably comfortably away in Durban by 27 points to ten and would appear to repeat that dose at home today.
However nothing can be certain within knock-out rugby. Particularly with a local derby, expect the Sharks to be highly motivated this evening, and with all the expectation now lying with the Lions, it’s a prime opportunity for the Durban locals to provide quite a boil over.
After the experiences of last season though and with plenty of emotion surrounding this Lions side, I doubt they will be walking into an ambush.
Prediction
While I believe the Sharks are capable, they have yet to display anything near the form of the Lions this season and playing at home, the Lions will win comfortably for mine.
Lions by 20.
Join us here live on the Roar as we cover all the action live from 10.30PM AEST and feel free to leave your thoughts on the match below.
It was a great game 4hino, 5 tries scored in a high intensity match, Sharks fronted up big time on defence and were very physical. Lions have a problem when Jantjies becomes a deer in the headlights.
Muzzo
Guest
Forgot you were posting tonight Digger, as I was so entranced, in all the quarter final action. Well, in my opinion, after all of those games, & with the Canes having to travel to Jo'burg, it looks to me, so much like the old inter island game, will transpire. They look the goods ATM. How impressive were the Saders at home at Addington? I was disappointed, with my Landers, approach in this game, considering the conditions. Constant kicking the ball away, & a little bit of a lack of discipline problem, was, in my view, not the way to go. Cheers.
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Oh well the Sharks still lost... just. And all the fools thought the Sharks would get rolled! ? Lol. Was never going to happen. I just kept my mouth shut and waited for the talking in the field. This Sharks team would beat the Blues, Highlanders and Chiefs imo. They are a better side than the Stormers who shared 1-1 with the Chiefs this year. Sure they've dropped their awareness and performance against teams their should've easily beaten and blown "cold". But when they go "hot" they can keep up and beat any side in the competition. We all saw how close the games were with the Kiwi teams last year (except for the QF when they had their worst game of the season by far!). Anyway, support behind the Lions now :-)
Charging Rhino
Roar Guru
Not really Tman. Lions won in the last few minutes of the Joberg game earlier in the year. And last weeks game the Sharks wanted to lose, otherwise they would've had to fly off to Christchurch (a tougher assignment rather than staying at their own homes) and their "8th" position wouldn't have changed. It surprised me how so many were predicting the Lions to beat the Sharks easily. Was never going to happen.
Matt Porter
Roar Guru
Great call Digger. What a game. I thought the Sharks were gonna jag one for quite a while. Not ideal for kiwi teams but flagged so they should at least be prepared
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yep, he has kicked a few... takes the Lions long range kicks and has a beaut exit punt as well
Lube Goat
Guest
Help me out - has Combrick (forgive the spelling) kicked a few this year? He had no hesitation when the penalty was awarded. No even a great strike but effective.
StevieB
Guest
Im not sure but after the canes game yesterday I saw someone say along the lines of if the canes play like that again they'll get done by 20 by the lions Well I hope the lions bring that game next week cause beaudy and co will cut those guys to pieces
Digby
Roar Guru
Plenty of drama, great game
Digby
Roar Guru
Thanks all for following, will be back in 40 or so for the Stormers and Chiefs, have to race off and stop the wifey from booking that hotel in town! :)
Fionn
Guest
Niiiiiiiiiiiiice!
Yeah he is injured fionn.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Great match, all the drama and excitement that a final should have! Cheers Digger - that would have flown by, so much happening.
Digby
Roar Guru
It will be mate, off we go!!!!!
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
and Woooowwww again
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Yep ..... but ref would have been lynched by the Lions home crowd!...lol
taylorman
Guest
On yer plane Digger! Geez you were that close to a home semi but it's going to be a great match all the same!
Harry Jones
Expert
Woooooowwwwwwww
Fionn
Guest
Is he injured?? Great win, BB, good luck next week.
Johnny
Guest
Good win Considering how poorly they played