The Lions will have to wear the favourites tag when they take on the Crusaders in in this weekend’s third Super Rugby quarterfinal at Ellis Park‚ even if history doesn’t stack up in their favour.
The Lions have never started as favourites against the seven-time champions and have not beaten them in eight years‚ which included losing 43-37 in a group match earlier this season.
But the Lions have kicked on from that setback and ended the group phase as second seeds and top of the South African Conference while the Crusaders are seventh seeds going into the play-off.
The Lions have never had a better chance to beat the team from Christchurch‚ especially as the bulk of their players are fresh after staying home for last week’s match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
The Crusaders have also never won a play-off game in South Africa at altitude.
Their only post-season win in SA was against the Stormers in Cape Town in 2011.
In their other three attempts they lost a hattrick of epic semi-finals against the Bulls at Loftus in 2007‚ 2009 and 2010 – the three years the Bulls won the title.
That is a good omen for the Lions but regardless of that quirky stat‚ the Lions are going to have to go out and win the match‚ history is not going to hand it to them.
Captain Warren Whiteley‚ who has been out of action since late June with a shoulder injury‚ is expected to be fit for the match.
Attack coach Swys de Bruyn said that they would give him as much time as possible to be fit for the encounter.
“We're positive he will be okay‚" De Bruyn said.
“Warren won't take contact until Thursday because the injury has just healed‚ so we will see then. It will be great if he plays‚ but then Ruan Ackermann has done brilliantly in Warren's absence‚ being named man of the match the last time he played (against the Southern Kings)."
Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read expects that the match will follow the same high-tempo script of their earlier encounter this season when 10 tries were scored.
"I think it's going to be pretty quick‚" Read said.
"It's an opportunity to play on their home track and the Lions will throw it around. We will expect that."
Lions have to wear favourites tag against Crusaders
The Lions will have to wear the favourites tag when they take on the Crusaders in in this weekend’s third Super Rugby quarterfinal at Ellis Park‚ even if history doesn’t stack up in their favour.
The Lions have never started as favourites against the seven-time champions and have not beaten them in eight years‚ which included losing 43-37 in a group match earlier this season.
But the Lions have kicked on from that setback and ended the group phase as second seeds and top of the South African Conference while the Crusaders are seventh seeds going into the play-off.
The Lions have never had a better chance to beat the team from Christchurch‚ especially as the bulk of their players are fresh after staying home for last week’s match against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
The Crusaders have also never won a play-off game in South Africa at altitude.
Their only post-season win in SA was against the Stormers in Cape Town in 2011.
In their other three attempts they lost a hattrick of epic semi-finals against the Bulls at Loftus in 2007‚ 2009 and 2010 – the three years the Bulls won the title.
That is a good omen for the Lions but regardless of that quirky stat‚ the Lions are going to have to go out and win the match‚ history is not going to hand it to them.
Captain Warren Whiteley‚ who has been out of action since late June with a shoulder injury‚ is expected to be fit for the match.
Attack coach Swys de Bruyn said that they would give him as much time as possible to be fit for the encounter.
“We're positive he will be okay‚" De Bruyn said.
“Warren won't take contact until Thursday because the injury has just healed‚ so we will see then. It will be great if he plays‚ but then Ruan Ackermann has done brilliantly in Warren's absence‚ being named man of the match the last time he played (against the Southern Kings)."
Crusaders No 8 Kieran Read expects that the match will follow the same high-tempo script of their earlier encounter this season when 10 tries were scored.
"I think it's going to be pretty quick‚" Read said.
"It's an opportunity to play on their home track and the Lions will throw it around. We will expect that."
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos