The Lions clash with the Sharks in the United Rugby Championship in Johannesburg on Saturday and the home side are having a miserable time of it in SA derby matches this season.
Lions v Sharks, Saturday 18th February, Johannesburg, KO 15:00 (South African time)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Morne Ferreira (South Africa) & Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Weather Forecast – Johannesburg
Lions:
The Lions most recent URC action came on the 28th January when they were beaten 43-24 away to Connacht, a third successive loss in this competition. That followed a 33-3 defeat away to Munster in Round 12 and they now return to home turf.
In SA derby matches this season the Lions were thumped 40-8 away to the Stormers in Round 11 and they were beaten 37-10 by the Sharks in Durban in Round 10. They also lost 31-22 to the Stormers in Johannesburg in Round 7 and 31-15 at home to the Bulls in Round 1.
The Lions have a record of 5 wins and 7 defeats and they are thirteenth overall with 24 log points, 9 points adrift at the foot of the SA Shield.
Sharks:
The Sharks were hammered 46-19 by the Stormers in Durban on 4th February, a missed opportunity to make up some ground in what was a catch up game. In earlier SA derby matches this season the Sharks went down 40-27 away to the Bulls in Round 7 and they were 37-10 winners at home to the Lions in Round 10, landing a bonus point. They also turned the tables on the Bulls with a 40-27 home win in Round 11.
The Sharks are now eighth in the overall standings with a record of 7 wins and 5 defeats for 33 log points but they have 1 game in hand on all bar one of the teams above them. They are third in the SA Shield, 7 points behind the Bulls and 17 shy of the Stormers.
In the outright betting to win the tournament the Sharks are now 11/1 shots.
Team News
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabs Maxwane, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Emmanuel Tshituka, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 PJ Botha, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Morgan Naude, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruhan Delport, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Ruhan Straeuli, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker
Sharks: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Henco Venter, 6 James Venter, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Reniel Hugo, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Cameron Wright, 23 Ben Tapuai
The Betting - Risk Free First Bet Up to R2,000 back if you don't win
Lions +5.5 points
Sharks -4.5 points WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Bookies are hesitant to price up points lines and having slept on this I am going to side with the Sharks to beat the handicap. I like the side they have named and the Lions are missing a few players and are really battling. I may post a points play in the forum later.
Bet: 4 units Sharks -4.5 points at 9/10 with WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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