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Pieter Jordaan
Johannesburg – “John Mitchell will come up with a plan with which the Lions can beat the Cheetahs.”
That was the prediction of Mitchell’s big friend John Plumtree on Saturday after the Sharks lost 20-22 to the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
Free State and the Lions meet on Saturday in a match that will effectively determine which one of them advances to the Currie Cup semi-final.
The Cheetahs are fourth on 37 points following a convincing win on Friday night over the Pumas, while the Lions are fifth on 35 points.
The Cheetahs’ last league game next weekend is against the Leopards, while the Lions will be up against the Pumas. Both the Cheetahs and Lions should win their final rounds, which is why Saturday’s match is so important.
“It’s going to be tough. There is a lot at stake for both sides,” said Plumtree.
“It will be physical and depend on how the Lions recover from Saturday’s tough match. But Mitch is smart. He will make a plan. The Cheetahs are a very physical side, but yes, the Lions can do it.”
Plumtree said his team’s loss was not a disaster.
“To lose against the Leopards would have been a trainsmash. We just have to learn from this. Our other opponents will go and look at what happened here and will try and do the same thing against us. We were a little naive by trying to run out of our territory on a few occasions.”
Plumtree said the Lions’ patience with keeping possession had proved decisive.
“They built pressure and their set phases were good. They also turned over our possession a few times with tackles.”
Mitchell was happy with the character his team displayed. They fought to the very end to win the match.
“The guys probably care for one another. But this young team can also be frustrating sometimes. Much of our decision-making was immature. But the Sharks are a very good attacking and defensive team. They top the log for a good reason,” said Mitchell.
Franco van der Merwe, who captained the Lions and scored the winning try, also got a lot of praise from Mitchell.
“That try was an example of Franco’s character. He is a very honest and respected player. He does not ask a lot of his team, but leads by example.”
Mitchell will have a difficult call to make about the captaincy for next year’s Super rugby competition when regular skipper Cobus Grobbelaar is fit again. Van der Merwe has impressed in the leadership role and his team is unexpectedly on the verge of a place in the Currie Cup semifinals.
The Lions may be without fullback Jaco Taute against the Cheetahs as he injured a shoulder against the Sharks.
Mitchell said that the Lions are fortunate with wing Michael Killian also able to play fullback, while Deon van Rensbuirg is fit again and may be able to take Killian’s place on the wing.
Johannesburg – “John Mitchell will come up with a plan with which the Lions can beat the Cheetahs.”
That was the prediction of Mitchell’s big friend John Plumtree on Saturday after the Sharks lost 20-22 to the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
Free State and the Lions meet on Saturday in a match that will effectively determine which one of them advances to the Currie Cup semi-final.
The Cheetahs are fourth on 37 points following a convincing win on Friday night over the Pumas, while the Lions are fifth on 35 points.
The Cheetahs’ last league game next weekend is against the Leopards, while the Lions will be up against the Pumas. Both the Cheetahs and Lions should win their final rounds, which is why Saturday’s match is so important.
“It’s going to be tough. There is a lot at stake for both sides,” said Plumtree.
“It will be physical and depend on how the Lions recover from Saturday’s tough match. But Mitch is smart. He will make a plan. The Cheetahs are a very physical side, but yes, the Lions can do it.”
Plumtree said his team’s loss was not a disaster.
“To lose against the Leopards would have been a trainsmash. We just have to learn from this. Our other opponents will go and look at what happened here and will try and do the same thing against us. We were a little naive by trying to run out of our territory on a few occasions.”
Plumtree said the Lions’ patience with keeping possession had proved decisive.
“They built pressure and their set phases were good. They also turned over our possession a few times with tackles.”
Mitchell was happy with the character his team displayed. They fought to the very end to win the match.
“The guys probably care for one another. But this young team can also be frustrating sometimes. Much of our decision-making was immature. But the Sharks are a very good attacking and defensive team. They top the log for a good reason,” said Mitchell.
Franco van der Merwe, who captained the Lions and scored the winning try, also got a lot of praise from Mitchell.
“That try was an example of Franco’s character. He is a very honest and respected player. He does not ask a lot of his team, but leads by example.”
Mitchell will have a difficult call to make about the captaincy for next year’s Super rugby competition when regular skipper Cobus Grobbelaar is fit again. Van der Merwe has impressed in the leadership role and his team is unexpectedly on the verge of a place in the Currie Cup semifinals.
The Lions may be without fullback Jaco Taute against the Cheetahs as he injured a shoulder against the Sharks.
Mitchell said that the Lions are fortunate with wing Michael Killian also able to play fullback, while Deon van Rensbuirg is fit again and may be able to take Killian’s place on the wing.
