Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Sharks v Lions - The Facts

Rohan Janse van Rensburg (Photo: Getty Images)

The Lions have enjoyed an armchair ride throughout the Super Rugby season having avoided a single match against New Zealand opposition. Although they locked up top spot in their conference some time ago, the number one seed is still up for grabs should the Crusaders suffer defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes.

ADVERTISEMENT

If the Lions are to claim the number one seed, they’ll need a final round victory against the Sharks. Check out the key stats ahead of their clash this weekend.

  • The Lions have beaten the Sharks in each of their last four meetings, after winning just twice in 13 meetings prior (D1, L10).
  • The Sharks have won their final regular season game in each of their last seven campaigns, winning their last five such fixtures by an average margin of 24 points.
  • The Lions have now won 11 games in a row since a 12-point loss to the Jaguares in Round 3, and have scored 199 points in their last three games combined.
  • The Sharks rely on the penalty goal more often than any other team in the competition, slotting 3.3 penalty goals per game so far this season.
  • The Lions’ Franco Mostert has stolen 13 lineouts so far this season, six more than any other player in the competition, though Sharks duo Ruan Botha (7) and Stephan Lewies (7) are each ranked equal second.

Thanks to Opta for the numbers.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 18 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

41 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline? Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?
Search