Lions
Golden Lions (35) 68 / 26 (14) Pumas (Final Score)
The Xerox Golden Lions and Steval Pumas did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Golden Lions Rugby Union have released a media statement outlining which players are available for the forthcoming campaign in defence of the Currie Cup, as well as an update on which players have long term injuries, and the status of players involved with the national squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
Hurricanes (10) 20 / 3 (3) Lions (Final Score)
The Hurricanes and Emirates Lions did battle in the Super Rugby 2016 Final at
Westpac Stadium, Wellington at 09:35 SA Time (07:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Warren Whiteley
Inspirational Emirates Lions captain Warren Whiteley has recovered from the calf strain that kept him out of the Super Rugby semifinal last week, and returns to lead the team in the final against the Hurricanes in Wellington New Zealand on Saturday.
Ruan Ackermann drops to the bench, and is joined by Lourens Erasmus and Ross Cronjé.
Herewith the Lions’ media statement.
The Emirates Lions squad of 25 players to travel to New Zealand for the Super Rugby Final against the Hurricanes in Wellington at the weekend has been announced.
Lions (17) 42 / 30 (6) Highlanders (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Highlanders did battle in a Super Rugby 2016 Semifinal at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, Sunday 01:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (22) 42 / 25 (10) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Crusaders did battle in a Super Rugby 2016 Quarterfinal at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 16:30 SA Time (14:30 GMT, Sunday 02:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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(Updated with BNZ Crusaders playing squad)
The Emirates Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has named an extended squad of 25 players for the quarterfinal clash against the Crusaders, with the big surprise being the possible return to action of inspirational captain Warren Whiteley.
Whiteley, who was originally diagnosed with an injury which would keep him out of Rugby for 6 weeks, and hence miss the entire Super Rugby play-offs, is to undergo a fitness test on Thursday.
Undoubtedly the Lions management, players and all of their supporters will be hoping that he is declared fit to play.
Jaguares (12) 34 / 22 (15) Lions (Final Score)
Los Jaguares and the Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires, Argentina at 23:40 SA Time (21:40 GMT, 18:40 ARG Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions (17) 57 / 21 (7) Kings (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Southern Kings did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Emirates Lions’ head coach Johan Ackermann has named an unchanged match day squad for Friday’s visit by the Southern Kings.
Lions (27) 37 / 10 (0) Sharks (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Bulls (8) 20 / 56 (25) Lions (Final Score)
The Vodacom Bulls and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Loftus versfeld, Pretoria at 17:10 SA Time (15:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (19) 52 / 24 (9) Jaguares (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Los Jaguares did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT, 10:00 ARG Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Emirates Lions head coach, Johan Ackermann has named his team to play the Argentinian side the Jaguars at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday Afternoon.
The team sees the coach sticking to his rotation policy with a total of six changes to the side that so convincingly beat the Blues last week, with exciting lock Lourens Erasmus getting a start in the second row.
Herewith the media announcement from the Emirates Lions.
Emirates Lions wing Ruan Combrink has certainly raised some eyebrows during the 1st half of Super Rugby 2016.
The hard running winger is undoubtedly one of the form players in the African conferences, and it has to be asked in certain circles whether the new National coach has taken note of his strong performances.
Herewith a short biography of the player as issued by the Emirates Lions.
Lions (19) 43 / 5 (0) Blues (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Blues did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT, Sunday 05:15 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Emirates Lions Head Coach, Johan Ackermann, has announced his team to play the Blues at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
The team sees 4 changes from the side that was heavily defeated by the Hurricanes, with Malcolm Marx and Julian Redelinghuys returning to form the 1st choice front row.
The Lions full media release reads:
Lions (5) 17 / 50 (36) Hurricanes (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Hurricanes did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT, Sunday 03:05 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Kings (5) 10 / 45 (21) Lions (Final Score)
The Southern Kings and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (16) 29 / 22 (12) Stormers (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and DHL Stormers did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 19:15 SA Time (17:15 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Sharks (6) 9 / 24 (18) Lions (Final Score)
The Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Lions (20) 37 / 43 (22) Crusaders (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Crusaders did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 19:00 SA Time (17:00 GMT, Saturday 06:00 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & CSN on TV in SA.
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Lions (24) 39 / 20 (3) Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Emirates Lions Head Coach Johan Ackermann has made a number of changes to the side who lost to the Highlanders in Dunedin during Round 3 of Super Rugby 2016, for the clash against the Toyota Cheetahs at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday.
In an enforced change due to the suspension of blindside flank Warwick Tecklenburg, the young prospect Ruan Ackermann gets his 1st run-on opportunity in the loose forwards.
Also returning to the starting lineup is Lionel Mapoe who missed the last game to be at the birth of his 1st child, as well as Andries Coetzee at fullback, together with Dylan Smith and Malcolm Marx in the front row.
Highlanders (10) 34 / 15 (3) Lions (Final Score)
The Highlanders and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin at 08:35 SA Time (06:35 GMT, 19:35 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Chiefs (11) 32 / 36 (19) Lions (Final Score)
The Chiefs and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
FMG Stadium, Hamilton at 06:15 SA Time (04:15 GMT, 17:15 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Sunwolves (6) 13 / 26 (12) Lions (Final Score)
The Sunwolves and Emirates Lions did battle in Super Rugby 2016 at
Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo at 06:15 SA Time (04:15 GMT, 13:15 Japanese Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
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The Jaguares bounced back from last week’s disappointment to beat a young Emirates Lions team 49 / 28 in an 11-try feast in their Super Rugby pre-season outing Johannesburg on Friday.
Following their 14 / 29 loss to the DHL Stormers last week, the Argentinean newcomers to Super Rugby showed the class that 20-odd internationals can bring to a team – running the Lions ragged – outscoring them by 7 tries to 4 at the Wits Stadium.
Some sublime inter-passing and grand angled running by the visitors that expose some major flaws in the Lions’ defensive set-up.
The Emirates Lions – consisting mainly of their back-up squad – played decent only in patches.
Their frontline selections were rested before they start their Super Rugby campaign with a historic match against Japan’s newcomers, the Sunwolves, in Tokyo next week.
Just how the revised Super Rugby format will go down with the South African rugby public is unclear, but we won’t have to wait long to find out.
The new-look tournament gets underway in less than a month, with the Blues and the Highlanders kicking things off in Auckland on Friday 26 February 2016.
From a South African perspective, the road ahead looks a tough one and if local bookmakers are to be believed there is no standout side from within these borders that looks set to challenge for the title.
Outside of the tournament changes, the majority of the South African franchises have also undergone major alterations with only 2wo sides – the Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions – heading into 2016 with the same coaches that did the business in 2015.
The Southern Kings, obviously, were not a part of the 2015 competition but they also have a new man at the helm.
Here, we look at the 6 men tasked with bringing success to their respective franchises:
Warren Whiteley
Warren Whiteley will be captaining the Emirates Lions for the 3rd consecutive Super Rugby season when he again takes the reigns for 2016.
The experienced Whiteley welcomed the responsibility of the captaincy bestowed upon him. “It is a big honour to again lead the Lions in the Super Rugby competition. I take the task very seriously while I also enjoy making decisions on and off the field.
“While I think nothing has changed it becomes easier. Also because we’ve got such a great core of leaders around me,” Whitely said.
All the Lions’ Currie Cup heroes except for Kwagga Smith, who is contracted for National Sevens duty, have been retained for Super Rugby while 9 other stalwarts have strengthened the squad.
Flanker Derick Minnie returns after a long injury lay-off and winger Ruan Combrink and centre Harold Vorster have also been added to the Super Rugby group after missing some Currie Cup action due to injury.
Springbok flyhalf Elton Jantjies, centre Lionel Mapoe and hooker Akker van der Merwe, as well as Warrick Tecklenburg will return from overseas duty.
The new squad members are former Steval Pumas scrumhalf Faf de Klerk, Leopards No 9 Dillon Smit, Leopards lock Robert Kruger and Pumas prop Corné Fourie, who are all full-blooded Lions now.
Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk has signed a contract with the Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) which will see him based permanently in Johannesburg. De Klerk, 24, was a shining light for the Emirates Lions during this year’s Super Rugby competition but because he was still contracted to the Steval Pumas, he had to return to Nelspruit for the Currie Cup season. However, the GLRU on Wednesday confirmed that the scrumhalf has signed a deal which means he will also be available for Currie Cup duty.
Steval Pumas fullback JW Bell is the only new face who hasn’t donned the Lions jersey yet.
Warren Whiteley
No 8 Warren Whiteley has credited coach Johan Ackermann for the revival in Lions rugby.
This season, Ackermann coached the Xerox Golden Lions to an ABSA Currie Cup title while they also had an adequate Super Rugby campaign as the Emirates Lions, winning 9 of their 16 games.
Not only have the Lions showed a revival in form, but they have also done so by employing an enterprising game style.
“This all started when Johan Ackermann took over as head coach and encouraged the players to play for each other and the jersey,” Whiteley told MyPlayers.co.za. “He put the pride back into Lions rugby, which had a major influence on the team. We enjoyed a strong finish to Super Rugby last year, and we did well during this year’s tournament. We’re also doing well in the Currie Cup. This is all reward for the hard work we’ve put in to ensure the Lions excel as a unit… as a family.”
The Xerox Golden Lions side to take on DHL Western Province in the 2015 ABSA Currie Cup Final shows 3 changes to the starting line-up at Emirates Airline Park on Saturday 24 October 2015 at 13:45 SA Time.
Robbie Coetzee starts at hooker with Malcolm Marx moving to the bench, Kwagga Smith will wear the No 7 jersey while Stephan de Witt takes up a seat on the bench and in the last change Rohan Janse van Rensburg and Stokkies Hanekom will swop places with the latter moving to the bench.
3 Finals will take place on Saturday.
Jaco Kriel
Xerox Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has brought back his rested stars for their semifinal clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs on Saturday.
Jaco Kriel will again lead the team, which has a strong leadership group with Warren Whiteley, Ross Cronjé and Howard Mnisi all back on duty.
Prop Jacques van Rooyen and flank Steph de Wit are back in the starting 15 after playing off the bench last weekend against ORC Griquas.
A number of players who started against Griquas will be on the bench this Saturday. They include centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg, hooker Robbie Coetzee, flyhalf Jaco van der Walt, wing Sampie Mastriet, lock Fabian Booysen and the impact specialist Kwagga Smith.