Can Whiteley and his Lions team achieve the seemingly impossible in Christchurch?
Although the Lions will play in their third successive Super Rugby final on Saturday morning (SA time) in Christchurch against the Crusaders, not many rugby experts give them a chance to bring the trophy home.
The Lions can prepare themselves for a very daunting challenge when they take on the Crusaders, who are considered firm favourites by most pundits for Saturday’s SuperRugby final in Christchurch.
The game will kick off at 09:35 (SA time) on Saturday morning in Christchurch to determine who will be crowned the 2018 Super Rugby champion.
It will be the first time that the same teams are playing against each other in successive finals. Last year, the Crusaders defeated the Johannesburg franchise 25-17 at Emirates Airline Park to win the big southern hemisphere prize for the eight time.
The Kiwis are in tremendous form at the moment and have won 14 games in a row, while they have a great record when it comes to knockout rugby. However, they will face a determined Lions team who will be quietly confident of pulling off a shock on the South Island of New Zealand.
Warren Whiteley and his team have a huge fighting spirit, as shown once more this year when they had to overcome several obstacles to clinch the South African Conference title for a third straight year.
They shrugged off a loss of form at the right time to defeat Gauteng neighbours, the Bulls, in their last regular-season match and then proceeded to eliminate the powerful Jaguares and resurgent Waratahs with impressive displays in Johannesburg.
Coach Swys de Bruin has applied some interesting techniques in a bid to combat the travel fatigue that comes with the long haul to Christchurch, so it will be interesting to see how his team perform against the competition’s most successful side.
De Bruin has made two changes to his starting line-up for the final. Cyle Brink, who missed last week’s semi-final triumph over the Waratahs due to an arm injury, returns at flank while Lourens Erasmus moves to the bench.
Springbok flyer Courtnall Skosan will start on the left wing and fellow Bok Aphiwe Dyantyi, who left the field against the Waratahs with a hamstring injury, will now play off the bench.
Crusaders coach Scott Robertson made just one injury-enforced change to his starting team for the big occasion. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis was handed the No 6 jersey in place of Jordan Taufua, who broke his arm last weekend’s home semi-final victory over the Hurricanes. Reserve hooker, Seb Siataga, who also fractured his arm in the previous match, has been replaced by Sam Anderson-Heather.
Interestingly, 19 players of their match-23 for Saturday’s game were also involved in the Crusaders’ 2017 final win over the Highvelders.
“It is a huge honour or us to be involved in another final. We know it’s going to be a tough challenge because New Zealand rugby is in a very healthy state at the moment. However, anything can happen in a final because it’s a once-off game,” said Lions head coach Swys de Bruin jus before his team departure to New Zealand.
Meanwhile Crusaders assistant coach Brad Mooar said to the New Zealand media that the Lions have earned their place in the final.
“They have been successful and consistent the past few years and will be playing in their third final in a row, their second in New Zealand. They have a really good set piece and fast outside backs, so it’s going to be a good battle,” said Mooar.
The teams:
Crusaders: 15. David Havili, 14. Seta Tamanivalu, 13. Jack Goodhue, 12. Ryan Crotty, 11. George Bridge, 10. Richie Mo’unga, 9. Bryn Hall, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Matt Todd, 6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5. Sam Whitelock (captain), 4. Scott Barrett, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Codie Taylor, 1. Joe Moody. Replacements: 16. Sam Anderson-Heather, 17. Tim Perry, 18. Michael Alaalatoa, 19. Luke Romano, 20. Pete Samu, 21. Mitchell Drummond, 22. Mitchell Hunt, 23. Braydon Ennor.
Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley (captain), 7. Cyle Brink, 6. Kwagga Smith, 5. Franco Mostert, 4. Marvin Orie, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: 16. Corné Fourie, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Johannes Jonker, 19. Lourens Erasmus, 20. Marnus Schoeman, 21. Dillon Smit, 22. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23. Howard Mnisi.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Aus)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (NZ) and Nic Berry (Aus)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (NZ)
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