Sharks favourites to end their losing streak against Lions in Kings Parks encounter
After last week’s defeat when Stormers maintained their status of the unbeaten team in the tournament by defeating Sharks in front of the home ground Kings Park, Sharks will host their conference fellows Golden Lions.
Natal Coastal Sharks Vs Golden Lions is the last match of the round eight of the Super XV.
On paper, the match is a mismatch as the Lions have had a poor tournament so far. Lions have lost six out of their seven games including their last week defeat coming from the Reds at Coca Cola Park.
Sharks after starting the season on the higher note have seemed to lost their way as they will be eyeing to win their first game after consecutive three loses. Chiefs, Crusaders and Stormers beat them consecutively in Sharks last three encounters.
Sharks were enjoying a good ranking in the both South African conference and on the combined table rankings, however with three defeats they have slumped down. In the South African conference, they are at third position with Lions and Cheetahs lying behind
them.
More importantly, they are now at the 8th place in the combined ranking with 20 points with a win in this weekend match will help them to maintain their mid table position and keep their hopes alive for reaching the play offs.
Sharks’ Stefan Terblanche will be making a record 200th appearance as no previous Sharks player has achieved this landmark. Injury vows continue for Sharks who are already without the services of their star fly half Patrick Lambie have suffered
another blow when lost their Lock Alistair Hargreaves after their game against the Stormers.
Alistair Hargreaves diagnosed with the facture in the AC joint of the Shoulder. Gerhard Mostert is named as his replacement. The game will also mark the return of Sharks’ Captain John Smit who is coming back from the injury and will start at Loosehead Prop
position Eugene van Staden is also included in the starting line-up for the first time in the season and Ross Skeate takes bench.
Lions on the other hand are facing their own problems with respect to almost every aspect of the game. The trend for Lions this season has been to improve one thing to find out the other is not working properly. Earlier they had issues with their attack,
then defense and now with their penalties that cost them the game against the Reds.
Lions have made three changes in their team that lost to the Reds last week. These include the return of James Kamana at full back position who is coming back from the suspension of three weeks in place of Michael Killian who sustained an injury; Flank Derick
Minnie and Lock George Earle have replaced Cobus Grobbelaar and David Bulbring.
Keeping in view the Lions form, Sharks are favourites to win in their must win game. Jacques-Louis Potgieter will again spearhead Sharks attack however; Lions will be better served if the Andre Pretorius can lift his game particularly with respect to scoring
the penalties. Upset apart, Sharks will secure a win with 5 – 8 points lead to keep their Super XV hopes alive.
Kings 0r,S a @O l host their conference fellows Golden Lions. Natal Coastal Sharks Vs Golden Lions is the last match of the round eight of the Super XV. On paper, the match is a mismatch as the Lions have a poor tournament so far. Lions so have lost
six out of their seven games including their last week defeat coming from the Reds at Coca Cola Park.
Sharks after starting the season on the higher note have seemed to lost their way as they’ll eyeing to win their first game after consecutive three loses. Chiefs, Crusaders and Stormers beat them consecutively in Sharks last three encounters. Sharks
were enjoying a good ranking in the both South African conference and on the combined table rankings, however with three defeats they have slumped down. In the South African conference, they are at third position with Lions and Cheetahs lying behind them.
More importantly, they are now at the 8thplace in the combined ranking with 20 points with a win in this weekend match will help them to maintain their mid table position and keep their hopes alive for reaching the play offs.
Sharks’ Stefan Terblanche will be making a record 200th appearance as no previous Sharks player has achieved this landmark. Injury vows continue for Sharks who are already without the services of their star fly half Patrick Lambie have
suffered another blow when lost their Lock Alistair Hargreaves after their game against the Stormers. Alistair Hargreaves diagnosed with the facture in the AC joint of the Shoulder. Gerhard Mostert is named as his replacement. The game will also mark the
return of Sharks’ Captain John Smit who is coming back from the Injury and will start at Loosehead Prop position Eugene van Staden is also included in the starting lineup for the first time in the season and Ross Skeate takes bench.
Lions on the other hand are facing their own problems with respect to almost every aspect of the game. The trend for Lions this season has been to improve one thing to find out the other is not working properly. Earlier they had issues with their attack,
then defense and now with their penalties that cost them the game against the Reds. Lions have made three changes in their team that lost to the Reds last week. These include the return of James Kamana at full back position who is coming back from the suspension
of three weeks in place of Michael Killian who sustained an injury; Flank Derick Minnie and Lock George Earle have replaced Cobus Grobbelaar and David Bulbring.
Keeping in view the Lions form, Sharks are favorites to win in their must win game. Jacques-Louis Potgieter will again spearhead Sharks attack however; Lions will be better served if the Andre Pretorius can lift his game particularly with respect to
scoring the penalties. Upset apart, Sharks will secure a win with 5 – 8 points lead to keep their Super XV hopes alive.
Tags: