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Preview: Hurricanes v Lions
Sportal.co.nz - (26/02/2010)
Anything other than a comfortable Hurricanes victory in this Rebel Sport Super 14 match would rank as one of the greatest upsets in the history of the competition.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 – Hurricanes 11, Transvaal/Gauteng/Cats/Lions 3.
LAST TIME: March 28, 2009 (Johannesburg) – Lions 32-38 Hurricanes.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: May 3, 2008 – Hurricanes 38-12 Lions.
WALKING WOUNDED: Willem Stoltz got banned for one week following his elbow-charge against Aled de Malmanche last week.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Hurricanes:
Round 1: Beat Blues 34-20
Round 2: Beat Force 47-22
PAST FIVE Lions:
Round 1: Lost to Stormers 13-26
Round 2: Lost to Chiefs 65-72
The Hurricanes have been pretty good in their first two outings and have two clear-cut wins to show for it. After needing a record nine penalty goals to get up over the Blues, seven tries was a decent reward for some good attacking play last week against the under-gunned Force. Most of the tries were nicely constructed, with players doing the right thing at the right time. The Lions took part in that touch game at Johannesburg where each side missed more than 40 tackles - the Lions didn’t even make as many as they fell off – and each team scored nine tries. While the faithful were pleased with the comeback from miles behind, more worrying was the ease with which the Chiefs ran through, over and round a pitiful defence.
WHO'S HOT: In a backline of stars Tamati Ellison is often overlooked at the Hurricanes but he played a fine game last week, having a decisive hand (or foot) in three of the first four tries. Piri Weepu was always in the thick of things and Neemia Tialata had one of his best matches in ages; once he had sorted the Force scrum out he was free to roam a bit wider than normal and seemed to enjoy it. For the first hour last week the Lions looked truly horrible and, the way things were headed, could have been on the end of a record scoreline. Aided by some poor Chiefs tackling a few managed to stand out on attack in the closing stages, with none more impressive than winger Wandile Mjekevu. His hat-trick was fair reward for some strong running and good evasive skills. It’s very hard to assess the rest, as that match was (one hopes) some freakish aberration and not to be repeated any time soon.
WE THINK: Not much head-scratching went into this call – if the Hurricanes don’t win this easily there will be an inquest. Only once held below 28 points in the last nine meetings, the Hurricanes are simply too good and should win by 20 clear with a bonus point thrown in.
TEAMS:
Hurricanes: 1.John Schwalger, 2.Andrew Hore (captain), 3.Neemia Tialata, 4.Bryn Evans, 5.Jason Eaton, 6.Michael Paterson, 7.Karl Lowe, 8.Rodney So'oialo, 9.Piri Weepu, 10.Willie Ripia, 11.David Smith, 12.Ma'a Nonu, 13.Conrad Smith, 14.Tamati Ellison, 15.Cory Jane.
Reserves: 16.Dane Coles, 17.Jacob Ellison, 18.Nick Crosswell, 19.Scott Waldrom, 20.Tyson Keats, 21.Aaron Cruden, 22.Andre Taylor.
Lions: 1.Heinke van der Merwe, 2.Hannes Franklin, 3.Ross Geldenhuys, 4.Franco van der Merwe, 5.George Earl, 6.Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 7.Derick 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.Kevin Buys, 18.Jacques Lombaard, 19.Robert Kruger, 20.Jacques Coetzee, 21.Walter Venter, 22.Michael Killian.
REFEREE: Nathan Pearce (Australia)
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