Battle of Super 14 Underachievers in African Derby

Lions (2008 Position: 14^th)

V Cheetahs (2008 Position: 13^th)

@ Coca Cola Park Johannesburg – 7:10pm local

Head to Head: Played 3, Cheetahs 2, Lions 1

Last match: Lions 23 Cheetahs 22 @ Bloemfontein

The local rivals represent the former union combination of the troubled Cats franchise.  The Cats won about 25% of their games from 1998 to 2006 – and as independent teams the two sides have not fared much better, consistently bringing up the rear of the Super rugby table.

This is a match that could take further significance as the SANZAR negotiations continue with the possible reforming of the tournament, especially with another South African franchise pushing its case in the Eastern Cape.

For the Cheetahs, hopes are not high after an indifferent Currie Cup season last year and have lost a significant number of high quality players including CJ van der Linde and Duanne Vermeulen.

However, they did win both of their preseason matches, smashing Griquas by fifty points and beating the Bulls 20-16.  Much of their competiveness will come from their captain and Springbok loose forward Juan Smith, but outside of him there is not championship winning depth.  Test wing Jongi Nokwe is out injured, but otherwise Coach Naka Drotske has all of his troops available for their opening match.

The Lions, “winners” of wooden spoon last year, on paper have a far stronger squad than last year, having signed former Springboks Ashwin Willemse and Lawrence Sephaka after stints in France.  They only played the one preseason match, beating a under strength Bulls team.

Andre Pretorius looks fit this year, as does World Cup winner Jaque Fourie.  Cobus Grobbelaar will captain the side, and has a very capable backup in United States test back rower Todd Clever.    While they do not look as capable as the Sharks or Stormers who will spearhead South African title hopes, it is doubtful they will bring up the back of the table again this year.

Both teams have big packs, and typically abrasive back rows, but the look of the Lions and the support of Springboks in key positions should have them take the first South African derby of the season by ten points.

Cheetahs:15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corne Uys, 12 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez
Replacements:16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Wayne van Heerden, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Fabian Juries, 22 Piet van Zyl.

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hans van Dyk, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Jannie Boshoff.