Previewing Lions vs. Stormers – Rugby news
Lions will host the Stormers for the second time this year in the super rugby competition. Stormers overcome the Lions 19-16 during their super rugby round 02 contests played on February 26, 2011.
Lions will take on the field anticipating to achieve a win, something that is close to impossible to achieve for Lions. Both teams have played with each other 14 times, with Lions winning only on four occasions. They ended up on the losing side in rest of
the games, and even failed to play a draw.
Even worrying is the fact that Lions have lost the last ten matches they have played against the Stormers in super rugby competition. Their form in Super XV is self-explanatory, as Lions have won a single game in the eight games they have played, while Stormers
have lost a single game out of the seven games they have played so far this season.
Stormers have lost their last game against the Reds, after winning six in a row, on other hand Lions have lost four in row.
John Mitchell Golden Lions coach has made seven changes to the starting line-up that will take the field against the Stormers at Coca-Cola Park during the weekend. Mitchell has dropped tight head prop Patric Cilliers, Fly-Half Elton Jantjies and Lock Franco
van der Merwe. While injuries have forced out Full Back James Kamana, Lock George Earl and Flanker Josh Strauss (suffering with concussion problems) and Flanker Derick Minnie (suffering with Knee).
The dropouts and force changes have made way for David de Villiers (former Cheetahs Lock), Jacobie Adriaanse (former Griquas Prop), and Michael Rhodes (former Sharks Flank) to play their play their first game of the Super XV. Both Full Back Michael Killian
and Lock Wikus van Heerden are included in the line-up after recovering from the injuries.
Stormers have also made changes to their line up with second-string players getting a game. Most of the changes can be termed as forced ones as the players are missing out due to injuries. De Kock Steenkamp has replaced the Lock Rynhardt Elstadt who injured
his upper leg during the game against the Reds. Anton Van Zyl has taken the spot on bench in place of Steenkamp.
Bryan Habana who suffered a major blow on his shoulder has failed to recover on time and hence been left out of the squad. Jean De Villiers has not recovered from his groin injury; De Villiers did not take part in Stormers last game at Reds as he sustained
the injury before the start of the match.
Stormers have won all the five games both sides have played, and Stormers will starts as the favourites to win the match. For Lions, good close contest would give them lot of heart as they are looking for some good moments in the rest of Super XV matches.
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