Lions vs Crusaders in Johannesburg
Just before compiling our previews the Lions lost their captain "Baywatch" which means that both teams will be playing without their regular captains. Richie McCaw was ruled out due to a concussion which he picked up last week when the Crusaders lost to the Cheetahs.
In that Cheetahs match last week the Crusaders should have capitalised better on early mistakes and problems by the last placed Cheetahs. They looked a little more settled but still were not the polished article we know from yester-year.
Leon MacDonald has been given the kicking duties which is hardly a surprise given that phenomenal last minute kick from the corner flag last weekend which earned the Crusaders a losing bonus point.
Now on to the Lions. Two weeks ago they shocked the Reds. Then last week they shocked the Force. They shocked the Force because they were so bad. The match turned out to be the biggest ever victory by the Force in their three and a half years of Super Rugby.
They have been boosted by the return of their only current Springbok Jaque Fourie but Henno Mentz is out injured. We were going to try and surprise everyone by predicting a Lions win as we think that they will be so hungry to bounce back after a bad tour and last week's hammering that they would hit the Crusaders with too much for them to handle.
The Bookies however have given the Crusaders a 6.5 points start which means that they too think that the Lions will end this year's Crusade. It just seems so weird that the Crusaders won't be in the play offs this year - they are like furniture.
We think the Lions should win by 4 points which rules the Crusaders out of the play offs.
Last five results
2008 Lions v Crusaders 6-31 Christchurch
2007 Lions v Crusaders 9-3 Johannesburg
2006 Lions v Crusaders 15-43 Christchurch
2005 Lions v Crusaders 36-40 Christchurch
2004 Lions v Crusaders 37-39 Johannesburg
Head-to-Head: Played 13, Crusaders 9, Lions 4
In Johannesburg: Played 5, Lions 3, Crusaders 2
Last season: Round 9, April 12 2008: Crusaders 31-6 Lions at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Match Officials
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant Refs: Willie Roos (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: G Wahlstrom (New Zealand)
Teams
Lions: Louis Ludik, Deon van Rensburg, Jaque Fourie©, Doppies la Grange, Jannie Boshoff, André Pretorius, Jano Vermaak, Willem Alberts, Ernst Joubert, Johan van Deventer, Anton van Zyl, Jannes Labuschagne, Lawrence Sephaka, Willie Wepener, JC Janse van Rensburg
Reserves Hans van Dyk, Gert Muller, Gerhard Mostert, Robert Kruger, Chris Jonck, Earl Rose, Michael Killian
Crusaders : Wyatt Crockett, Jason Macdonald, Owen Franks, Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Kieran Read ©, Jonathan Poff, Thomas Waldrom, Andy Ellis, Stephen Brett, Colin Slade, Ryan Crotty, Tim Bateman, Jared Payne, Leon MacDonald
Reserves Dan Perrin, Bronson Murray, Ross Filipo, Michael Paterson, Kahn Fotuali'i, Adam Whitelock, Hamish Gard[/b]
