Lions Back into Super Rugby

Final Score Lions 18 (8) Southern Kings 23 (9)

Scorers

Lions 
Tries - D. Minnie, J. Kriel
Pen - E.Jantjies 2
Con - E.Jantjies
Drop - 
Cards -  S. Hanekom (66th min yellow)

Kings
Tries - S. Ferreira, S van Breda
Pen -  S. Van Breda 3
Con - S.Van Breda 2
Drop - 
Cards -

Match Officials
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant Ref 1:Jason Jaftha,
Assistant Ref 2: Marius Jonker
TMO : Shaun Veldsman

Teams

Lions

Ruan Combrink, Deon Helberg, Stokkies Hanekom, Dylan des Fountain, Antony Volmink, Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje, Warren Whiteley, Derick Minnie, Jaco Kriel, Franco van der Merwe, Hendrik Roodt, Julian Redelinghuys, Martin Bezuidenhout, JC Janse van Rensburg (captain).

Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Martin Dreyer, Willie Britz, Warwick Tecklenburg, Guy Cronje, Marnitz Boshoff, Chryzander Botha.

Southern Kings

SP Marais, Hadleigh Parkes, Ronnie Cooke, Waylon Murray, Scott van Breda, George Whitehead, Shaun Venter, Jacques Engelbrecht, Wimpie van der Walt, Cornell du Preez, Darron Nell (captain), David Bulbring, Kevin Buys, Bandise Maku, Schalk Ferreira

Replacements: Charl du Plessis, Hannes Franklin, Steven Sykes, Devin Oosthuizen, Nicolas Vergallo, Wesley Dunlop, Shane Gates.

The Kings only got confirmation in August last year that they would play SuperXV. 

By this time most SA players that would have been coming out of contract, had allready signed new contracts in SA or overseas.

Then SARU limited the contracting of foreign players.

This left the Kings with the weakest squad in South Africa, and perhaps the SuperXV (including the Western Force).

The Kings then entered the SuperXV with no sponser due to their poor squad and limited preparation time.

The belief resulted that they would be an embarresment to anyone associated with them, so no one wanted to sponser losers.

Who would want to sponser a team of nobodys.

It probably didnt help that Luke Watson the most unliked player in SA Rugby as its captain, even though he went on to miss the majority of the tournament.

All things considered the Kings exceeded expecations and could have built upon year one massively if they were given a 2nd chance. More players to bolster skills depth and a sponser.

Now the  Pussies are back in the SuperXV. The team that goes overseas and gives up and be a total embarresment, only to pick themselves up for local derbies.

Each year could be a repeat. Who ever wins the Vodacom, or tier2 Curry Cup gets into the SuperXV.

Problem is, it will be August by the time they know that they are in the SuperXV next year.

Then the same problem about getting sponsers, and players good enough to be competitive in the SuperXV.

It looks like who ever wins the Playoff match is going to finish last next year and have to go into a playoff with a chance of being knocked out again.

JC is also leaving. Man we are in the dwang with all these quality palyers departing.

The Lions also were building a bit winning the Currie Cup. Then the next season suffering horrendous injuries and getting dumped - WITHOUT A PLAYOFF. I have NO sympathy for the kings - they never entered through the front door but used politics to get in.

Go Lions!

The only management administration worse than SARU is the Lions Management administration team.

As well as the Kings did this season, excluding the Lions from Super Rugby was a disgrace.  

They went about it the same way that Cheeky got Luke selected to the Bok squad.

It should never have happened.

I am delighted that my boys are back.

I hope we'll be a little better next season.

Just wish they'd encourage the Stormers to take Jantjies aboard.

The most useless 10 I've seen in a long time.

Thanks Sas!!!

Your point is valid. Perhaps I'm a little harsh on the man. He drove me insane this past weekend. 

We'll see how he goes during the Currie Cup. Maybe he can find his mojo again. If not, I'm gonna put a contract out on him.

Mike ... to be quite honest ... I'm very pleased there's no combining of the two teams. The Cats showed it up as a stupid idea. It didn't work. 

I see my favourite player, Jacques Engelbrecht has been signed by the Bulls. Disaster. .

Besides ... no way I wanna cheer for anything called the "Lion Kings" ,,, give me a break.

I'd rather cheer for the Pumba's.

Sas ... your a Canes man, right?

Have you guys been forced to take Nonu back?

How do you feel about his return to the Hurricanes?

He's a class act. Just needs strong leadership guiding him.