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Lions v Sharks: The Hard Numbers

By Sam Smith

18 Jul 2017

The Lions’ Jaco Kriel

The tides have turned in recent seasons with the Lions now dominating a fixture that used to be a doddle for the Sharks. Having breezed past the Sharks at home in the final round robin fixture last weekend, the numbers suggest we can expect nothing other than victory for the number one seeds.

Cast your gaze over some notable numbers ahead of the weekend…

The Lions have won the last five meetings between these teams, after earning just two wins and a draw from their 13 clashes prior. This will also be the first time these teams have met in the Finals.
The Lions have won their last 12 games on the bounce, a 13th win would be the longest winning streak ever by a South African team, eclipsing the 12-game streak set by the Bulls across 2009 and 2010.
The Sharks have scored just 12 points in their last three Finals fixtures away from home, including a tally of zero when they traveled to Wellington in last season’s quarter-finals.
The Sharks have slotted 47 penalty goals this season, no other side landed more than 31.
Ruan Combrinck is set to line up for his 50th Super Rugby cap; he has scored five tries in his last four games for the Lions.

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Comments on RugbyPass

Bull Shark 11 minutes ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

This is true.

But perhaps because rugby is Australia’s fourth (or worse) most popular sport, there is just no coaching talent good enough.

It’s interesting that no players from the Aussies golden era (say between 1987 - 2000) have emerged as international quality coaches. Or coaches at all.

Again, Australians are the problem methinks. Not as interested in the game. Not as interested to support the game. Not as interested to get into the game.

And like any other industry in the world - when you don’t have the capabilities or the skills, you import them.

Not difficult to understand really.

27 Go to comments

Bull Shark 20 minutes ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I would say at least one of the 6 if you’d be so kind as to name them?

I’m thinking you can’t name 6 Australian coaches who would be as good as or better than Schmidt.

27 Go to comments

Frans 40 minutes ago

Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

i think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.

2 Go to comments

Bull Shark 50 minutes ago

Autumn Nations Series 2024: Everything you need to know about round four

Australia definitely the game of the weekend. Wallabies by 3.

2 Go to comments

tt 1 hour ago

Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Smith is playing a different game with the rest of the backs struggling to understand. That's the problem with so called playmakers, if nobody gets what they're doing then it often just leads to a turnover. It gets worse when Borthwick changes one of them, which is why they don't score points at the end. Sometimes having a brilliant playmaker can be problematic if a team cannot be built around them. Once again Borthwick seems lacking in either coaching or selection. I can't help but think it's the latter coupled with pressure to select the big name players.

Lastly, his forward replacements are poor and exposed either lack of depth or selection pressure. Cole hemorrhages scrum penalties whenever he comes on, opponents take advantage of the England scrum and close out the game. Is that the best England can offer?

10 Go to comments

OJohn 1 hour ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

Which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ?

27 Go to comments

SF 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

I'm a SA'can and like Ben I hate the springboks.

32 Go to comments

CC 1 hour ago

South Africa vs Wales | Live & Latest Rugby Union Scores & Results | RugbyPass

I reckoned the springbok coach, has now started to underestimate Wales, sending 8players home? Really? It’s not yet over until it’s over Coach

3 Go to comments

Utiku Old Boy 1 hour ago

David Campese takes back his Joe Schmidt coaching Australia criticism

I am waiting for your list of candidates. We had several from which to choose so give me some choice (your list) in Aussie candidates for the ABs. You imply that any Australian would be preferrable to Schmidt, yet E Jones and Cheika obviously didn't meet your standards either. Are you angry that Schmidt is far exceeding Jones? All Oz coaches you have quoted are from way back in time. When you had some choice. What you won't admit, is you got nobody better than a kiwi currently. Otherwise you would be putting them up. The fact you don't shows you are a blowhard because you want to groan about Schmidt purely on the basis he is kiwi - not his impressive results.

27 Go to comments

LV 1 hour ago

Let's be real about these All Blacks

Another poorly written article. Well done Ben, keep up the good work!

32 Go to comments

CC 1 hour ago

Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

Thanks Steve D

12 Go to comments

SteveD 1 hour ago

'Lightweight' Premiership not preparing England players for Test rugby

Too many pampered, precious Posh Boys who think the sun shines out of their backsides?

14 Go to comments

OJohn 1 hour ago

Jake White: Ireland, Australia and Wales all have the same problem

Nothing would have been better. In the last 6 months of McKenzie's coaching, the Wallabies were really starting to hum. They were playing some brilliant rugby, even with no Pocock and came so close to winning the Bledisloe Cup. Only 3 points short I think.

Schmidt is a competent coach and after Jones destroying the Wallabies moral with picking useless Tah players (Bell is very good) any coach could have improved the Wallabies. We have achieved nothing so far really.

10 Go to comments

SteveD 1 hour ago

Sadness pervades as Gatland stands on the brink of Welsh exit

I'm afraid Gatland lost my respect with his uncalled for comments earlier in the year and his whinging about the so-called Boks' bad attitude in the Lions' 2021 tour. I also think he's not done my '6 nations' team much good this time round and they'll be well rid of him with his dated approach.

22 Go to comments

SteveD 2 hours ago

Cheslin Kolbe backed to end 16-year wait

(Erm, quietly, he's Irish)

12 Go to comments

Ardy 2 hours ago

'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'

He's coaching like Eddie V2 did in Australia...You need someone with bigger balls and an understanding of what to do to improve what is going on. It is a dynamic environment that is constantly changing as coaches dream up new ways to win. He is like an automaton of Eddie's creation.