Butch beefs up Lions backline

Butch beefs up Lions backline

7 Mar 2012

Butch James is one of three changes to the Lions starting line-up for Saturday’s derby against the Sharks.

James comes in at inside centre to replace Alwyn Hollenbach, who is moved to the bench. Starting James in this physical clash will undoubtedly boost the Lions at the point of contact, and give them more options on attack.

Injuries to JC Janse van Rensburg and CJ van der Linde have forced John Mitchell to start Jacobie Adriaanse at tighthead and move Patric Cilliers to the other side of the scrum. Marius Coetzer is preferred ahead of Stephan Greef at No 4.

Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies La Grange, 12 Butch James, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (c), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Marius Coetzer, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 Patric Cilliers.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Stephan Greef, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 James Kamana.


28 Comments

  • 1.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:02 pm

    Maybe.

    Then again, Maybe not.

  • 2.HHS: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:16 pm

    Pat is showing some good form.

  • 3.the artist formerly known as gunther: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:19 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-1:

    Butch to collect a card.

  • 4.Lions_Soutie: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:25 pm

    Where is Michael Rhodes? Has Hendrik Roodt gone on walkabouts already?

  • 5.puff: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:27 pm

    Marius Coetzer and not Hendrik Roodt?
    What is Roodt’s story?
    He has flitted from franchise to franchise but doesn’t play.
    Is it a fitness issue…?

  • 6.HHS: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:27 pm

    @Lions_Soutie(Lions_Soutie)-4: Rhodes is injured.

  • 7.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:32 pm

    @the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-3: at the bare minimum.

  • 8.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:34 pm

    John, if Butch at inside centre will “undoubtedly boost the Lions at the point of contact, and give them more options on attack”, then why the freak has he not started ahead of Hollenbach until now? I suspect “undoubtedly” means something else to what you thought.

    What is clear from this team sheet is that they don’t have a decent lock partner for Franco. Roodt hasn’t impressed (in fact he looks overweight and sluggish), and Greef was pretty invisible last weekend. Lions are missing Wikus big time.

  • 9.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:36 pm

    penalty machine.

  • 10.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:38 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-8: someone commented on here last week that hollenbach was the best sa 12….guess not.

  • 11.puff: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:38 pm

    1. Oosthuyzen 2. Strauss 3. Van Der Linde 4. Van Heerden 5. Van Der Merwe 6. Brussow 7. Smith 8. Strauss 9. De Bruyn 10. Jantjies 11. Killian 12. La Grange 13. Ebershon 14. Kamana 15. Taute

    16. Maku 17. Cilliers/Adriaanse 18. Rhodes/Greef 19. Minnie 20. Cronje/Van Zyl 21. Goosen 22. Murray/Hollenbach

    Would this team beat the Sharks?

  • 12.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:41 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-8: kattes you thing your team has a chance against the sharks?

  • 13.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:41 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-10: I still think he’s several rungs up from Boetsdjymes.

  • 14.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:43 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-13: definetly Butch at 12 is risky.

  • 15.>^..^< katman: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:46 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-12: As a matter of fact, I do. Sharks must still be favourites, but they’re not as hot as many here make them out to be. Their much vaunted front row is pretty average at the moment and is probably evenly matched with our second string front row. Their locks have not impressed. Their loosies are okay, but a guy like Daniel has regular brainfarts to go along with his considerable skills, so I don’t really rate him. Botes is good, but not better than Minnie. Michalak is nowhere in terms of SA scrummies. Lambie vs Jantjies is going to be a great contest. I have been impressed with Bosman and Petersen, but the wings have hardly got into the games. Viljoen has been solid but not spectacular. So I’m not saying we’ll whip them, but I reckon we’re certainly in with a good shout.

  • 16.ufo: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:47 pm

    well we all know bullybeef butch can beef up the lion’s back line…

    but can he improve it…?

  • 17.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:48 pm

    @puff(puff)-11: Yes. I see what you did there. BTW where is Maku?

  • 18.Sasuke: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 13:50 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-15: Its going to be a huge forward battle. Sharks are seething after last week.

  • 19.welcome to my life, hugh...: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 14:31 pm

    is butch beefing up of beefing out in the backline..?..

  • 20.puff: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 14:46 pm

    @Sasuke(Sasuke)-17:

    Injured.
    Where is Mapoe?
    So much hype around him not too long ago.
    What happened?

  • 21.steblooi: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 14:58 pm

    Who is going to be the ref? If its Lawrence combined with rainy weather it is going to be a long afternoon with lots and lots of penalties.

    I think Mitch has dropped Roodt for the same reasons he dropped Elton and Taute last year – he spots potential and then he gets to work on the ego. Once that is out of the way the player will actually listen and grow. Watch Roodt get back into the starting 15 before long.

  • 22.Atreides: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 17:06 pm

    @>^..^< katman(katman)-15: I think they’re ripe for the picking, and after last week the Lions will have a point to prove.

  • 23.FFF: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 17:21 pm

    @steblooi(steblooi)-21:

    Have the sharks ever now under Mark Lawrence’s whistle ???? he has always blown the living sh!!t out of em………

  • 24.FFF: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 17:22 pm

    correction….ever ‘won’ under ML

  • 25.Original-Pierre: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 17:31 pm

    Yeah I`m not so sure. Got no problems with Butch, just feel Hollenbach is better.

    I would`ve gone with a Butch and Hollenbach combination rather, but I think Doppe is vice captain so he must start.

    The Sharks will be up for this one. If they can cut down on the penalty count, not easy with Mark Lawrence around I know, they should be favourites here.

  • 26.FFF: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 17:41 pm

    Mark Lawrence is by far the biggest poser of a ref in super rugby, he talks on as if he is auditioning for a part in a Broadway drama for 40+ G4y men………40+ G4y men who don’t like the way rugby is played on the east coast !!!!

  • 27.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 18:23 pm

    At his best some 10 years ago Butch was too slow for a centre, he is a pedestrian now.
    Mitchell probably would like to boost Jantjies’ confidence, no other explanation for benching Hollenbach who is the Lions best back.
    I am afraid these changes will achieve the opposite, Janties will feel threaten, a big hole at centre centre and Butch ends up with an injurie

  • 28.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    7 Mar 2012, 19:27 pm

    I like Hollenbach, but James and Janties combined good the last time they played 10-12..Its a long season and it would be intresting to see if this combination will provide good enough back up if Hollenbach or Doppies get injured..

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