You name it the Lions have broken all the wrong records this season and it looks like they could set a new high, or should that be a new low, for a team in the Super 14. Most points against, most consecutive loses, most tries against and most players to have played during the season. True they have been beset by injury but the constant shuffling of players each week has highlighted just how poor the side is. Last week 8 people wandered in the stadium obviously lost and one wonders just how many will make the effort to go to Coco Cola Park this weekend. I rekon not many more. WALKING WOUNDED: The injury ravaged Lions have lost three more players to injury, with lock Franco van der Merwe (back), prop Gert Muller (chest) and utility Marius Delport (hamstring) all ruled out of this weekend's match. George Earl, Ross Geldenhuys and Deon van Rensburg will replace the injured trio. The Force will again be without the services of full-back James O'Connor with a shoulder injury, while prop Tim Fairbrother will also miss the clash with an ankle injury suffered against the Crusaders. However, both men have made the trek to South Africa and are expected to play a part in the remaining two matches of the tour. In better news, veteran Scott Staniforth returns from injury and will start on the wing allowing Cameron Shepherd to move to his preferred position at full-back.
FORM:
Lions Past Five:
Week 11: Loss, 51-11 v Bulls, Pretoria
Week 10: Loss, 32-28 v Sharks, Johannesburg
Week 9: Loss, 41-26 v Reds, Johannesburg
Week 8: Bye
Week 7: Loss, 39-29 v Highlanders, Dunedin
Force Past Five:
Week 11: Win, 24-16 Crusaders, Perth
Week 10: Loss, 38-17 v Blues, Auckland
Week 9: Win, 41-27 v Highlanders, Dunedin
Week 8: Win, 16-15 v Stormers, Perth
Week 7: Loss, 28-15 v Bulls, Perth
It's been another season of misery for the Lions who are odds-on to claim their second wooden spoon in three years after failing to win a game so far this season. The men from Johannesburg have lost their last 11 matches including all 10 this season. Having pushed the resurgent Sharks to their limit two weeks ago, the Lions kept the Bulls try-less in the first forty before conceding six four-pointers in the second stanza to register yet another embarrassing loss. In an attempt to illustrate just how bad Dick Muir's men are, it's worth noting they have conceded 100 points more than any other team in the opening 10 matches. The Force farewelled their home fans in style with a miraculous come-from-behind win over the Crusaders on Friday night. Having trailed 13-0 at the break, John Mitchell's men ran in three unanswered tries to stun the seven-time champions and head to South Africa on a high. After dropping their opening six matches of the campaign, the 11th-placed Force have now won three of their last four after welcoming back a host of stars from injury.
WHO'S HOT: The Force's much heralded backrow trio of Matt Hodgson, David Pocock and Richard Brown got the better of Richie McCaw and co in the win over the Crusaders. While all three were strong, Pocock was the star as he continues to make up for lost time after an injury plagued start to the campaign. Whilst the Lions will look once again to veteran Carlos Spencer, Wandile Mjekevu and Cobus Groblaar to help do the impossible.
WE THINK: The Lions will fancy their chances against the Force but the visitors should prove too strong all over the park in what is likely to be a high-scoring affair. Expect the hosts to be competitive for the first 60 minutes before fading badly in the final quarter. Force by 12.
