Meh. It's just the usual shtick, ad nauseam. I tend to avoid those match threads in the lead up to games.

Jens is a knowledgeable poster, I enjoy his input without the usual mud-slinging and name-calling. He's doing a good job of being the only regular Lions fans on PR.

Cell C Sharks head coach Robert du Preez has named a slightly changed team to play the Emirates Lions at JONSSON KINGS PARK on Saturday afternoon as he welcomes back a couple of players from injury and has also had to be accommodating for other players unavailable.



Most of the changes are in the pack, with Mzamo Majola coming in for Thomas du Toit at loosehead while Ruben van Heerden is back after missing the Chiefs match and partners Ruan Botha at lock. Hyron Andrews plays off the bench this week.



Daniel du Preez also returns to the starting line-up with Philip van der Walt moving back to flank and Jacques Vermeulen named amongst the replacements. Injuries to Akker van der Merwe and Craig Burden mean a possible debut for Dylan Richardson who is named as reserve hooker.



Andre Esterhuizen is back in the final change to the starting line-up and only change to a very settled backline.



The centre admits that there’s great excitement in the camp ahead of the game. “We’re back, refreshed after the bye week and ready for this match.”



“There are a lot of positives in this group, primarily that we are not going to play with a fear of losing, we want to play to win and enjoy the game.”



With four games remaining, he admits that the two home and two away games take on great importance for the team’s campaign, particularly as congested as the table is.



“Every game is vital from now on, there are just a few points that separates the teams in the South African Conference, so we know the importance of every single game.



“But we aren’t putting pressure on ourselves; we’re going out there to enjoy it and play for each other. That’s what we thrived on during the tour and it worked for us.”



Cell C Sharks

Mzamo Majola
Kerron van Vuuren
Coenie Oosthuizen
Ruben van Heerden
Ruan Botha
Philip van der Walt
Jean-Luc du Preez
Daniel du Preez
Louis Schreuder (c)
Curwin Bosch
Makazole Mapimpi
Andre Esterhuizen
Lukhanyo Am
Sbu Nkosi
Aphelele Fassi
Replacements

Dylan Richardson*
Juan Schoeman
John-Hubert Meyer
Hyron Andrews
Jacques Vermeulen
Cameron Wright
Robert du Preez
Kobus van Wyk

Not too confident with that front row, and not the best bench we've ever had.

But hopefully Bosch can open them up the way he did in Joburg.

Although we don't have a great scrum...we really do have powerful loose forwards and locks...and a great backline.

Will have to wait and see what team the Lions select. If Swys rests Marx and Elton it should be an easy game for the Sharks

Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Kwagga Smith (c), 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Piet Jansen, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Carlü Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Tyrone Green

Good to see Nothnagel in the mix for a possible SR debut

With Marx rested, a weaker front row and a fairly green bench the Lions just can't afford to fall behind on the scoreboard

Edit: Only saw now Cronje is also out and there's no scrummie on the bench

Green bench means nothing.....sometimes when the kids have more to prove you get results....should be a decent match.

Go Lions!

A 3-3 draw would be a decent result.

Komaan Kwagga!

If I were a betting man I would probably put my money on the Sharks. However I will shout for the Lions as they have a few ex Ikeys playing (and dont have rabid one eyed supporters ).

Nice to see Dylan Richardson on the bench for the Sharks. Great schools and junior player.

All this Stomp support for the Lions is giving me a hardon.....

I haven't seen my crotch area so voluptuous in a very long time.....

I might just go have a wank....

Yupp. Lions all the way. Sharks fans are mostly insufferable.

Please support the Lions...we don't want corrupt unions supporters supporting us....

rather insufferable than corrupt...Zuptoids the lot of you....when you have to buy a draw....

No Malc for the Lions is worth a few points already for the Sharks.

Sharks use to be my second team, that was before I posted on PR and got use to Sards

Glad to hear it. We wouldn't want you associated with our rugby team.

Yupp, it's that kind of elitist attitude that does it for most people. Elitist attitude without any elitist type of results...

Elitist

It's the response it deserves. You shit all over Sards for posting on Stormers threads, and you don't see me commenting on your holier-than-thou responses.

Proof or flounce.

Elitist popped collar plums

Oh grow a backbone...its this kind of sympathy pleas from Stomp supporters that culminates in having to buy games.


You Stomps always since I started posting here have hated the Sharks and felt the brunt of the Sharks knocking you out of Superrugby. Its deeply ingrained and why you punks even support foreign sides against the Sharks...you are a despicable bunch of rugby supporters...

Worse than dog shit....

Errrr I’ve been here 20+ years and have always supported the lions. I remember when it was just Fangle and I.

You're more of a U.S. political pundit these days.

Is this a kings thread?

I did think of you, but you seem to keep a fairly low profile these days, compared to Jens who is on the frontline fighting every day like an SS Stormtrooper.

I generally avoid SA threads because someone is always taking a dump in them. Look at this one with Saffer31 perching in the corner

Probably not a bad idea.

I'm sure come the world cup we'll all be united and there will be no discussions over which province is better

Yet very quiet in the Stormers thread...all the Stomps infect the Sharks match threads hoping for a Sharks failure so they can gloat

Sad as Trump would say.

No, but it's not a Trump thread either

Us Stormers fans just go about our business, no need to be all over that thread. We'll talk rugby when the time comes. As for this thread, the fight against the popped collars never stops.

I long for the days when Chili was a good poster and not a cheap Sards wannabe troll.

He's even started using the same phrases

Such a waste, used to be good value. Now, beating the same old drum to death, instigating arguments and bad mouthing anything Stormers/WP.

You two are like Laurel and Hardy. Chili is a Freestater like me, we give everyone shit even our own. I've seen him give Sards shit about the Sharks many times so stop your kak.

No, I think chilli is experiencing an identity crisis these days.

Once a Freestater, always a Freestater!

Let them have the thread. Tired of their bitter kak too

Says the guy who cant decide if he's WP or OP, if he's a Saffa or a Yank.