Nobody has mentioned altitude, have they? Geez, it’s a huge topic of conversation when the Wallabies play over there.
It was used for 50 years as a convenient excuse for comprehensive defeats but it doesn’t seem to get much of a run in Super Rugby. Maybe the visiting teams just get used to it, or just get on with it.
The Western Force have a good record against the Lions (or Cats as they used to be called). There’s been three wins (2008 18–16, 2009 55–14 and 2010 33–12), one draw in 2006 and one loss in 2007. The Force have actually never lost in Jo’burg.
Transvaal’s just not the team it was like back in ’93 when they took out the first Super 10 competition. They’ve under-performed for years, although producing lots of quality players who for some reason just don’t stick around.
The man charged with digging the current team out of the Super Rugby mire is of course ‘Aussie’ John Mitchell. It’s all a bit awkward when you’re up against your former team, especially after you left in underwhelming circumstances. Not too many Force fans will have happy and nostalgic memories of Mitch’s tenure in Perth. Sure, he did all right for a few years and had the support of the crowd, but that ebbed away when his authority was challenged by staff and players.
He’s had a modicum of success in these parts with the Lions. First, their Currie Cup side late last year had a few wins (when he was an assistant to Dick Muir), and at Super Rugby level they’ve won their first game since 2009, albeit against the other perennial struggler the Cheetahs.
You could actually say they’ve been more successful than the Force, who haven’t won anything as yet, although they’re both on seven points. The Lions’ fans can see some improvement in their side and all games against their conference teams have been nail-biters. T hey lost to the Bulls and Stormers by only a few points.
The Force venture forth on this two-match tour minus their ever-increasing injured playing group: David Pocock, Mitch Inman, Tucky Dunning and Willie Ripia (although the latter may actually turn up sometime next week).
They matched the Blues last Saturday and in fact outplayed them, but let themselves down at the death. Really, it’s time to start delivering, because another loss this weekend and they’ll be cactus.
Sharpie will play his 136th Super Rugby match, equalling the all-time record held by George Gregan. After he was kicked in the guts by the ARU this week let’s hope Sharpie is inspired. The only changes for Saturday’s game are Kieran Longbottom in for Tucky, Fairbrother back from injury and Tom Hockings on the bench.
The Lions have been playing a very expansive game this year and scoring some tries against quality opposition. Defensively there’s also been some improvement under Mitch’s tenure.
They’ve made two changes, both forced, plus a positional switch for this week’s match. Jaco Taute returns at fullback in place of Kiwi James Kamana who has been suspended for three weeks, and Jannie Boshoff comes in at centre in place of Doppies la Grange, who has a troublesome ankle injury. Waylon Murray moves from outside centre to No. 12 in La Grange’s place with Boshoff starting at outside centre.
On the bench, Jano Vermaak is back in the 22 after suffering a light concussion against the Blues two weeks ago. Centre/wing Deon van Rensburg also returns after injury.
Looking ahead at the clash, Mitchell said his familiarity with some of the Force players and coach Richard Graham would not benefit his team at all.
“There will be no real advantage from the fact I coached the Force because it is the same as Richard knowing me,” he said. “Teams change and the game changes, so it all comes down to their last three games. But that said, I was gutted for the Force last weekend because they deserved to win. So they will be highly motivated when they meet us.”
Mitchell said players such as captain and lock Nathan Sharpe and fly-half James O’Connor made the visitors a tough team to beat.
“O’Connor is one of the best backs in the world at the moment . It is good to see Cameron Shepherd back and Nathan Sharpe is an inspirational leader. They also have an unsung hero in Matthew Hodgson and the brilliant athleticism of Ben McCalman makes them a good team. I also rate their scrum highly. It is going to be tough match.”
Lance says: “I don’t know about this one? A Force win is long overdue but I reckon it could go either way.”
Lions:
Jaco Taute, Lionel Mapoe, Jannie Boshoff, Waylon Murray, Michael Killian, Elton Jantjies, Rory Kockott, Warren Whiteley, Josh Strauss, Derick Minnie, Franco van der Merwe (c), Wikus van Heerden, Patric Cilliers, Bandise Maku, JC Janse van Rensburg.
Reserves:
Martin Bezuidenhout, Kevin Buys, Michael Rhodes, Cobus Grobbelaar, Jano Vermaak, Burton Francis, Deon van Rensburg.
Western Force (likely):
Cameron Shepherd, Alfi Mafi, Nick Cummins, Gene Fairbanks, David Smith, James O’Connor, Brett Sheehan, Ben McCalman, Richard Brown, Matt Hodgson, Nathan Sharpe, Sam Wykes, Tim Fairbrother, Ben Whittaker, Pek Cowan.
Reserves:
Nathan Charles, Kieran Longbottom, Tom Hockings, Tevita Metuisela, Jono Jenkins, James Stannard, Matt Brandon, Pat Dellit.
Date: Sat 19 March
Venue : Johannesburg
Kick Off local: 15.05
Kick Off GMT: 17.10
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant Ref 1: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Ref 2: Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
