Prior to the kick off to last weekend’s round, the Lions might have fancied their chances at home to the Western Force. In light of the Force’s win over the previously top-of-the-table Crusaders, and the Lions’ subsequent implosion at Loftus Versfeld; the odds of toothless Lions gaining their first home win against the Western Australians have lengthened.
Despite holding the Bulls try-less in the first half, and trailing just 8-12 at halftime, the Lions let in
six second half tries as they conceded in excess of a half century of points for the third time in 2010. That defeat has edged the Johannesburg-based side closer to matching its own record for the most consecutive defeats in Super Rugby.
The Lions’ current losing run stands at 11, including all 10 matches played in 2010. This is just two defeats short of the 13 lost by the Lions’ forebears, the Cats, in 2003 and 2004. The second half collapse in Pretoria has also edged Dick Muir’s team closer to another unwanted statistical milestone. With three games still to play, Muir’s Lions have let in 53 tries, which is 10
more than the second most ‘generous’ defensive line in the league, belonging to the Cheetahs.
The Lions’ current tally of tries conceded is just four less than the record for the most in a Super 14 season, which is the 57 put past the Cheetahs two years ago. The most ever let in by the Lions was 56, last season. 2009 represented the ninth time in 14 Super Rugby competitions that the Lions/Cats have had either the worst, or the second worst, defence in the competition. The Force shared the bottom defensive ranking with the Cats during its maiden season in 2006, when both sides let in 47 tries. Five of the tries the Force conceded in its first year came against the Cats in Johannesburg, scoring four in reply during a 34-34 draw.
Another factor which could count against the Lions fortunes is the fact that Craig Joubert will have the whistles and he has already shown so far this year a liking to the way the Aussies play and seems to be particularly harsh on his countrymen. But time will tell if this is just an one eyed opinion or not. Yet at this stage of the competition nobody wants to see a team get whitewashed and many of the impartial onlookers will be hoping for a Lions to do something they haven't done this season yet and win for a change.
Although seemingly resserecting their season the Force are far from the finished article and this could be the Lions final opportunity to prove that Dick Muir has been able to instil something that previous coaches have not. With a win/lose ratio of 50% in South Africa the Force will not exactly have history on their side and the Lions just might throw the entire Coca Cola Park at the visitors and fashion a victory. We allowed to dream still aren't we?
Prediction: I am going for a massive call this time. I have been pretty vocal in not supporting the Lions this season but I am going to say that somehow they click, somehow they will tackle and somehow they will beat the Force but not by much. Come on You Lions surprise us!
Last Year – Western Force 55, Lions 14 at Perth
Teams: TBA
