Preview: Golden Lions v Sharks

 

The Golden Lions will be hunting their first final berth since the 2011 season where they lifted the trophy, while the Sharks will have their sights set on their fifth successive final appearance. 

 

In Johannesburg the clash between the Golden Lions and Sharks should be gripping as little separates the teams on the log standings.

 

Both sides won seven of their 10 round-robin matches this season, but the Golden Lions’ superior attack earned them seven bonus points for tries and one for losing within seven points, which handed the team a three-point advantage on the log table.

 

Both teams, however, have been solid on defence this season, which should set the scene for tight encounter.

 

The teams may pay little significance to history, but the Golden Lions have done well against the Sharks at Ellis Park and they will draw confidence from the fact that they remain undefeated at home this season.

 

Sharks coach Brad Mcleod-Henderson has seen his team pick up some momentum at just the right time, with the pinnacle being the 28-20 victory against Western Province on the road.

 

“We weren't happy with our first half performance against Western Province but it was great to see us come out in the second half and play some nice rugby and get quite a few points on the board. Hopefully the continuity continues against the Golden Lions," the coach said

 

"It’s going to be a huge task going up to Ellis Park, but a challenge we’re looking forward to. We will have to play for the full 80 minutes, defensively we need to be strong and our set-piece needs to function well. "

 

“The Lions do have a big strong pack but your set-piece needs to function well every week and the Golden Lions have a good set-piece, so we know it’s going to be a big challenge. 

 

“We played nicely when we beat them in Durban, but that counts for nothing now.

 

"It’s a new game, a new challenge, a new week and we are preparing accordingly.” 

 

Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann proved his faith in the team that thrashed the Free State Cheetahs last week and made only one change to his bench with Springbok Sevens player Albertus Smith replacing Jacques van Rooyen.

 

"Willie could maybe cover at lock which means we still have two loose forwards and if the game allows that opportunity for us to lift the intensity we can utilise that," the Lions coach said.

 

"You don't want to change too much in a week before a semifinal, because you did certain things that worked for you [through the season] and you want to retain that.

 

"We will have a look at some of the errors that cost us that game [two weeks ago] and where we need to improve.

 

"We are comfortable with the players, who are in a situation where they can executed very well.

 

"We will stick to that which we did in recent weeks and we have retained the same routines this week."

 

Macleod-Henderson also opted for consistency in selection, with the only change to his starting team being at hooker where Kyle Cooper returns following an injury.

 

This resulted in Monde Hadebe shifting to the bench.

 

 

For the Golden Lions: The Golden Lions, known in Super Rugby as a star-less team, have blossomed into an incredible team with amazing individuals who function well in their positions. The front row of the Golden Lions deserves more praise than it is getting (from the higher echelons of South African rugby). Schalk van der Merwe and his namesake Armand on the bench are exciting players for the front row, while Ruan Dreyer is the rock of the scrum. The Lions have two complete loose trios available to them with all six of those players looking red-hot this season; Warren Whiteley, Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel, Willie Britz, Warwick Tecklenburg and Albertus Smith are all exceptional players. Finally flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff has looked really good since his return from injury and has the ability to get the Lions machine running beautifully.

 

For the Sharks: The men from Durban welcome back dynamic hooker Kyle Cooper and his influence cannot be underestimated, he will play alongside the prodigy that is Thomas du Toit and veteran Matt Stevens in a front row that did not let the Lions have their own way two weeks ago. Springbok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach is one to watch, especially having cleared the rust of not playing much rugby with the Springboks over the past couple weeks. Then finally there are the speedsters in the back line, Lwazi Mvovo, Sibusiso Sithole and Tonderai Chavanga who can cause moments of magic if the opportunity arises.

 

Head to head: The front row clash will be the biggest talking point with the Golden Lions being a dominant force but also because the Sharks did well to hold their own last time out. The battle of the captains will also be an intriguing battle as both No.8s look to impose themselves on the game. This will tie in with the loose trio battle which the Lions are clearly aiming to win with a bench bolstered with flanks.

 

2014: Sharks won 26-23, Durban

2013: Sharks won 31-25, Johannesburg

2013: Sharks won 33-25, Durban

2012: Lions won 28-22, Johannesburg

2012: Sharks won 30-14, Durban

2011: Lions won 42-16, Johannesburg (Final)

2011: Sharks won 53-9, Durban

2011: Lions won 28-19, Johannesburg

 

Prediction: The Sharks may have overcome the Golden Lions earlier in the season but very little should be read from that – it is play-off rugby. What counts more at this late stage is the form the teams have carried all season, the Sharks have been up and down while the Golden Lions have been ruthless through-out. The attacking flow of the Golden Lions is hard to counter and the fact that it is at Ellis Park plays a huge role. Expect the Golden Lions to come out victorious by eight points.

 

 

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.

Replacments: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Willie Britz, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Albertus Smith, 21 Mark Richards, 22 Harold Vorster.

 

Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Thomas du Toit.

Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 John-Charles Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga.

 

Date: Saturday, October 18

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)

Expected weather: Partly cloudy with no chance of rain and an average temperature of 21°C

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Sieg van Staden

TMO: Johan Greeff