JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 14: Warren Whiteley (c) of the Emirates Lions in action during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on July 14, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Anton Geyser/Gallo Images)
Super Rugby: Crusaders vs Lions – Team news, kick off and live stream
It’s the final 80 minutes!
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – JULY 14: Warren Whiteley (c) of the Emirates Lions in action during the Super Rugby match between Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls at Emirates Airline Park on July 14, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Anton Geyser/Gallo Images)
It’s the Super Rugby final! The Lions arrived in New Zealand earlier this week to prepare for this year’s Super Rugby final against the Crusaders.
Last year, Scott Robertson’s Crusaders ran out 25-17 winners in Johannesburg. Now the reigning champs have the opportunity to go back-to-back in Christchurch for another shot at the title.
The odds look to be firmly in the Crusaders’ favor – the Lions finished 17 points behind Saturday’s opponents in the regular season – but the whole campaign now comes down to this upcoming match.
Super Rugby final: Crusaders vs Lions Key Players:
As we look ahead to the #SuperRugbyFinal this weekend here are some key players who have got the #Lions to their third consecutive Final.
Can they become the second South African team to lift the trophy?
#LetsUnite #CRUvLIO #Final80Minutes pic.twitter.com/qqurDkatJB— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) August 1, 2018
Crusaders team and injury news
Head Coach Scott Robertson has named his team for the match, and there is just one change from the starting XV that took the field in last weekend’s semifinal against the Hurricanes and one change on the reserves bench.
Heiden Bedwell-Curtis will start in the No 6 jersey, in place of injured loose forward Jordan Taufua, who fractured his arm in the semifinal. Last weekend’s reserve hooker, Seb Siataga, also fractured his arm in that match and has been replaced by Sam Anderson-Heather as back up to Codie Taylor.
In total, 19 of the Crusaders’ match day 23 named for this Saturday, were also involved in last year’s final against the same opposition in Johannesburg.
Crusaders: 15 David Havili, 14 Seta Tamanivalu, 13 Jack Goodhue, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 George Bridge, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, 5 Sam Whitelock (c), 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Sam Anderson-Heather, 17 Tim Perry, 18 Michael Alaalatoa, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Pete Samu, 21 Mitchell Drummond, 22 Mitchell Hunt, 23 Braydon Ennor
Lions team and injury news
The Lions saw two changes to the team that beat the Waratahs during last weekend’s Super Rugby semifinal.
Cyle Brink returns at flank, replacing Lourens Erasmus who drops down to the bench.
Courtnall Skosan will start on the left wing ahead of Aphiwe Dyantyi, who left the field against the Waratahs due to a hamstring injury. Dyantyi drops down to the bench.
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Marvin Orie, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Corne Fourie, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 23 Howard Mnisi
Kick-off time
Saturday, 4 August at 09:35 (SAST).
TV & Live Stream
SuperSport 1 (subscription required) at 09:30 (SAST).
