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Cape Town - The Lions will be out to improve their dismal Super Rugby record against the Stormers when the two teams clash in Johannesburg on Saturday (19:15 kick-off).
A glance at the history between these teams in Super Rugby would tell you that the men from the Cape have dominated.
There was of course the period between 1998 and 2005 when the Lions were part of the Cats franchise.
But since 2006, the Stormers have bossed the rivalry, winning 11 of 12 encounters. Western Province also beat Transvaal when the teams clashed in the pre-franchise era in 1996.
But despite only boasting one win over the Stormers in the competition, the Lions have been a resurgent team in recent years and proved it when they forced a draw in last year’s encounter at Newlands.
Johan Ackermann’s charges also won last year’s Currie Cup when they beat Western Province 32-24 in the final.
Both teams have started the Super Rugby season well, but the Lions will take supreme confidence from their 24-9 demolition of the Sharks in Durban last week.
With home ground advantage, the Lions should start Saturday’s match as favourites.
Teams:
Lions
15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Dylon Smith
Substitutes: 16 Armand van der Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Dreyer, 19 Ruan Ackermann, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Andries Coetzee
Stormers
15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (co-captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Schalk Burger, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 19 Rynhardt Elstadt, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Damian de Allende, 23 Huw Jones
Previous meetings:
1996: Transvaal 23-26 Western Province
2006: Cats 12-23 Stormers
2007: Stormers 30-8 Lions
2008: Lions 13-22 Stormers
2009: Stormers 56-18 Lions
2010: Lions 13-26 Stormers
2011: Stormers 19-16 Lions
2011: Lions 19-33 Stormers
2012: Lions 19-24 Stormers
2012: Stormers 27-17 Lions
2014: Lions 34-10 Stormers
2014: Stormers 18-3 Lions
2015: Lions 19-22 Stormers
2015: Stormers 19-19 Lions
*Note: In 1996, the teams participated as provinces (Transvaal and WP). In 2006, the Lions were still called the Cats, despite the Cheetahs franchise already participating in the Super 14.
