Cape Town - The Lions will have to improve on a terrible head-to-head record against the Hurricanes if they are to win Saturday’s Super Rugby final in Wellington (kick-off 09:35 SA time).
Both teams are hunting a maiden Super Rugby title, but if history is anything to go by, then the Hurricanes are firm favourites.
The Lions have a bleak record against the men from New Zealand’s capital, having only won one match in 10 encounters over the years.
The bookmakers also predicted a 7-point win for the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes v Lions Super Rugby head-to-head (home team first):
1996: Hurricanes 32-16 Transvaal
1997: Gauteng Lions 35-37 Hurricanes
2007: Lions 30-7 Hurricanes
2008: Hurricanes 38-12 Lions
2009: Lions 32-38 Hurricanes
2010: Hurricanes 33-18 Lions
2011: Hurricanes 38-27 Lions
2012: Lions 28-30 Hurricanes
2015: Lions 8-22 Hurricanes
2016: Lions 17-50 Hurricanes
Notes: Matches between 1998 and 2006 are not taken into consideration by SANZAAR as the Lions were part of the Cats franchise.
In 2006, the Lions were still called the Cats, despite the Cheetahs participating on their own in the competition. For the record, the Hurricanes beat the Cats 29-16 in Wellington that year.
The Lions were also called Transvaal in 1996 and Gauteng Lions in 1997.
Teams:
Hurricanes
15 James Marshall, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Willis Halaholo, 11 Jason Woodward, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles (captain)/Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Loni Uhila
Substitutes: 16 Ricky Riccitelli/Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Mike Kainga/Reggie Goodes, 19 Mark Abbott, 20 Callum Gibbins/Tony Lambourn, 21 Jamison Gibson-Park, 22 Vince Aso, 23 Julian Savea
Lions
15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5, Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylon Smith
Substitutes: 16 Armand ‘Akker’ van der Merwe, 17 Corner Fourie, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Ross Cronje, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Jaco van der Walt