Lions hope Elton stays home

It won't only be the Springbok coaches hoping for no injuries. Lions coach John Mitchell will also be closely monitoring dispatches about the health of Bok flyhalves.

Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies is one of 12 players on standby for the Springboks' World Cup campaign - and he is one player the Lions can't afford to lose as they edge nearer to a first Currie Cup title in 12 years.

Jantjies was outstanding against the Sharks on Saturday, contributing 23 of 28 points from seven penalties and a conversion to keep the Lions top of the standings.

At the midway point, the Lions have 27 points, five clear of Western Province and the Sharks, and six ahead of Griquas, who round out the top four.

"He [Jantjies] controlled the game nicely and I thought [scrumhalf] Michael Bondesio also played very well, but that is always off the back end of a good pack," Mitchell said.

"The forwards will probably put their hands up as far as delivery at set phase is concerned but the way they worked for each other in defence was huge."

Griquas, by beating the Free State 23-20 in an amazing comeback, are in fourth place, three points clear of the Cheetahs.

The Bulls' ugly 28-20 win over the Leopards in Phokeng, their third consecutive victory, has kept up their chances of reaching the playoffs with seven rounds to go.

The Lions condemned the Sharks to only their second defeat of the season, forcing them into committing too many defensive errors.

"Penalties were a big factor," said Sharks coach John Plumtree. "Conceding that many obviously put us under a lot of pressure but I think some of the pressure the Lions put us under forced us to concede that many penalties.

"There were also some penalties that were a bit silly and we've got to look at that, because, in the past, we prided ourselves on our discipline and it is letting us down in this campaign at the moment."