The second Super Rugby derby clash for Round 4 is in Johannesburg where the Lions host the Cheetahs who they have they beaten in their last three matches.
The Lions had to fly back from New Zealand for this match while the Cheetahs had to fly back from Singapore. The Cheetahs will however be coming off a victory while the Lions will be coming off a loss.
The Lions have played three matches so far this season and have won two and lost one. The Cheetahs have also played three matches but they have lost two and won one.
For this week the Cheetahs have brought Lood de Jager back into the side as he was rested last week. Cheetahs coach Franco Smith has also brought in Charles Marais, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Maks van Dyk and Clayton Blommetjies for this week while Jacques du Toit, Ox Nche, Johan Coetzee are on the bench.
Francois Uys who came in last week and captained the side but De Jager’s retun to the starting line up see him being rotated to the bench.
The Lions have made four changes for this week and coach Ackermann Ackermann has brought back Lionel Mapoe, Andries Coetzee, Dylan Smith and Malcolm Marx to his starting line up.
Ruan Ackermann (the coach’s son) gets his first start in the place of Warwick Tecklenburg who will sit out a one week suspension.
The Lions have played the Cheetahs 13 times since 2006 and they have won 8 matches and lost five. This gives them a record of winning 62% of their matches.
In Johannesburg the Lions played the Cheetahs six times and they have won 4 matches or 67% of their home matches.
The average score when the Lions play the Cheetahs in Johannesburg is Lions 25 Cheetahs 28.
This Match will be shown on TV in NZ, Aus, SA and in the UK on Sky Sports 3.
Average score: Lions 25 Cheetahs 28
Last five results
23 May 2015 Lions v Cheetahs 40-17 Bloemfontein
25 Apr 2015 Lions v Cheetahs 34-29 Johannesburg
12 Jul 2014 Lions v Cheetahs 60-25 Johannesburg
15 Feb 2014 Lions v Cheetahs 21-20 Bloemfontein
07 Apr 2012 Lions v Cheetahs 5-26 Welkom
Lions overall record against the Cheetahs
Played 13 , Wins 8 , Losses 5, Draws 0
Match No.31:Lions v Cheetahs
Date : Saturday 19 March 2016
Venue : Emirates Airlines Park, Johannesburg
Kick Off local: 17:05 local
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant Ref 1:Glen Jackson
Assistant Ref 2:Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO :Johan Greeff
Teams
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (c), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements : 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Cheetahs
1. Charles Marais, 2. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 3. Maks van Dyk, 4. Carl Wegner, 5. Lodewyk de Jager (vc), 6. Paul Schoeman, 7. Uzair Cassiem, 8. Henco Venter, 9. Shaun Venter, 10. Neil Marais, 11. Raymond Rhule, 12. William Small-Smith, 13. Francois Venter (C), 14. Sergeal Petersen, 15. Clayton Blommetjies
Replacements: 16. Jacques du Toit, 17. Ox Nche, 18. Johan Coetzee, 19. Francois Uys, 20. Hilton Lobberts, 21. Boom Prinsloo, 22. Tian Meyer, 23. Fred Zeilinga
