Match 13 - Stormers vs Lions

Saturday 23 February 2019 in Cape Town, kickoff at 17:15 SA Time

Referee: Egon Seconds

AR1: Divan Uys

AR2: Aimee Barrat-Theron

TMO: Christie du Preez

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ali Vermaak
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Herschel Jantjies, 22 Joshua Stander, 23 Dan du Plessis

Lions: 15. Andries Coetzee; 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Lionel Mapoe, 12. Harold Vorster, 11. Courtnall Skosan; 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Nic Groom; 8. Warren Whiteley (Capt.), 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Marvin Orie, 3. Carlu Sadie, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Dylan Smith. 

Replacements: 16. Pieter Jansen, 17. Sti Sithole, 18. Jacobie Adriaanse, 19. Rhyno Herbst, 20. Hacjivah Dayimani, 21. Gianni Lombard, 22. Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23. Sylvian Mahuza.

LionsWorld Prediction: Lions by 5

Die 4 punte wat ons gaan haal het, maak dit die moeite werd. Die Stormers sal natuurlik met 'n beter effort wil kom Saterdag, maar as ons 'n beter span as die Bulle is, gaan dit nie gebeur nie. Dis net moeilik op hierdie stadium om te peil of die Bulle regtig so goed was, en of dit die Stormers was wat regtig so swak was

Stem... Dit sal darem lekker wees as die Stormers na die naweek op 'n punteverskil van meer as -80 kan eindig, maar ek dink ook hulle gaan nie so maklik boedel oorgee Saterdag nie, dit is op hulle tuisveld en hulle was nog altyd goed op Nuweland.

1) The psychological scars of the match against the Bulls. The Stormers will try that little bit harder and will force things. If they concede an early and easy try, their brittle confidence will shatter.

2) The boardroom shenanigans at Newlands. We saw it with the Lions. While there was nonsense and poor leadership at Ellis Park, the Lions under performed. Once that was sorted out, it filtered down to the players and the wins started happening.

3) Fleckie has proven to be a poor coach. He cannot translate his ideas into action, and get the players to buy into his way out thinking, so they are a bit unsure of themsleves.

4) The Newlands crowd. Newlands match attendance has dropped drastically, and the fans in Cape Town are probably the most loyal, but when they turn, they can get nasty and there will be a lot of hostility against the Stormers on Saturday.

It still wont be easy, but I think the Lions will bring heaps of confidence, and a team with confidence and humility becomes a hard nut to crack.