KIMBERLEY, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 06: PJ Botha of Lions and Sibabalo Qoma of Griquas during the Carling Currie Cup match between Tafel Lager Griquas and Sigma Lions at Tafel Lager Park on August 06, 2021 in Kimberley, South Africa. (Photo by Frikkie Kapp/Gallo Images)

Currie Cup Premier Division: Lions 14-56 Sharks – As it happened

Lions vs Sharks: The visitors will be eager to clinch a home semi-final in the penultimate round of their Currie Cup campaign.

by James Richardson

21-08-2021 15:25

in Currie Cup

Lions vs Sharks: The visitors will be eager to clinch a home semi-final in the penultimate round of their Currie Cup campaign while the hosts are playing for pride.

Lions vs Sharks – LIVE Scores

Match preview

Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has made minimal changes to the side that defeated Toyota Free State last weekend, the hookers swapping jerseys as Dan Jooste gets a start and Kerron van Vuuren plays off the bench, while Gerbrandt Grobler makes his debut in the second row, starting in place of Le Roux Roets who has enjoyed playing his best rugby since joining the Cell C Sharks and now gets a well-deserved break. Phepsi Buthelezi’s return from rest marks the final change amongst the forwards.

Everitt has selected Grant Williams and Lionel Cronje as his halfback pairing, the duo coming in for Cameron Wright and Boeta Chamberlain in the only changes to the backline.

With the Lions this weekend and the final of the pool matches against Western Province on the last weekend of August, captain Phepsi Buthelezi’s assessment of his team ahead of the play-offs is positive.

“I think we’re in a very good place and that’s not just by looking at the last two results, while our training quality has improved, our performances in games have improved” he explains.

“Going into the business end of the competition, we’re in a very good place and the guys are starting to get really excited. I also think we’re starting to peak just at the right time.”

Buthelezi is calling for a more disciplined performance from his team and doesn’t shy away from the hard facts that penalties are costing his team.

“It’s definitely a massive issue for us and something we’re constantly working towards improving,” he admits. “We made it difficult for ourselves against Toyota Free State, we know over the last two games this discipline issue has been a massive one and it’s a constant work-on for us.”

The Lions currently find themselves in last place on the log and while they have a mathematical chance of slipping into the top four, playing their final match will realistically be more about pride than a top four finish.

“They will be desperate, they’re a quality team but have been very unfortunate with results not going their way in recent weeks.

“The trend we’ve picked up in their play is that they’re kicking a lot less lately, so we’re expecting a high tempo game, lots of running rugby and plenty of tackles.

“We want to get there and execute our game plan, it’s something that’s worked for us and something we want to polish heading towards the play-offs.”

Teams: Lions vs Sharks

Lions

15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Burger Odendaal (captain), 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 PJ Steenkamp, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 PJ Botha, 1 Sti Sithole

Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Ruhan Straeuli, 20 Lunga Ncube, 21 Mandisi Mthiyane, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 EW Viljoen

Sharks

15 Anthony Volmink, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Thaakir Abrahams, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Phepsi Buthelezi (captain), 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Gerbrandt Grobler, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Khwezi Mona

Substitutes: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Jeandre “Lappies” Labuschagne, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Boeta Chamberlain, 23 Murray Koster