Graham
12-06-2009, 13:50
keo.co.za
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The Lions’ powerful pack should pulverise WP up front and render their potentially threatening backline redundant.
The Lions’ scrum has troubled every provincial outfit to date and are set to maul the WP eight on Saturday. The local coaching contingent believe Wicus Blaauw and Brok Harris are props for the future, but what hope do they have scrumming against two Test veterans in Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery?
WP coach Allister Coetzee said it himself that the two Englishmen smashed South Africa at this set-piece in 2004 when Os du Randt was in the frame. There’s certain to be another smashing come Saturday.
The lineout has been WP and the Stormers’ saving grace in recent years, but with Bok call-ups and injury leaving them depleted, they could cop a hiding in this department as well. Rookie lock Martin Muller and former Golden Lions’ No 5 Anton van Zyl will surely try their best, but they’re up against proven internationals in Nathan Hines and Donncha O’Callaghan. The Lions don’t boast an experienced combination here, but then again, neither do Province.
On paper, the breakdown contest promises to be a good one, but Ian McGeechan has selected a pack geared for the physical scrap. WP have two skilled loosies in Luke Watson and Duane Vermuelen, the former a fetching specialist, but they will be nullified if the home pack as a collective is repetitively pummeled.
Rain is predicted which will suit the limited game of WP flyhalf Willem de Waal. De Waal’s accurate boot won a weather-afflicted Currie Cup encounter against the Cheetahs last season, and this could be telling again.
But it pays to remember the Lions have their own sharpshooter in Stephen Jones, and when it comes to giving away penalties, WP could concede quite a few, especially at the scrum.
While the Newlands faithful would love to see a running game, the rain could demand a tighter approach. It’s an approach that will suit the northerners given they play the majority of their rugby in similar conditions.
Players like Ugo Monye and Riki Flutey will want to make an impression as McGeechan begins to finalise his Test team before next Saturday. Expect an intense performance by the visitors as they fight to nail down a place in that match 22. The weather should keep the score down but there’s little doubt the Lions will win this one comfortably.
Prediction: Lions by 10
WP - 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Gcobani Bobo, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewald Duvenhage, 8 Luke Watson (c), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl ,4 Martin Muller, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Zandre Jordaan, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 JJ Engelbrecht, 22 Gio Aplon.
British & Irish Lions - 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Subs: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Euan Murray, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Mike Blair, 21 James Hook, 22 Gordon D’Arcy.
By Jon Cardinelli
This entry was posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
:shark2::SharksLogo0760::shark2:
The Lions’ powerful pack should pulverise WP up front and render their potentially threatening backline redundant.
The Lions’ scrum has troubled every provincial outfit to date and are set to maul the WP eight on Saturday. The local coaching contingent believe Wicus Blaauw and Brok Harris are props for the future, but what hope do they have scrumming against two Test veterans in Andrew Sheridan and Phil Vickery?
WP coach Allister Coetzee said it himself that the two Englishmen smashed South Africa at this set-piece in 2004 when Os du Randt was in the frame. There’s certain to be another smashing come Saturday.
The lineout has been WP and the Stormers’ saving grace in recent years, but with Bok call-ups and injury leaving them depleted, they could cop a hiding in this department as well. Rookie lock Martin Muller and former Golden Lions’ No 5 Anton van Zyl will surely try their best, but they’re up against proven internationals in Nathan Hines and Donncha O’Callaghan. The Lions don’t boast an experienced combination here, but then again, neither do Province.
On paper, the breakdown contest promises to be a good one, but Ian McGeechan has selected a pack geared for the physical scrap. WP have two skilled loosies in Luke Watson and Duane Vermuelen, the former a fetching specialist, but they will be nullified if the home pack as a collective is repetitively pummeled.
Rain is predicted which will suit the limited game of WP flyhalf Willem de Waal. De Waal’s accurate boot won a weather-afflicted Currie Cup encounter against the Cheetahs last season, and this could be telling again.
But it pays to remember the Lions have their own sharpshooter in Stephen Jones, and when it comes to giving away penalties, WP could concede quite a few, especially at the scrum.
While the Newlands faithful would love to see a running game, the rain could demand a tighter approach. It’s an approach that will suit the northerners given they play the majority of their rugby in similar conditions.
Players like Ugo Monye and Riki Flutey will want to make an impression as McGeechan begins to finalise his Test team before next Saturday. Expect an intense performance by the visitors as they fight to nail down a place in that match 22. The weather should keep the score down but there’s little doubt the Lions will win this one comfortably.
Prediction: Lions by 10
WP - 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Gcobani Bobo, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewald Duvenhage, 8 Luke Watson (c), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl ,4 Martin Muller, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Zandre Jordaan, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 JJ Engelbrecht, 22 Gio Aplon.
British & Irish Lions - 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Riki Flutey, 11 Ugo Monye, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Joe Worsley, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Donncha O’Callaghan, 3 Phil Vickery (c), 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Subs: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Euan Murray, 18 Simon Shaw, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Mike Blair, 21 James Hook, 22 Gordon D’Arcy.
By Jon Cardinelli
This entry was posted on Friday, June 12th, 2009 at 2:00 pm