It has been eight years since the Lions (or Cats, as their predecessors were called) have beaten the Stormers. That was back in 2001 when the Laurie Mains-coached Cats won 29-24 in Cape Town and went on to reach the play-offs.
Rugby365
Add to this the fact that the Stormers have a settled squad, boosted by the off-season signings of World Cup-winning Springboks, centre Jaque Fourie and wing Bryan Habana.
The Lions have a new coach, in Dick Muir, and 10 new faces – including All Black legend Carlos Spencer.
The key for them is probably how much of that magic is still left in King Carlos. Spencer (96) is the most experienced player in the Lions team – well clear of captain Cobus Grobbelaar in second place on 57 caps.
The Stormers are certainly not going to underestimate the 34-year-old Spencer or any of his many no-name brand teammates.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said this week that the Lions in Johannesburg will be a “tough challenge” and they would want to erase the unpleasant recent memories.
Coetzee said he will be looking to his senior players to show the way.
“I’m looking at all my senior players to show composure out there,” Coetzee told a media gathering this week.
“There’s no Super 14 game where everything comes on a platter and you don’t have to work for it.
“I know the Lions come out and play at tempo and they get in your face and that’s where we need the senior players to stand up and show composure. It’s not going to be easy but we’ve just got to make sure that we give those okes nothing.”
Lions captain Cobus Grobbelaar was equally complimentary about the opposition, and said the Lions will have to be on top of their game or their drought against the men from Cape Town will continue.
Grobbelaar, one of the few remaining senior players after a mass exodus in 2009, said there is enough experience left in the team to make a good fist of it.
“We have a new coach and a new group of players, and we are very excited about the season,” Grobbelaar told rugby365.com.
He admitted the Lions will be “thoroughly tested” by the visitors.
“We will have to see how these new players react [to the challenge],” he said, adding that “some serious questions will be asked” of his team.
“The Stormers are a very well-balanced team, with a dangerous attack and a brilliant kick-chase game.
“No doubt we will have to be 100 percent on top of our game.”
There has also been a lot of talk about the exciting game the Lions had played in the past and, according to Grobbelaar, that won’t change.
“The key for us is ‘consistency’. We have to keep producing the quality rugby that brings wins, not just the occasional flash of brilliance.”
He felt that the new law interpretation will encourage attacking teams to not only control the ball, but to entertain.
Super 14 results:
2009: Stormers won 56-18, Cape Town
2008: Stormers won 22-13, Johannesburg
2007: Stormers won 30-8, Cape Town
2006: Stormers won 23-12, Johannesburg
rugby365 Prediction: The expectations are high, naturally, with Springbok assistant coach Dick Muir taking over in Johannesburg. And it is difficult to write them off, simply because with 10 new faces it is almost impossible to say how they will respond to the challenge of Super Rugby. However, you still have to go with the experience and class that is on display in the Stormers team. The Stormers by 10 to 15 points.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Wandile Mjekevu, 10 Carlos Spencer, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Jacques Lombard, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Charles Emslie, 17 JC van Rensburg, 18 Todd Clever, 19 Jacques Coetzee, 20 Derrick Minnie, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Michael Killian.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Kobus Wessels (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
February 13th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
Will the Lions pitch up tonight or Will the Stormers finally live up to the hype
February 13th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Like the Bulls last night, the stormers boks need to show stability in the team and be the ones to lead them.
Can not wait to see a running game, how does the weather look up their in gangster paradise?
February 13th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Reply to Jacques(Bunny) @ 3:09 pm:
Vang ‘n vinnige middagslapie
- dit laat die tyd vinniger
verbygaan.
Z Z Z Z Z
February 13th, 2010 at 3:41 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 3:22 pm: :db:
February 13th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Wales v Scotland about to KO – Go Scots!!!
February 13th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Chris Patterson’s 100th test match!
February 13th, 2010 at 3:57 pm
Awesome Anthems!!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:01 pm
IMO not much better than a Wales v Scotland test match!!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
wAT IS DIE TELLING? mY tv HET HIERDIE OOMBLIK GEKIES OM TE K@K.
February 13th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Welsh player not rolling away and the ref penalizes the Scotsman for rucking
February 13th, 2010 at 4:05 pm
0-0 only 4th min
February 13th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Scotland try!!!! Barkley runs over 2 Welshies! Bwahahaha!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
7-0 Scots! Wales tackling like the cheetahs
February 13th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Wales makes break but great defense holds them out!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Patterson is hurt but staying on… knee, houlder and ribs!
got a royal working over! Thinks he ran into Daniesaur 
February 13th, 2010 at 4:17 pm
Wales PK!
7-3 Scots
February 13th, 2010 at 4:20 pm
Parks DG!!
10-3 Scots
February 13th, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Great play by the Scots! TRY? TMO pending!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
TRY!!!! AWESOME!!
15-3 with kick to come!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
Conv missed.
Scots 15-3
February 13th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
PK Wales
15-6 Scots
February 13th, 2010 at 4:33 pm
Patterson going off finally
BTW Scots lead 18-6
February 13th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Roof open but field dry?
February 13th, 2010 at 4:37 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 4:37 pm:
too cold to rain
February 13th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
What a game so far!! love it!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:41 pm
Evans looks to be seriously injured – stretcher is out on the pitch
February 13th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Pity this, Scots looked on fire – this will take them back a bit
February 13th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Again great defense by the Scots! Keeping Wales out!
February 13th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
HT score 18-9 Scots
February 13th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Sien julle later! Moet nou Stormers ondersteun and met een oog die Scots ondersteun!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
21-9 Scots!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
It has been eight years since the Lions (or Cats, as their predecessors were called) have beaten the Stormers.
I hate mediaspeak
I really do
The Cats was a combination of the Free State and Transvaal
It was not a shadow Lions team….
The last time the Lions played in Super tournament was in 1997 and between that year and when it started in 1994 the WP never even reached the tournament they were so pathetic.
And the Lions only returned to the tournament in 2006 and since then they have never beaten the Stormers…
It’s much easier when you tell the truth…
Geez the cape media is pathetic…
Now they’ve reverted to trying to “build up” the Lions to something they are not… some sort of “formidable dark force” capable of snuffing out the Stormers with a single felcx of Carlos Spencer’s tattoed bicep….
When the truth is if the Stormers lose this they m,ight as well give up on Super rugby and go and swap with the Maties and play “Varsity Cup” because that’ll be all they deserve to play in….
I bet after beating the Lions they trumpet how this “is the year of the Stormers”
After all the Bulls looked really pathetic last night outting only 50 past the Cheetahs who we all know are actually even more pathetic than the Bulls
February 13th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
3-0 Stormers inside the first minutes
OMG
For sure
Feel it in my nuts
This is the year
This is it
The Stormers are going to win S14, CC and Tri-Nations and probably the AirNZ Cup too…
February 13th, 2010 at 5:15 pm
3-3
Just giving the Lions a little bit of a breather so they’re not too embarrassed
February 13th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
Great counter rucking by Stormers…
This time Snor must select the entire Stormers forwards pack as a unit for the Boks
February 13th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
6-3
You got them where you want them Stormers
February 13th, 2010 at 5:24 pm
come on lions!!!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Geez I bet Dan Carter cries himself to sleep at night wishing he could kick like Peter Grant who is definitely the next Dan Carter, Henry Honnibal and Johnny Wilkinson combined
February 13th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
come on dawie give me some scores here! cant get fk all streaming over here
February 13th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
Joe Pietersen
the next Monty slots a penalty as the cheating Transvalers get their cumuppance….
9-3 after 18 minutes and this ganme is just going in one direction
February 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Reply to asteroth @ 5:25 pm: Sorry bro
9-3 now
Some handbags with Heinke handing Duane Vermeulen a well dserved PK the ref didn’t do anything about
February 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
agh fekkit, going to the pub, will watch it later.
February 13th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
ps. Asteroth I assume you can see the dripping sarcasm in my posts
February 13th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
now dawie are you supported the lions or the bulls this year?
February 13th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Possession like 70/30 to the Stormers
February 13th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
Cab Lions as always
Then the Bulls in the play off stages
February 13th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Reply to cab @ 5:30 pm: Who’re you supporting?
The most liberal team?
Suppose that means you’ll be with the gayboys this year…
They do have such pretty players this year… Bryan Habana, Jacque Fourie, Joe Pitersen, Peter Grant…
February 13th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Still 9-3 BTW 24 mins
February 13th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
Wales 14 – 24 Scots!!!
10min to go!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:37 pm
Jis
Both sides really struggling
Schalk and Grobbelaar in particular getting penalized
February 13th, 2010 at 5:39 pm
12-3
February 13th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Schalk clotheslines Spencer but gets just a talking to and Lions get a penalty wqhich they slot
12-6 now with ten mins to go 1st half
February 13th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Wales 21 – 24 Scots!!!
2min to go!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Wales 24 – 24 Scots!!!
1min to go!
February 13th, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Wales score to win 31-24
February 13th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
2 tries in three minutes for Stormers
26-6 and the Lions crowd is already trooping out the stadium
February 13th, 2010 at 5:52 pm
HT 26-6
February 13th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
26-6 HT
February 13th, 2010 at 5:56 pm
Whoever is tuned in:
Stay tuned in and watch
Dawie vomiting as the
game progresses.
Fok, vrouens gaan weer in
yskaste vasloop.
Jammer die Yellow Valiant
staan op blokke.
Net soos die Lions.
February 13th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:56 pm:
hehehe :thumbup:
February 13th, 2010 at 6:00 pm
February 13th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Vermeulen finally getting back some form
February 13th, 2010 at 6:01 pm
Lions always 1st, but i think WP going to do well this year.
Lions are their worst enemies, there was allsort of hype about the new TVL ou De Klerk and the new coach and king carlos – but there no real meat in those acqisitions, useless.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
The shame of it is Spencer is actually having a good game… it’s the Lions around him who are an embarrassment…
Dick rings the changes big time at half time…
Seen reading his players the riot act
February 13th, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 5:56 pm:
See what I meant
God the irony is so lost…
My genius totally wasted
February 13th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Cab
Actually old Carlos is about the only guy who deserves to be wearing a Lions jersey at the moment…
Rest of the acquisitions moronic
Bryan Habana left Tonderai Chavanga for dead in Pietersen’s first try
February 13th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
And newboy Mchiveku left Gio Aplon for dead and then slipped…. apparently the Lions didn’t know the grass was going to be so thick…
Transvaal have become the new Cheetahs
All their half decent players are at other provinces
February 13th, 2010 at 6:10 pm
ja i agree, too many youngsters, they need to have signed some big names, not only carlos spencer, i mean i heard all these bragign rumours they had by far the biggest budget…i cant believe itm but nothing.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:12 pm
actually they now having quite a good few phases, lets see…
February 13th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
Lions very desperate to attack but predictably fail
February 13th, 2010 at 6:14 pm
ja nee, lost it, habana has inbjected alot of energy and is expecting alot from his teammates too, makes a big difference, he and Fourie.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
Holy crap the Lions have held the score unchanged for 13 minutes!
February 13th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
Mjekevu off and Burton Francis on
February 13th, 2010 at 6:28 pm
Stormers gone off the boil a bit… They have to get the BP
February 13th, 2010 at 6:29 pm
c’mon Ricky!!!
February 13th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Stormers speel kak
February 13th, 2010 at 6:47 pm
Holy Moly
Stormers either super kak in the second half or the changes Dick made have had an effect
Must say Eduan Coetzee should have started at 9 as far as I’m concerned
Much faster than two step JayPee
February 13th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
not a good game, stormers gone off the boil, they were runnig away with it in teh 1st half, good grit by lionsm but i’m a bit sick of grit too.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
IRE v FRA much better
February 13th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Stormers – midfield placed team in 2010
February 13th, 2010 at 6:55 pm
Jirre
Lions won the second half
Think that Dick was still tinkering but the second half performance was far better
Hope Doppies is now consigned to somehwre else because heaven knows he adds exactly nothing
Burton Francis far better as an attacking ball carrying option
February 13th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
Ja, quite a kak game except
for four minutes in the
first half.
Lions came back well.
February 13th, 2010 at 6:58 pm
Good to see some good play by the Lions Lions like Cotzee, Francis, winger and Killian :thumbup:
February 13th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
Is it only my TV set
or my ears but I can
hardly make out anything
said by Stransky?
February 13th, 2010 at 7:01 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 6:59 pm: Jy mis niks. Hy praat net kak anyway.
February 13th, 2010 at 7:02 pm
Reply to JT @ 6:58 pm: Lions play one one, stormers was solid for me in defense, kak kak kak second half, need to improve a hell of allot to be mentioned in the same breath as the Bulls.
Win in the first match something stormers could not do in past two years. Did not see much of the back line. Dick did good in defense for the Lions.
Take the four points and go home and play improve for next week
February 13th, 2010 at 10:14 pm
Reply to Boertjie @ 6:57 pm: I can see why you bunch of slangnekke would think that,,,,
After all you LOST the second half,,,,
Think Dick has something to work with
Kind of 2006 at the Sharks
February 14th, 2010 at 1:31 am
All that penalty tap kicks from their own 22 is really stupid.
After a minute of frantic running and passing they give the ball up on the halfway line.
They could have made the same distance with a simple kick. Less energy used and you maintain possession.
Now there’s a novel idea, Dick Muir.