Lions threaten Shark Tank
22 Jun 2006
Sharks lock Johann Muller has warned his team-mates against complacency against the Lions in the opening Absa Currie Cup match on Friday.
The Sharks are among the favourites for the title, while the Lions are a team in transition following the axing of coach Frans Ludeke. Both teams are missing several players on national duty with the Springboks and Baby Boks.
“The Lions are always good in the Currie Cup, and despite a poor Super 14 they will be keen to prove the critics wrong,” Muller told keo.co.za.
Muller, who only rejoined the Sharks training sessions on Monday after a stint with the Jake White’s Boks, says a similar gameplan to that which worked in the Super 14 will be employed.
“If we can dominate with our forwards, we have a potent backline that can cause trouble for any side in this competition.” And key to getting the ball to the speedsters will be the halfback pairing of Ruan Pienaar – who also rejoined the Sharks this week – and No 10 Butch James.
And in the build-up, coach Dick Muir has emphasised the need to control the things they can control and the rest will take care of itself.
“It is about us, not them. we want to do the basics well and secure good first phase ball from scrums, lineouts and kick-offs and then we can build some momentum.”
Muller says the focus is completely on the Lions game and no further. “I don’t even know who we are playing in our second game.”
By Andrew Hollely
19 Comments
22 Jun 2006, 07:43 am
Go LIONS !!!!!
22 Jun 2006, 07:53 am
Who cares
22 Jun 2006, 07:57 am
That Kees Lensing is going to destroy a few front rows this season, what a superb acquisition by the sharks.
Sharks to take the CC this year!!
22 Jun 2006, 07:59 am
Sharks to fall over the last hurdle , cup os going back to where it belong.PRETORIA
22 Jun 2006, 08:01 am
I cant see the Lions winning this one. I agree modawg, Kees Lensing is a killer. If he hadnt played for Namibia, he would have played for the Boks.
22 Jun 2006, 08:09 am
Just make all the Sharkies Bokke!!
22 Jun 2006, 08:41 am
Go Boys!! Wish I could be there to watch it live
22 Jun 2006, 08:43 am
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR…….
22 Jun 2006, 09:08 am
Boooya! Sharks to have a feast on friday!
22 Jun 2006, 09:43 am
This is the year of the Lion!!! Go boys!!! Lions to win CC!!!!!
22 Jun 2006, 09:49 am
Grrr…The winter in JHB has affected you
Go see a doctor urgently!!
22 Jun 2006, 10:06 am
Lions have loads of flair at the back. Hope they do well in the CC.
GO LIONS!!
22 Jun 2006, 10:15 am
GO LIONS!!!
22 Jun 2006, 11:20 am
Lensing and BJ, potent stuff.
still the young SA u21 prop, Heinke Van Der Werwe looks to be one helluva prospect for the lions.
22 Jun 2006, 11:46 am
I think the Guppies are gonna have more on their plate than they think, It’s gonna be close, hopefully even a Lions win.
22 Jun 2006, 12:11 pm
hey – remember super14 – everyone was slating the sharks and what a result – so – while my heart says sharks, I am not convinced that it will be easy or pretty – oh and Lions to surprise some teams this CC.
22 Jun 2006, 12:55 pm
I don’t care what other people say. To me the Currie Cup will always be important, always worth the effort. It’s the history surrounding it, the Super 14 to me is a side show. Even if the Sharks won the Super 14 this year I’d still say the same thing.
Bring the Cup back to the East Coast! Ek bly ‘n Haai!!
22 Jun 2006, 12:58 pm
oh and the Sharks to dominate the food chain and maul the Lions by 25.
22 Jun 2006, 13:19 pm
Come on! Give the lions a chance boys.
As hulle die dag kliek dan is daar min wat die Leeus kan stop. As ons net ‘n ordentlike 2de losskakel na koning Andre kan kry sal dit ook baie beter gan. Jaag Frans weg en die CATS sal ook sommer 15000000000000000000000 keer beter wees.
Go Leeus!!!!!!
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