Lions ready to roar
20 Jun 2006
Lions captain Wikus van Heerden is excited by a host of newcomers to the Lions team for the opening Currie Cup match on Friday night.
The Lions face a tricky first match against the Sharks in Durban, but with new coach Eugene Eloff and some new exciting young players, the Lions are hoping to give Johannesburg rugby fans something to shout about.
Players making their Currie Cup debuts include fullback Louis Ludik, scrumhalf Rory Kockott and tighthead prop Brian Mujati.
Following a disastrous Super 14 campaign by the Cats, coach Frans Ludeke was axed and his place was taken by Loffie. On Tuesday the new coach named his first official Lions line-up.
It includes Earl Rose at flyhalf. “Having Earl at no 10 is very exciting,” captain Wikus van Heerden told keo.co.za, “and if he gets good ball on the front foot he can be quite dangerous.”
“It is up to the forwards to produce that good ball and we have a good mixture of youth and experience in the pack. The lock pair (Willem Stoltz and Cobus Grobler) have played Super 14 and will help add grunt to our effort.”
The front-row too looks good with veterans James van der Walt and Pietman van Niekerk having plenty of experience. And alongside them young Brian Mujati gets his first start at this level.
“Brian has come through the Vodacom Cup side. All I know is he is really strong,” said van Heerden.
The match at Absa Stadium in Durban kicks-off at 7.10pm on Friday.
Lions team v Sharks:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Jorrie Muller, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Rory Kockott; 8 Pietie Ferreira 7 Russell Winter, 6 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Cobus Grobler, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 James van der Walt, 1 Pietman van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Gerhard Mostert, 19 Roland Bernard, 20 Dave von Hoesslin, 21 Jody Rose, 22 Thabang Molefe.
By Andrew Hollely
21 Comments
20 Jun 2006, 17:58 pm
Shame die arme ou Leeuwelpies gaan groot afk@k hierdie jaar, dit begin sommer hierdie naweek teen die Tjarkies!!
20 Jun 2006, 18:00 pm
Die Spears behoort hierdie span te wen…
20 Jun 2006, 18:03 pm
Brian the new Lion!!
20 Jun 2006, 18:12 pm
ROOOAAARRRR…
20 Jun 2006, 18:18 pm
come on my boys!!!!
20 Jun 2006, 18:20 pm
Dan sal die spears die bulle ook kan wen stan…..
20 Jun 2006, 18:23 pm
Ludik was great at school, a running fullback breaking the line more often than not….
His team was either runner up or victorious in the super 16 and beeld troefee throughout his high school career
20 Jun 2006, 18:24 pm
NOTHING, but nothing, surprises me about EP rugby these days. It was with disbelief that I read the following email from the EPRU: “The Mighty Elephants will play the Border Bulldogs in a friendly match at the Collie Koeberg Stadium in Graaff Reinet on Saturday, June 24. Kickoff time 15:30.â€
On the surface, this may seem normal to many. However, it is difficult to imagine who in Graaff-Reinet will go out to watch the match when there is a Test on at Newlands between the Boks and French at the same time.
What about the expense involved? Crazy, is it not? But this is how EP rugby operates these days.
Extract from EP Herald – Stan Terblanche column
20 Jun 2006, 20:12 pm
What is the Lions’ record against the Bulls in the last couple of years?
20 Jun 2006, 21:31 pm
Who is JC JANSE VAN RENSBURG do anyone knows this guy from where do he come from how old what position???
20 Jun 2006, 21:59 pm
JC played for SA in the U/19 world cup last year.
20 Jun 2006, 22:59 pm
I bet Butch James cant wait to get his hands on Earl Rose. One good hit and another promising flyhalf career down the toilet.
20 Jun 2006, 23:21 pm
I can’t believe they actually pay jorrie
21 Jun 2006, 05:43 am
Thabang and Jaco (center) are the 2 to watch out for, also Jody I feel has more to offer then his brother.
All together it looks like a decent team for Curry Cup, great to see Roland back
21 Jun 2006, 07:55 am
JC is a prop from the Southern Cape. Oakdale, Riversdale Old Boy. He is a really exciting prospect. One of the fittest players I have seen in a long time. ollows the ball like a looseforward and packs plenty of grunt. Watch this guy.
21 Jun 2006, 08:21 am
Let the Jorrie bashing begin…
21 Jun 2006, 08:23 am
Hmmm, Lions ready to roar! Our preparation was excellent. If we play to our potential, we’ll stand a good chance. Hmmm, where have I heard that before?! Maybe the before the Super 14?
21 Jun 2006, 08:23 am
Strikers, it’s Currie not Curry! Sir Donald would be turning in his grave…
21 Jun 2006, 08:25 am
Strikers,
The Curry cup is something they play for in Durban…
21 Jun 2006, 08:39 am
Nice young player but i cant see them beaten the Bulls.
21 Jun 2006, 12:55 pm
Still a kak team
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