All eyes on Ellis Park and Lions' defence of Currie Cup title

29 September 2016 - 18:03 By Craig Ray

All eyes will be on Ellis Park on Friday when the Golden Lions’ defence of their title could come to an end if they fail to beat the Sharks in the final round of Currie Cup pool play. The Lions went unbeaten through the 2015 tournament but have struggled this season due to losing key players such as No 8 Warren Whiteley‚ centre Lionel Mapoe‚ halfbacks Faf de Klerk and Elton Jantjies and wing Ruan Combrinck to the Springboks.It wasn’t a problem they encountered a year ago.Throw in the absence of more Springboks such as prop Julian Redelinghuys and lock Franco Mostert and half of the team that did duty 12 months ago is missing. As good as the Lions are‚ it’s taken them time to adequately fill those positions. But they seem to have found their rhythm again after some early-season setbacks‚ most notably a loss to Griquas in Kimberley‚ and are making a late surge for the semis.The return of hooker Malcolm Marx‚ who was released from the Bok squad on Monday‚ is another positive injection for the Lions.The Sharks are third on the standings with 25 points and the Lions fifth with 22. In-between the two rivals sit Western Province on 23 points.But WP have a potentially easier match when they take on Boland in the day’s late game at Newlands‚ so it’s a shootout between the Lions and Sharks for one semi berth. The Sharks could also make it through even if they lose but earn two bonus points in the process‚ but that wasn’t part of their thinking this week. A win with a bonus point would see them leapfrog the Blue Bulls into second place and claim a home semifinal. The Lions are formidable at home and Sharks flank Jean Deysel is aware of how difficult the challenge will be to stop the 2015 winners. But it’s one he’s relishing.“It’s not going to be easy‚ but any team is beatable‚ in any competition‚” Deysel said.“Yes‚ they are playing at home‚ but every member of this team has played there and if we rock up‚ well-prepared and they let their guard down‚ even for just a moment‚ we need to turn that into our advantage.” The Sharks have been boosted by the return of captain and No 8 Keegan Daniel and Bok wing Lwazi Mvovo – another released from international duty on Monday.The Lions have momentum going into the clash following their 71-7 win over the EP Kings last weekend while the Sharks are coming off a bye. WP have Springbok centre Damian de Allende back in the mix after he‚ like Marx and Mvovo‚ was released from Test duty. It’s a timely return for the 32 times Currie Cup champions as in-form centre Huw Jones will miss the match with a hamstring strain. Griquas are up against log leaders the Free State Cheetahs in the weekend’s final pool match and depending on Friday’s results might still have a chance to make the semis by the time they take the field. But that would require the Sharks and Boland winning‚ and Griquas themselves toppling the Cheetahs who are unbeaten this season.The Pumas host the EP Kings in a contest for the wooden spoon on Saturday. Neither side has won a match this season but the Pumas have five log points to the one of the Kings. Friday: Golden Lions v Sharks (Ellis Park5pm)Eastern Province Kings v Pumas (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium‚ 6pm)Western Province v Boland Kavaliers (Newlands‚ 7.10pm) Saturday: Free State Cheetahs v Griquas (Free State Stadium‚ 2pm) - TMG Sport..

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